Well, those 4 hours gave me enough time to (1) Avoid a rain shower and (2) Explore the hills on my bike.

Exploration

I’ve got into a habit of riding up past Hollingworth Lake, under the M62 and over Tunshill then back home.  I love that ride but I fancied trying something new whilst I had the time and a lovely dry afternoon on a Bank Holiday (hurrah for leftover pagan holidays!).  Despite the stupid climb from the motorway bridge past Tunshill Golf Club up the top of Tunshill, that’s the way I chose to climb.  On foot.

On reaching Four Lane Ends, the easy option would be to head back towards t’Lake, so I decided not to do that.  The path towards Ogden and Piethorne reservoirs ambles gently downhill from the junction, so for the first time, I headed that way. Good decision!

The full route I took is on Gpsies here, it’s worth a look. A nice uppy-downy afternoon out

You can see from the old map extract that the farm buildings had fascinated me.  Some digging (on the internets, not in the ground) after I got home revealed that Rag Hole Farm had been a busy Rye and Barley farm in the 1850′s, before the reservoirs through the Piethorne valley were commissioned in 1878.

Presumably the farmer walked away from the property with a nice big cheque and lived happily ever after, leaving the rye and barley fields to be lost beneath the reservoirs and the farm buildings to be reclaimed by the land.

Isn’t it amazing how things change, and how the simple act of an afternoon’s bike ride can uncover new knowledge?

Learn a little more about Rag Hole Farm and the area here:
- United Utilities information about Piethorne Valley
- Rag Hole Farm photo on Geograph

I love my Mountain Bike!

In The Oldham Days…

… I grew up with a dog. Shep was a corgi-jack russell cross – basically the fattest-looking jack russell you ever saw.  She was docile, friendly, the colour of beach sand and a wonderful companion on many walks.  A silent confidant through my teenage years and a great family member.  When she left us, cats took over the home and whilst I love cats, they never loved me back. They don’t, do they? Evil little sods that they are.

My partner has also loved dogs and TrixieWixieWooWoo (I know) was also a much loved family member, before my time.

More Recently…

… We’ve been having conversations along the lines of:
“We should get a dog”
“But we both work”
“We should get a dog”
“But we like to go out”
“We should get a dog”
“But I don’t want to be tied to the house”
“I want a dog”
“But it’s not fair on the dog”
“I want this dog (shows picture of cute little handbag dog from the internet)”
… Then other family members joined in…
“I want a dog too”
“Why do you want a dog?”
“I want a schtizu”
“Isn’t that a zoo with no penguins? (Yes, clearly a diversionary tactic)”

… and so on and so forth, with no progress.

Then I read this blog post over my lunchtime sandwiches just now.  Then my heart and my will soften a little bit.  Then I googled “Best trail dog” and read this closed forum from Singletrack World.  If you don’t already know this, I’m a Singletrack subscriber like most MTB riders, especially ones from anywhere near Lancashire.  So I had to take it seriously.

Clearly, Not A Trail Dog

Now I’m thinking…. Now I need some help.

Help!

Should I take the leap or not?  What should I do? Where should I go? How much will I regret it? What kind of dog should I possibly maybe discuss the possibility of an idea of considering?

Please help me. I need to get some information before I go all mushy and make a bad decision, or before I go all stubborn and miss what might be a great opportunity.  Tell me what I should do, or what I need to know.

You know the drill, just fill in the little form below - thanks!

If this phrase makes you feel nostalgic, then shame on you.  Reluctant as I am to criticise anybody, even you: shame on you.

Playing out is important.  Failing to play out is one of the main reasons that the current generation is the fattest and most unhealthy one yet.  It’s also the reason that the generation we’re bringing up now – our own kids – will be even fatter and more unhealthy than our own.

Getting outdoors and playing is a simple, fun and largely unseen way to:

• burn calories
• get further away from the fridge
• have loads of fun
• make friends
• become fitter
• avoid obesity
• reduce the likelihood of shedloads of diseases in later life

Do you need any more convincing?

In my opinion, we adults often go out and ride out bikes to get ourselves fit.  I’ve been quite vocal in the past that I prefer “playing out on bikes” to exercising any day of the week.  That’s why I prefer a Mountain Bike, but that’s just me.  Whatever you ride a bike, stop to think about the kids and please, please check out the links below.

So, What Do You Do?

Please add your support by contacting your MP. You don’t even have to know who he/she is, Sustrans have done all the work for you.  Just fill in the quick form by hitting this link.

More information about the Free Range Kids campaign can be found here, including some great ideas to get kids outdoors.

If you’re not in mainland UK, and I know a lot of you aren’t, do something in your own area. If you have an organisation doing similar things where you are, post a link in the comments below and lobby someone who can do something for your next generation.

Tell ‘em Phill sent you.