Tuesday, March 25 – Castle Mill

Washing day! ‘must get out of this’, I thought, as I jumped on the machine, and made for Four Lane Ends.  Reaching Walkden, I sped to Barton Bridge, then Urmston, and Stretford road to Sale, where I turned for Northenden.  Just avoiding the town, I plunged into a series of bylanes that gradually took me towards Baguley.  I turned off, however, and came to the farther end of Brooklands Drive, soon reaching Ringway.  Another winding lane led me to the Valley of the Bollin, and clambering over a gate, I crossed a field, and arrived at Castle Mill, a dilapidated old mill.

25 Mar 1924

Next came Ashley, and running by the hall (which, although it is rather plain and looks pretty modern, has a long pedigree) I took the Knutsford road for two miles, turning off for Rostherne.  Through the village, and by the pretty mere, I sped, and crossing the Altrincham – Northwich road, I reached Millington for tea at 5pm.  At 6.45 I was off again, wandering first to one place, then another, through some typical byways, but always bearing towards Warrington.  Wesley’s oak tree near High Legh was passed, and after pottering between Arley and Appleton, I made directly for Grappenhall, Latchford and Warrington.  Beyond the town I lit up, and during the ten mile ride to Leigh, I was considerably annoyed by lamp trouble – no wonder, I never clean it, and one cannot expect miracles from a ‘two-bob Lucas’ excellent though they are!  In the lanes round Atherton I was riding lightless when a policeman caught me napping.  I expect to pay a visit to Atherton Police Court before long.  Ah well, first offence!  Strange to say, the lamp did rather well after that.  I got home about 8.30pm.

70 miles

(Ed: Later, Charlie notes that ‘No policeman has been yet!’ his entry dated September 1924, and below that ‘Or yet’ dated April 1925).