I am absolutely amazed at how little I knew about the area where I have lived for over 20 years.
Until 4 weeks ago I was a motorist only. Everywhere I went was by car.
Every journey started the same way: Down to traffic lights - Up Main Road - Take Roundabout onto dual carriageway!
Yesterday I went on my bike to see a friend who lives about 4 or 5 miles from me. He is on the outskirts of town (a bit countryfied.) I travelled the route above, keeping on the cycle path by the dual carriage way - even then, the blast from passing lorries was a bit concerning!
After my visit, my mate said "What way are you going back" - I said "The same way I got here". He just pointed at a dead end lane opposite his house (Rebels Lane) and said "Go down there and follow the footpath".
I rode down the road passing little cottages I had never seen before and the road petered-out into a dirt track with no signposts. I followed the track which took me along the edge of the golfcourse and just kept going until it led to a rather dark gloomy footway underpass. As I approached the underpass I recognised the stretch of dual carriageway I had travelled earlier.
The underpass took me through a housing estate and some allotments until I noticed the large block of flats that I regularly drove past in my car on the main road near my house. I followed two more side roads and then was in familiar territory. The end of my own road!
I couldnt believe it - I knew the golf course was there but never thought it would be a shortcut saving me about 2 miles and hardly seeing another vehicle all the way home!
I am now studying my locat street map for shortest routes to everywhere.
Richard
Until 4 weeks ago I was a motorist only. Everywhere I went was by car.
Every journey started the same way: Down to traffic lights - Up Main Road - Take Roundabout onto dual carriageway!
Yesterday I went on my bike to see a friend who lives about 4 or 5 miles from me. He is on the outskirts of town (a bit countryfied.) I travelled the route above, keeping on the cycle path by the dual carriage way - even then, the blast from passing lorries was a bit concerning!
After my visit, my mate said "What way are you going back" - I said "The same way I got here". He just pointed at a dead end lane opposite his house (Rebels Lane) and said "Go down there and follow the footpath".
I rode down the road passing little cottages I had never seen before and the road petered-out into a dirt track with no signposts. I followed the track which took me along the edge of the golfcourse and just kept going until it led to a rather dark gloomy footway underpass. As I approached the underpass I recognised the stretch of dual carriageway I had travelled earlier.
The underpass took me through a housing estate and some allotments until I noticed the large block of flats that I regularly drove past in my car on the main road near my house. I followed two more side roads and then was in familiar territory. The end of my own road!
I couldnt believe it - I knew the golf course was there but never thought it would be a shortcut saving me about 2 miles and hardly seeing another vehicle all the way home!
I am now studying my locat street map for shortest routes to everywhere.
Richard
