Street to Street Charity Ride
 
Update October 2016
The total donated including the previous rides is a total of £13336.75p to the R Charity
 
Along with donations to other cancer charities a Grand Total of £17969.75p
over the three year period has been given.
Thank you all for your support

2017 will see another fund raising ride this time donations will be equally divided between

The Motor Nuernone Society & The R Charity
Details to follow - gluttens for punishment!!!
 
June 2016
 
Day 1
 
For the third year in a row the Crafty Companions Cycling Circle undertook their charity bike ride. The inaugural run just two years ago, had been a simple affair in cycling along the tow path for the length of the Leeds Liverpool canal, finishing under the world famous Royal Liver Building. Last year was a slightly longer trip following canal paths from Kingston upon Hull, through Castleford and Manchester, again finishing in Liverpool under the Liver bird. This year an alternative direction was conceived with the first thought being London to Liverpool. After initial planning it was suggested by one of the team, who after studying the map intensely, that the route be reversed, going from Liverpool to London, after all, that way it would all be downhill. The start would be at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, a quick call for a photograph at Liverpool Masonic Hall and then along the canal systems and on to the headquarters of United Grand Lodge at Great Queen Street, in London. And so the planning began. The Street to Street Charity Bike Ride was born.
Pic 1. Royal Liverpool Hospital. left to right,Steve Walls, Jason Hengler, Dave Fisher,
Chris Bruffell, Stu Hyde and Geoff Cuthill
The last two rides made a grand total of £11,593, with £6960 to The R Charity of the Linda McCartney Cancer Care Centre, £1963 to The Clatterbridge Centre and £2670 to McMillan Nurses. The new Royal Liverpool Hospital is being re-built and will open in 2017 with a new state of the art ‘Linda McCartney Cancer Care Centre’ and they have ring-fenced the funds raised thus far which with this year’s total will be used towards furnishing and equipping one of the individual patient rooms.
Pic 2. Liverpool Masonic Hall. left to right, front Geoff Cuthill and Chris Bruffell,
back row Steve Walls Dave Fisher and Jason Hengler.
On the first day of the ride the group assembled inside the foyer of the Royal Liverpool Hospital for a publicity call arranged by “The R Charity’ which co-ordinates the hospitals fundraising. They had supplied t-shirts for everybody on the ride, alongside the hooded sweat tops and reflective jackets donated by Tony Cross of T & S Design Services of Preston. From the hospital it was only a short ride through the University grounds and into Hope Street for another photographic stop outside the Liverpool Masonic Hall. Now began the ride proper, Hope Street to Great Queen Street.
Pic 3. Planning the route at Preston Brook. left to right Steve Walls Stu Hyde,
John Bruffell, Chris Bruffell and Jason Hengler
The support vehicles were both stocked with spares and provisions for the trip, although it was soon noticed that unlike the first trip on the Leeds to Liverpool, there was a distinct lack of ‘Brie with grape’ sandwiches this year. The two support vehicles for the trip were kindly loaned by two members of Temple Lodge, with Andy Roberts giving the Land Rover Discovery, while John Cherry kindly supplied the VW Transporter in which the bikes could be kept safely each night. The designated drivers, again from Temple, being John Bruffell and Stu Hyde.
 
The cyclists, Chris Bruffell, Geoff Cuthill, Dave Fisher, Jason Hengler and Steve Walls, wound their way through Sefton Park dropping down onto Aigburth Vale turning down at Garston and skirting Speke Airport and through to Hale.
Pic 4. The Kings Lock. left to right Chris Bruffell, Steve Walls, Jason Hengler and Dave Fisher
Continuing over to Runcorn for the first stop proper the group was welcomed by Ian Black of Temple Lodge 1094, who with his wife Norma, had come to wish them all well. It was here that the Bridgewater Canal was joined until at Preston Brook the group followed the Trent and Mersey Canal. It was at this stage that the pathfinder Chris Bruffell was hailed by the tail-end Charlie, Steve Walls, who in his quiet dulcet tones informed all that a wrong turn had been taken. Surprisingly, after retracing and altering the route it was agreed that an uneventful detour had been taken, and arriving back in the same spot it was seen that our pathfinder had been correct after all.
Pic 5. The Shroppie Fly left to right Dave Fisher, Jason Hengler, John Bruffell,
Chris Bruffell, Stu Hyde and Steve Walls.
On arrival at the Anderton boat lift it was fortuitous that a barge was entering at that moment and this was observed with much interest. Momentum continued with the group heading down the Trent and Mersey arriving at the Kings Lock at Middlewich where lunch was had in the gardens of the canal side hostelry of the same name. From here the Middlewich Branch was navigated joining the Shropshire Union Canal at Barbridge. The last leg for the day was a run straight down the canal passing through Audlem, with a stop at The Shroppie Fly canal side pub, where the first puncture of the trip was had by Steve Walls, before moving onwards for Adderley, coming off the canal near to Market Drayton for the first overnight stop of the tour at The Four Alls, Woodseaves. One part of the ride had caused some amusement for a number of road signs could be seen which gave the direction towards ‘the Secret Nuclear Bunker’. Further investigation shown this to be the now decommissioned building and bunker at Hack Green which would have been the centre of regional government had a nuclear war broken out.
The final part of the first day showed a distinct change in weather with the group having to travel the last few miles through an electrical storm amid torrential downpours, which although of tremendous ferocity failed to dampen the spirit of the group. Gathered around the dining table of the Inn for their evening meal the seven members of the group were absolutely delighted to be joined for the evening by John and Bibi Cherry and Bob Fisher. These had all been instrumental in the plotting and planning of the route and logistics and would have been alongside for the journey. Sadly Bob (father of rider Dave Fisher) had had to withdraw the previous day due to health problems, and John had been fortunate enough to have been given tickets for the Trooping of the Colour celebration for himself and family, the date of which clashed with the ride. After saying their farewells the team turned in for a well deserved sleep.
 
Street to Street charity ride. Day 2
After a nights recovery, and a hearty breakfast the group commenced their second day on the road, well the canal, to be exact. Yesterdays cycling had resulted in a grand total of 73 miles, and as anticipated and planned would be the longest stretch of the ride. Today started by cycling back to the Shropshire Union and then south along the tow path with the first stop at the Anchor Inn near High Offley on the outskirts of Stafford. Set on the Shropshire Union Canal, this Victorian two-bar inn is a rare example of an unspoilt country pub. It has been run by the same family since it was built in 1870, when it was called the Sebastapol, and is run today by 82 year old Olive, with a little help from her daughter and family.
Pic 6. Anchor Inn left to right  Steve Walls, Dave Fisher, Stu Hyde,
Jason Hengler, John Bruffell and Chris Bruffell
Waving good-bye to Olive the team headed on past Norbury Junction, Wheaton Aston and across the Stretton Aqueduct where they managed to give a quick wave to the support crew standing well below on the side of the main A5 trunk road. The support team drove on to the Napton Marina at Autherley Junction situated at the edge of Wolverhampton to await the arrival of the cycling team. After refreshment the team carried on through the Wolverhampton Locks on the main line of the Birmingham Canal before passing through Coseley and past the Winson Green Loop, known to some as the Soho Link, and into the centre of the Birmingham canal system. Due to the proliferation of canals, bridges and closed roads contact was lost for a time with the support team but by combining all their mental resources the riders overcome this set-back, managing to find a nice hostelry at the St Vincent Street basin where they managed to obtain acceptable sustenance.
Pic 7. Canal milestone post left to right John Bruffell and Stu Hyde
Many a cheery greeting was proffered to the team all through Birmingham due mainly to the local radio station which was broadcasting the story of the ride coming through the city and the reason why. This was due to Angela McShane of The R Charity back in Liverpool who had previously been in touch with Radio Birmingham. What was quite noticeable on reaching the edge of this large conurbation beside the obvious change of landscape was the number of youths on bikes and skateboards who used the canal as more of a playground. Characters became more numerous particularly the chap stalking under a bridge and catching feral pigeons with his hands.
Pic 8. Napton Marina at Autherley Junction. left to right. Geoff Cuthill,
Jason Hengler, Chris Bruffell, Stu Hyde and Steve Walls
After their repast the group continued making their way along this rusty artery of bygone industry joining the Grand Union Canal at the other side of the city, through Solihull to the days destination, The Greswolde Arms Hotel at Knowle, just around the corner from Knowle Masonic Hall. Nobody was more pleased than young Chris Bruffell who had been nursing his bike along for two hours continually stopping to put more air into his tyre, which unfortunately had sprung a slow puncture. The mileage for the day measured just short of 60 mile, making a running total of 132.8 miles so far.
 
Street to Street charity ride. Day 3
The start of the day brings a realisation that the halfway point has nearly been reached and with a 9 o’clock start from the hotel the riders retrace their route back onto the canal. Quickly passing through the Hatton Locks the team headed to the Cape of Good Hope where the support vehicles waited with fresh drinks and protein bars. Although tough going at times the ride improved as they passed through Warwick then quickly followed by Royal Leamington Spa before heading back into the countryside. Many pitfalls had been overcome successfully up to now, including overgrown bushes trying to force any rider into the canal, the same with low branches from the overhanging trees. The riders had become used to the acidic embrace of the wayside nettles and of the bramble scratches en route, but now they became completely stopped in their track. Mr and Mrs Swan and their six youngsters laid claim to the canal bank and steadfastly refused to give way. Our intrepid explorers were at a loss as the former swan master, Stu Hyde, who had been a rider on the last two trips was, alas, sitting in the support van today, having injured his achilles tendon just days before the ride began, while out on a practice ride. Stu had previous experience of this type of situation. After much discussion, the hero of the hour, Geoff Cuthill, stepped forward, some may say he was physically encouraged or simply pushed, and using his bike as a shield, made a successful pass, Mr Swan wrongly choosing to peck the bike, and not his legs. Following Geoff’s example, it took another five or so minutes for the group to negotiate this unforeseen hazard amid much childlike merriment as each individual passed by.
Pic 9. Swan attack on Geoff’s bike
The next few miles passed by without any great event with the riders lost in their own thought just taking in the natural beauty around them, or maybe thinking of the grassed over path sapping at their every ounce of energy. It was at this point that another puncture arrived, which was quickly seen to with more air being swiftly inflated. Alas, all was to no avail for in another mile or so the bike ran over wayside thorns puncturing both wheels. The unfortunate recipient this time was Geoff Cuthill, but in true buccaneering style he jumped off the bike saying, ‘no problem, just take off the rear tyre, look for the damage, clear whatever caused the puncture, and we can put on a new inner-tube and blow it up’. Little did he think his words would be followed to the letter, as the compressed gas cylinder used to inflate did exactly that. Leaving a despondent Geoff at the Welsh Road Lock to await the arrival of the support team the remaining four riders pressed on regardless.
Pic 10. Blowing up the tyre
On completing their lunch outside The Two Boats Inn, a traditional canal side inn located on the Grand Union Canal, in the village of Long Itchington, South Warwickshire. During this time the support team had rescued Geoff and his bike, then making their way to the next major scheduled stop at The Admiral Nelson, yes, you have guessed correctly, another charming pub on the canal bank, this time situated close to Braunston, near Daventry.
Pic 11. The Admiral Nelson Inn, left to right. Chris Bruegel,
Dave Fisher, Geoff Cuthill, Stu Hyde and Steve Walls.
While the riders were carrying on cycling their last leg of the day the support team headed for the Crossroads Hotel in the town of Weedon, situated where the A45 dissects the A5. While John booked into the rooms for the night Stu and Geoff made the short walk to the canal bridge in readiness for the riders arrival. Fortuitously for Geoff, there yards from the canal, stood a specialist bike shop, Joyride Cycles, and with only five minutes left before closure for that day, he was able to purchase replacement inner-tubes plus a spare. Tomorrow would now be back on the road again. The days cycling mileage was a relatively short 46.2 miles, now making the total at 179 miles since leaving Liverpool.
 
Street to Street charity ride. Day 4
An early start for Chris and Geoff checking the inner on both tyres and removing debris before fitting the new inner tubes and getting bike back to use. An 8.15 start was made with an estimated 13 miles to cover negotiating the Blisworth Tunnel before the first major stop at Stoke Bruerne, the home of the delightful Canal Museum. It was here that the team met the local group of Greyhound Friends, a collective of likeminded persons who have taken in and re-housed greyhounds whose racing days have come to an end. Today quite a number of them had met for the weekly communal walk along the canal taking in the fresh air. It was here that the team relaxed for a time to partake in a refreshing culpa and plan the next stop along the way.
Pic 12. Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne left to right Steve Walls,
Dave Fisher, Stu Hyde, Chris Bruffell and Jason Hengler
The best laid plans of mice and men etc. was certainly true at the next refreshment stop, or not, as things worked out. Just as the support crew came to turn into the road to take them to the canal near Wolverton, Milton Keynes, the cones went across and the road was shut. Quickly looking for another route they cut through the town center and there found another route towards the canal only to find that too had been closed. Parking in a nearby Tesco to re-stock with drink and sandwiches another route to the canal was quickly worked out, and just as quickly abandoned, as the car park was now closed off to let the annual MK Dons carnival get underway. Yes, you guessed correctly, the carnival was starting just yards from where the support vehicles were parked. Eventually escaping, the support raced to the New Inn, a traditional pub situated right on the canal side in New Bradwell near Fenny Stratford just in time to meet the riders arriving for lunch.
Refreshing Cuppa at Canal Museum left row from front, Steve Walls, Stu Hyde and Dave Fisher.
Right from back are Jason Hengler, Chris Bruffell and Geoff Cuthill
On completion of this the riders continued south back into open countryside with access problems for the support crew, and the only answer at one point was to throw the supplies across the canal.  It was at this point that Steve Walls displayed his long passed cricketing skills in catching the water and flapjacks hurled across by John Bruffell. Two interesting events happened along this stretch, firstly the meeting with three ladies carrying their multiple kayak along the bank, and on enquiry it was found they were practising for their future charity event, to row the length of the Grand Union Canal which they plan for May 2017.
Pic 14. The New Inn left to right Steve Walls, Dave Fisher,
Jason Hengler, Geoff Cuthill and Chris Bruffell
A number of miles further downstream the riders met Liverpool F.C. fan, the aptly named Phil Neal, who, to the delight of himself and fellow anglers had just landed a rather large mirror carp which weighed in at fifteen pounds plus. None of the team being avid anglers this was the first view of the species for all of them. Phil was rather aggrieved when it was suggested that all that was now lacking was a few bags of chips and a bit of sauce.
Pic 15. Water replenished courtesy of John Bruffell
Back into the saddle and pedaling yet again the riders soon passed through Berkhamsted and in the sprint finish at the end Dave Fisher took the points, closely followed by Chris Bruffell and Geoff Cuthill. Sensibly, Steve and Jason kept at their steady pace keeping their reserve of energy for the last day. Todays mileage was measured at 58.17 bring the total so far to 237.17 since the leaving of Liverpool. Booking in for the evening at the Premier Inn at Hemel Hempstead the team ate a hearty evening meal and pre-booked the breakfast requirements for 7 o’clock the next morning.
Pic 16. The Mirror Carp, Phil Neal and Dave Fisher
pic 17 End of ride on Day 4. Dave Fisher in the lead followed by Chris Bruffell and Geoff Cuthill
 
Street to Street charity ride. Day 5
All things must pass, and the dawn sadly brought this years charity trip to its last day. Refueling on a magnificent breakfast, the team started the home run into London. Although the shortest leg of the journey at just over 40 miles they needed to reach their destination in good time, scheduled to arrive at the headquarters of United Grand Lodge in Great Queen Street at 14.00 hours. After the roasting start to the trip and the occasional electrical storm this day of all days was marked by persistent rainfall, and if lucky, a few minutes respite when it just drizzled, but never enough to dampen the spirit. With no time to take in the scenery it was a rapid pedal to the first stop at Batchworth Lock located near to Rickmansworth. Situated nearby is The Royal Masonic School for Girls, instituted in 1788, with the aim of maintaining the daughters of indigent Freemasons, unable through death, illness, or incapacitation to support their families. It began in 1789 with fifteen pupils and a Matron in Somers Town, St Pancras, Middlesex and during its history has moved between premises three times, twice within London and finally in 1934 to Rickmansworth.
Pic 18. Batchworth Lock, left to right Steve Walls, Chris Bruffell and Dave Fisher
Leaving Rickmansworth the cyclists headed along through Cowley Peachey before taking the left turn at Bulls Bridge Junction, which is near to Slough, and along the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union. This stretch of canal is one of the longest in England without having a lock to contend with, 27 miles from Cowley to Little Venice at Camden. Skirting Southall and passing through Greenford the canal now enters the industrial sections of west London passing between Acton and Harlesden with the cyclists using the North Circular Aqueduct high in the air.
Pic 19. Lunch near Wormwood Scrubs left to right Chris Bruffell,
Stu Hyde, Steve Walls, Geoff Cuthill, Jason Hengler and Dave Fisher.
Surprisingly, this stretch of the canal is not as one would envisage, it is not a vista of unremitting doom and gloom and bygone industrial wasteland. Nature shows itself in all its glory as willows and wild flowers flourish alongside the canal banks, making this a rural artery and a wildlife sanctuary. It is only when the tranquility of the canal is left behind, as the riders discovered, that you enter the industrial acreage which still abounds. A pre-planned rendezvous with the support vehicles was made at the bridge near to Wormwood Scrubs prison, but with parking not allowed on the bridge and roads, a nearby kindly scrap-metal dealer gave the use of his yard to the team to have their break. Not an ideal spot but very much appreciated at the time.
Pic 20. The final yards photographed by Jason with Chris, Dave and
Geoff arriving safely and Steve heading in the wrong direction again
Continuing on after the break one of Britain’s largest railway depots was passed at Old Oak Common before at Kensal Green number of piers were passed jutting out from the canal bank. These were in use many years ago when the coffins holding the dead were brought by canal to the large Victorian age Kensal Green Cemetery. Now a tourist attraction, it is laid out with avenues of trees and huge monuments with notable Victorians like Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Anthony Trollope, William Makepeace Thackeray and ‘Blondin' buried here. Blondin himself deserves a paragraph.
 
Born on 29 February (a leap year) at St Omer, France in 1824 he became the world’s most famous funambulism (tight rope walker), his death from diabetes coming on 22 February 1897 at Ealing, London. His real name was Jean-François Gravelet, known simply as ‘The Great Blondin’. When five years old he was sent to the École de Gymnase at Lyon and, after six months training as an acrobat, made his first public appearance as ‘The Little Wonder’. His superior skill and grace as well as the originality of the settings of his acts, made him a popular favorite. He earned his celebrity and fortune due to his idea of crossing the gorge below Niagara Falls on a tightrope, 1100 feet (335 m) long, 160 feet (50 m) above the water. This he accomplished, first on June 30, 1859, a number of times, always with different theatric variations: blindfold, in a sack, trundling a wheelbarrow, on stilts, carrying a his manager, Harry Colcord on his back, and once even sitting down midway while he cooked and ate an omelet. In 1861, he first appeared in London, at the Crystal Palace, turning somersaults on stilts on a rope stretched across the central transept, 70 feet (20 m) from the ground. In 1862 he again gave a series of performances at the Crystal Palace, and elsewhere in England, and on the continent. In 1873, he crossed Edgbaston Reservoir in Birmingham and after a period of retirement reappeared in 1880, with his final performance at Belfast in 1896.
Pic 21. The team at United Grand Lodge. left to right Steve Walls, John Bruffell,
Chris Bruffell, Jason Hengler,  Dave Fisher, Stu Hyde and Geoff Cuthill
Leaving Blondin and his neighbours at rest, the group soon reached the Regents Canal basin and had to travel a short distance along the road before picking up the canal again. This final ride along the canal bank was of a picturesque nature before passing through the aviary at London Zoo and dismounting at the next bridge to carry the bikes up the steps, crossing the said bridge into Regents Park. After quietly traversing this large green oasis of tranquility they then took their lives into their own hands by negotiating the maniacal traffic making their way through the edge of Soho, through to Drury Lane and finally reached their goal, the headquarters of United Grand Lodge in Great Queen Street. It was 2.30 pm., thirty minutes behind schedule, having completed the 42.55 miles from Hemel Hempstead, which made a grand total of 279.72 miles actually pedalled during this marathon ride. With a group of well-wishers in attendance awaiting their arrival it was time for the obligatory photo-shoot, before loading the bikes into the support van, the friendly traffic warden deciding not to take much notice after it was explained what was happening. Among the well wishers it was nice to see Steve’s son Kevin, who although living in London, had been up to Liverpool for a few days, and had drove down that morning to see his dad arrive safely. Stu Hyde’s daughter Gina was also there with her partner just making it in time having rushed across London.
Pic 22. It’s over. The lads back safely at Lime Street

Welcomes were soon followed by farewells as John Bruffell and Stu Hyde set off back north with the two vehicles and the equipment while the five riders made their way to Euston station for a quick relaxing trip back to Lime Street courtesy of Virgin Train. A successful ride completed for the third year in a row, and the total raised when all is gathered in is expected to exceed fifteen thousand pound overall. It must be noted that the efforts of those in the background ensured the success of the project, particularly Angela, and Loren at ‘The R Charity’ back in Liverpool, the friends and families of the team, and those individuals, lodge’s, chapter’s, and other masonic bodies who gave their time and donations so freely, a heartfelt thank-you to you all.

The Stats
Our thanks to Geoff Cuthill for his Day by Day Blog.