Despite the time of day – overnight – there seems to have been plenty of cyclists about, but when you think about it, Lancashire was the County of cotton mills, and each town had a designated week for its holidays, so there would be plenty of people all at the same time travelling hither and thither, many of them known to each other.

The only spoiler for today is his companions lack of enthusiasm for getting the miles in, but as Charlie’s years roll by, some old memories of Arnside will be recalled on future visits.  Watch this space !

There is a constant thread running through Charlie’s annual holidays, year after year, connected as ever with his shortage of finances and parental subsidies if you go to the same Bed and Breakfast at the same time as Dad and Mum.  As the years roll by you will see how often Charlie pitches up at his parents holiday address.

Not helped by the weather, which was atrocious, he does seem to meet chums from Bolton so the social side must have been conducted indoors without cycles.

Hanging from the sides or rear of lorries was quite the thing in those days, even in my day [!].  I well remember doing what Charlie used to do, very naughty, but very young mannish.  Goods vehicles were very underpowered compared with now, and they did use to struggle going uphill.

But analysing the terrain this day, severe Pennine hills, I suppose they could be forgiven, and they were in unknown territory.  Carlines he mentions, are better known now as tramlines.