65 Gold Medals = 96 Gold Post Boxes! 22 Day GoldBoxJourney

Well Folks the closing ceremony has taken place with the entire Wandering Walton’s clan watching on Channel 4 last night, in tears at times.

29 Team GB Gold Medals brought us 57 Gold Post Boxes

36 Paralympics GB Gold Medals brought us another 38 Gold Post Boxes

There is also the possibility that 3 more post boxes may be painted to commemorate David Weir’s Gold Medal achievements as he only has one painted at the minute and won a mind blowing 4 Gold Medals. Plus Tim Baille is still waiting for his second Gold Post Box to be painted according to the Wikipedia listing.

Finally Paralympic sprint champion Jonnie Peacock has chosen to have a his Gold Post Box painted in his home town of Doddington in Cambridgeshire which was painted today (Monday 10^th September).

So we have a grand total of 96 Gold Post Boxes throughout Great Britain located as far North as Clifton Road Lossiemouth to honour Heather Stanning’s Gold Medal for Rowing – Women’s Coxless Pairs. As far South as The Ave on Sark for Carl Hester’s Equestrian – Team Dressage Gold Medal. In the East in Belton with Browston for Jessica-Jane Applegate Gold Medal in Swimming – Women’s 200 Meter Free Style S14 and finally in the West the Gold Post Box is on Quay Street in Penzance for Helen Glover’s Gold Medal Women’s Coxless Pairs. Not to forget the Gold post Box in Onchan on the Isle of Man honouring Peter Kennaugh’s Gold Medal Cyling – Men’s Team Sprint.

A couple of competitors have won more than one but the two Super Stars that stand out to me are Sarah Storey and David Weir who both won 4 Gold Medals. What an absolutely fantastic achievement, not that every winner is any less amazing but 4 Gold Medals really does warrant a little special mention. Well done to the pair of you.

Now Sarah has 3 Gold Post Boxes painted already but David has just the one, however this could change if the powers that be choose to paint another 4, 1 for Sarah and 3 more for David we could be looking at 100 Gold Post Boxes, just watch this space.

As well as the athletes Gold Post Boxes there are 4 additional Gold  Post Boxes located throughout Great Britain , these are:-

1)      Westminster Abbey – the very first demo box

2)      Henley Rowers – Heart Street, Henley-on-Thames to honour our rowers

3)      Wimbledon – to honour Andy Murrays Gold Medal win.

4)      Stoke Mandeville Hospital – to honour the founder of the Paralympic movement Sir Ludwig Guttmann in the place it all started in 1948 with a truly international games being played in 1952 but you can read all about that on Wikipedia.

So with the Olympics well and truly over and after watching the amazing procession through London by all our inspirational athlete’s, it’s all down to me now to get out and take those photo’s. My Mapsource file is now fully loaded. The only place I cannot ride my motorbike to is Sark so that will be just me I’m sorry to say.

96 Gold Post Boxes Plotted

21 in the "Bag"

75 to go

"Bring It On!"

As the Gold Medals were all won over a period of 22 days I have set myself the challenge of visiting them all within 22 days not running consecutively as life still has to go on but 22 travelling days. That’s just 4.36 or lets round it up to 5 Gold Post Boxes per riding day spent on the road. I have a few full days planned but I want to enjoy riding around our Great British Isles and take away some great memories, so quality not quantity is the key.

I’ve been busy on Twitter @Jap_STi_3 and have found #GoldBoxJourney speaking with a number of likeminded Gold Post Box visitors some of which have already “Bagged” in excess of 38 Gold Post Boxes. Here’s hoping I get to meet one or two of them on my Travels.

So for now that’s me all set to start  following my MapSource locations on the Garmin 660 Sat Nav and rack up a few more miles.

See you out and about fellow #GoldBoxJourney visitors…………….

Day 5 And On!

6 More Gold Medals on day 8 from our amazing  Paralympic GB Team. 32 Gold Medals as of 2.00pm on day 9, you are all simply inspirational!

Just when I thought I was getting the better of all our local Gold Post Boxes they did it again but I’m pleased to say we have another 4 locally and the Gold Medals just keep coming! I’m so pleased Sarah Storey lives so close with her winning 4 Gold medals and reaching a total of 11 Gold Medals. Dame Sarah Storey come on down. Remember you read it here first.

So with our Paralympic Team passing the medal tally in style on just day 8 I’ve got my work cut out big time. Bring it on I say, bring it on! 

Thursday 6^th September - Day 5                               Daily Mileage 316 Miles – Total 933

Halifax. Well the plan today was to attend an Iron Butt Association (IBA UK)  Ride to Eat at Sutton Bank Visitors Centre near Thirsk in North Yorkshire and “Bag” another 4 Gold Post Boxes on the way of course.

Heading out at 9.00am after sorting Lilie Rose out and taking Ben to school on Mr T. (note to self, do not park Mr T on the drive before Ben has left for school) and so a quick nip up the road to drop Ben off at the school gate. Back home to change short sleeve t-shirt for long as it was still a bit nippy and say my fair wells to Jeannie my poor long suffering “Bike Widow” wife. I was off over the tops past the White House pub, through Rippondon and Sowerby Bridge on the back road to Halifax town centre.

Finding the Gold Post Box took no time at all thanks to the Gold Post Box Finder site and the  Wikipedia site. As soon as I’d taken my picture an elderly couple arrived to take a photo and asked what I was up to. 20 minutes later and a full in depth “one sided” discussion about the commemorative Gold Medal Stamp Collections. Being printed mainly in Preston with only three sheets being printed somewhere else………. I just managed to get away before losing the will to live. Stamp collectors’, who’d have em? Only joking, it was lovely  to hear them so animated about the whole Olympic theme.

Wesley Place Halifax

Hannah Cockroft Gold Medal Athletics: Women's 100m - T34

Horsforth Leeds. Next I headed up to Horsforth to take get the photo. The ride was a quick 14 mile scoot around the edge of Bradford. Trying to make sure I didn’t get “T-Boned” again by an impatient driver, ulike the last time I went down that road. I wasted no time and quickly parked up to take the photo.

“Oh love that’s a big bike” came the faint voice from behind me.

“It has to be to stop all these drivers knocking me off” I replied.

“It’s so dangerous out there, you be careful” she said looking at Mr T

“It wouldn’t be if they just banned cars from the roads” I replied without even thinking what I was saying as my mind was already thinking about Leeds City Centre, not my favourite place.

“You know that’s a really good idea, I’d not thought of  it like that before, bye now”  and with that she tootled off down the street.

By the time I was back on Mr T I’d got quite a crowd looking at me out of the post office so I just gave them a wave before rolling back onto the road backwards. I chortled as they all waved back, priceless!

Heading down Featherbank lane I couldn’t believe it when a “White van man” drove straight at me in the middle of the road on his mobile, if you’re reading this (which I doubt) you’re a PLANK!

New Road Side Horsforth Leeds

Alistair Brownlee Gold medal Men's Triathlon

Leeds. City centre 4.8 miles of clear roads, I was shocked and to spot the two Gold Post Boxes right at the side of a Motorbike Parking Bay was brilliant. Parking up in front of the boxes I got my photo and pulled back onto the road to check where next. Plotting in Sutton Bank Visitors Centre via Hull came out at arrival time 1.15pm too late for the Ride to Eat meeting at 1.00pm, or so I thought.

Cookridge Street Leeds

Nicola Adams Gold medal Women's Boxing Fly Weight

Stockton-on-Tees. Plotting in Sutton Bank via Ingleby Barnwick, arrival time 12.35pm perfect for the 1.00pm meeting. Decision made it was off up the A1 and on up the A19 to a new build estate in the middle of nowhere. Still the lonely Gold Post Box was so easy to find I just pulled up and took the photo. There was just nothing there at all however it stands out proud as you like. Photo taken it was off back down the A19 to the visitors centre to meet up with the IBA UK guys.

Ingleby Barwick/Apsley Way Stockton-on-Tees

Katherine Copeland Gold medal Women's Lightweight Double Sculls Rowing

I gave Dave a little stick when he came in at 1.45 for being late!

“2.00pm Raymondo, and you a man of detail”

Whoops, just goes to show what mixing rides up does to you train of thought. Sorry David.

IBA UK Septenber 2012 RTE

Sutton Bank Visitors Centre

That is one very sexy

Harley Davidson you have there David.

Hull. After a good couple of hours chatting and briefing my replacement on the IBA UK Verifiers roll it was time to head down to Hull for my final Gold Post Box of the day. The ride down through some of North Yorkshires most beautiful countryside was simply breath taking. The roads are fantastic, the scenery sublime. If you get chance to head through North York Mores National Park my advice grasp it with both hands you will not be disappointed. High Street, Cote Lane,  Linkfoot Lane the A170 is amazing. Through town with names like Bedlam, Wilton, Sinnington Cliff, Wrelton, the more well know Pickering then Beverly the names just bring back great memories of a fantastic country ride. I’ve got to mention my favourite village name on the route though, Wetwag just cracked me up.

Arriving 4 miles out of Hull the traffic built up and it was a real shlep to find the Gold Post Box but after what felt  like hours but in fact was just 35 minutes I parked up and took the photo. So with Hull boxed off and it still only being 4.35pm what do you do? Well I did no more and plumbed in Sheffield, why not? It needs visiting.

Hessle Road Hull

Luke Campbell Gold medal Men’s Boxing Bantam Weight

Sheffield. Out of Hull I was on the M62 and within what felt like minutes I was on the M18 which took me straight into Sheffield City centre past one of the worst tail backs from a 4 car pileup I’ve ever had the miss-fortune to witness. The only saving grace was that it was on the outbound lane and so the run into the city centre was painless. Now I’ve got history with Sheffield, not being allowed into night clubs as a 19 year old from Chesterfield without lying and saying I came from Dronfield! Getting hit in the face with a baseball bat as I came out of the toilets in the “Hole in the road” pubic loos pretty much finished Sheffield as a “place to visit” for me. Mind that was back in the early 1980’s so water under the bridge as they say. Sadly some of the old pubs and clubs are still standing, just how I've no idea but they are. Seeing them sent a shiver down my spine, I wanted this visit to be short and sweet, luckly it was.

I found the Gold Post Box  tucked up against a wall and behind a huge lamppost. I squeezed Mr T  inbetween and was just about to take the photo when a young couple came and squeezed in between Mr T and the Gold Post Box. I offered to move Mr T but they were happy to get there picture and even took one of me at the side of the box. Many thanks indeed to you both. I bet you regret asking me what I was up to and having the dubious task of viewing my ever growing collection of pictures. Sorry about that I do tend to get a little animated to say the least when asked “What are you doing” and the burning question “Why”?

The reason I’m visiting ALL the Olympic Commemorative Gold Post Boxes are three fold

1)      If all of Team GB and  Paralympic GB competitors can put in hours upon hours of training to achiev such amazing results, then the least I can do to honour them, in my own way, is to take the time and energy to visit their Gold Post Boxes.

2)      I just love riding and what better reason / excuse is there to visit each and every corner of our fair Great British Isles

3)      Finally, I hit the Big 5 - O in a few weeks’ time so what better way to commemorate hitting the grand age of 50 year young.

So here’s a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to Team GB and Paralympic GB for setting me up with a perfect 50^th Challenge Ride. Not forgetting Bunnyman Martyn for the original idea, you’re a star thank you to.

Posted: 03 August 2012 at 4:40pm | IP Logged

Apparently a post box is being painted gold in the home
town of each Team GB gold medal winner.
Only staying gold for 6 months, but visiting them all
should make an interesting ride.
Cheers
Martyn

City Hall Sheffield

Jessica Ennis Gold medal Women’s Heptathlon

Chapel-en-le-Frith. Why not I thought as I looked at the route back to Rochdale and with that I was off out of Sheffield and heading through my home county of Derbyshire heading to my final destination of the day, Chapel-en-le-Frith, dubbed "The Capital of the Peak District".

Now if I say Derbyshire is in my opinion the most beautiful county in the whole of the UK I am not exaggerating one bit. The roads are stunning, if not a little restricted nowadays.  The ride along the A57 into our very own Garden of Eden, The Derbyshire Peak District which is nothing short of spectacular, sorry Yorkshire but I am proud to be a Derbyshire Lad born and bred. Once your past the city limits your into the most lush green countryside in the whole of the Britsh Isles, I love it.

Heading out of Sheffield on Eccesall Road I was so rining along Hathersage Road one of my favourite road in the peak district. Taking detours to take in the whole of the A6187 Through Hathersage, Hope Valley onto Castleton Road, past Speedwell Caverns and doing a “dog leg” turn to ride up and through Winnats Pass.

Arriving in Chapel-en-le-Frith, The Gold Post Box was easily spotted on the left hand side with a very convenient drive way to park on. A quick photo and a check of my mobile told me I’d been out a little too long.

“Can we expect you back sometime today” was the text from Jeannie.

“On my way ETA 7.15” and with that I was off home, happy and content with my days efforts.

Market Street Chapel-en-le-Firth

Anthony Kappes Gold Medal Cycling Track: Men's Individual B Sprint

All in all a great days ride which was made so much better with having the IBA UK RTE slap bang in the middle. Checking the GoldPost Box Finder site flagged up that the Royal Mail folks had been busy painting another 4 local to us and with the medals coming in thick and fast I’m going to take a break until the games are over and I can plot all the remaining and new Gold Post Boxes.

Day Five - 7 Gold Post Boxes

So until the next time this  is the Wandering Walton’s signing off…………….

Day 3&4 Goes On!

Well after a couple of weeks in sunny Spain it was time to head back through France sadly missing the Olympic closing ceremony but delighted at Team GB’s 29 Gold Medals. How we ended up with 57 Gold letter boxes I really don’t know but we did. It took me hours to plot each and every one into MapSource which I use to plot routes on my Garmin 660.

One thing for sure I knew there and then that visiting them all was going to be a challenge. Then it clicked, we still had the Paralympics to come. Sitting there watching the opening ceremony I was thinking even if they just match Team GB I’m going to have my work cut out to get round them all in 6 months.

That was last week and as of today (Thursday 6th September) my map has gone ballistic with a total of 88 Gold Post Boxes. Covering the whole of the UK, the Isle of Man & even one on Sark which has really put the cat amongst the pigeons as it’s a “No go zone” for cars and bikes from what I read on line. So without further ado it was time to get Mr T out and start “Bagging Gold Post Boxes”big time!

Thursday 30th  August - Day 3                            Daily Mileage 96 Miles – Total 310

First stop was Manchester to visit LBK one of my close Manc Rider friends who unbeknownst to me had had an “Off” whilst we were away resulting in him smashing both wrists so badly they needed pinning and plating and breaking his thumb in the process. No other vehicles were involved and the reason for the accident remains a mystery. Other than the theory put forward by someone on the forum that he must have slipped on a Banana skin! What is apparent though it has not dented his passion for riding so good on yer LBK that’s what I say. Oh and Bev you’re a star, there is just no way would I do what you’ve had to do!

Get well soon LBK!

Disley. Having spent a couple of hours cheering LBK up I only wanted to visit a couple of post boxes. The ride down through Manchester was uneventful but very pleasant as I ended up riding through the Goyt Valley somewhere I’ve not been in years. Arriving at the White Lion Pub on Buxton Road I was surprised to find the painter still there cleaning up. He was kind enough to move out of the way so I could take the all-important picture and after a brief chat about how busy it had been there since this morning’s painting I was off to Leek.

The White Lion Pub, Buxton Road, Disley

Sarah Storey Gold medal Women's Cycling: Track C5 Pursuit

Leek. It’s only 23 miles to Leek via Buxton but Leek town centre was an absolute nightmare with two of the major roads closed and diversions everywhere. Traffic was at a standstill and I was getting a bit “stressed” to say the least. Arriving at 4.30pm really didn’t help matters but slowly I made my way around the outskirts and into what turned out to be a very small one-way system. Turning left into Sheep Market through Market Place the road then right and right again heading back along Stanley Street an back out onto St Edward Street. The trouble being the Gold Post Box is just 50 foot along Derby Street. Spotting it I could see I looked like a pedestrian zone so I gingerly coasted in switching the engine off so as not to bother anyone. Fat chance of that. For the first time I was shouted at by some elderly chap from across the street. Pointing out I’d just gone the wrong way up a “one-way” street!

Whoops! So folks I apologise now for my little misdemeanour and promise never to do it again, honest!

Derby Street Leek

Anna Watkins Gold medal Women's Double Sculls Rowing

Day Three - 2 Gold Post Boxes

So with my total of Gold Post Boxes visited standing at 10 it was a swift-ish ride back to Rochdale. A little stressed out due to the circumstances and traffic but looking forward to my next outing.

Wednesday 5^th September - Day 4                     Daily Mileage 307 Miles – Total 617

Flint. Plan of attack yesterday was to just “bag”Flint and Wrexham as they were sat all on their own in Wales. So after saying buy to Lilie Rose, Ben & Jeannie I was off down theM62, M60, M56 and arrived in Flint an hour later. Flint can I just say you have done Jade Jones proud with the sheer amount of pictures, bunting, banners. You have got everything and the town looks simply amazing. Only thing that shocked me was the petrol prices! £1.47 as I left the M56 onto the A548, £1.41 at the Spar garage, £1.40 at the BP on the way out of town (where I filled up) only to be £1.35 20 miles down the road in Wrexham. Simply Amazing!

Church Street Flint

Jade Jones Gold medal Taekwondo Women's 57kg

Wrexham. Again a short 23 mile ride had me parked up on Town Hill were I asked a passing chap to do the honours with the camera and that was that. Or was it? No it was far too early to call it a day and so what did “Mr Garmin 660” suggest? High Street, Aldridge was 67 and a half miles away, decision made.

Town Hill Post Office Wrexham

Tom James Gold medal Men's Four Rowing

Aldridge. A nice ride down the A528 to Shrewsbury, then along the A5 onto the M54 past Telford which was followed by a short stint on the M6 and finally past Walsall on a few B roads. Pulling up alongside the Gold Post Box on the pavement I took my picture and was away in a flash. I stopped up the road to see if anything else was near and low and behold High Street Bedworth was 30 miles down the road in the wrong direction. However as I was there and it was still only mid-afternoon I thought I’d best just get it done.

High Street Aldridge

Ellie Simmonds - Gold medal Swimming: Women's 400m Freestyle - S6

Bedworth. Were the town centre is protected by electric bollards that after walking quarter of a mile from the car park to having had a picture taken of myself by a very nice elderly gentleman I discover from a friendly local chap “in his car” that the bollards go down at 4.00pm. It was now 4.05pm. So it was back to the car park to get my bike and come back and get another picture as I’m trying my best to get all the Gold Post Boxes pictured with Me and Mr T. I know Sark is going to beat Mr T but not me!

High Street Bedworth

Nick Skelton Gold medal Equestrian - Team Jumping

Getting charged £3 for the M6 Toll on a motorbike is just “wrong”! £3, I was gutted but as they say “every cloud has a silver lining” and my silver lining was the fact I was home in time for the news of Paralympics GB Team winning another 3 Gold’s, what can I say other than you are all simply
“Brilliant”!

Day Four - 4 Gold Letter Boxes 

Now I do have just one more confession to make. At the beginning of the week I was busy plotting and cross checking that I had all the Team GB and all the Paralympic GB Gold Post Boxes on my map. I was annoyed to discover only 4 Gold Post Boxes had been plotted on the Gold Postbox Finder site. Annoyed that much that I did no more and Tweeted Royal Mail.

The Wandering Walton‏@Jap_STi_3

@royalmailnews #goldpostbox Why are there only 4 Gold postboxes on the GoldPostbox finder site? Cant' plot them if you don't update site 19

The Royal Mail were kind enough to Tweet me an apology back.

Royal Mail News‏@royalmailnews

@Jap_STi_3 Sorry about the delay, we're trying to get it updated as quickly as possible cc. @ChrisPageNG @ianjeffray @Toria_28

Tonight (Thursday) on my return from another round trip, I find they have updated their site with 27 locations so from “The Wandering Walton’s” I would like to say a massive thank you to you and your team. Well done. Mind Wikipedia have a fantastic reference site with all the locations and co-ordinates so if your thinking of “bagging” a few yourself check them both out at 2012 Olympics gold post boxes in the UnitedKingdom

More to follow very soon...........................

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The Horizons Unlimited Overlanders Meeting at the ALL NEW Donington Park Farmhouse Hotel.

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Here's a taste of what this years meeting was like

“Star Struck, Who me? Never”

Day 1&2 The Wandering Walton's quest for Olympic Gold! .... "Post Boxes obviously"

What can I say, it’s been a busy month with both Lilie Rose and Ben on their school holidays. Holiday Club’s, Sports Club’s and who can forget “The Olympics”. After such an amazing opening ceremony it could only mean one thing for Team GB and the British Nation as a whole,  GOLD Medals , lots of them.

As I start this write up Great Britain is placed third in the Olympic Medal tables with 25 yes, 25 GOLD Medals. How fantastic is that? I for one am Proud to be British. Team GB have raised every single persons spirits though out Great Britain to levels of excitement and happiness not seen on these shores for many a long year. I for one would like to thank each and every competitor, organiser, volunteer, guard, police person and  our fantastic military machine for making the 30^th Anniversary 2012 Olympic Games the most uplifting, inspirational event ever seen on the planet. Thank You One & All from the Wandering Walton’s.  

“Back down on plant Raymondo”  Mr T had been sat still, very still indeed to be quite honest. Apart from a couple of jaunts around Derbyshire with Jeannie & a ride down to J&S Motorcycles near Chester with Ben the two of us had ground to a halt.

Scooting through the few websites I frequent, YamahaSuper Tenere Forum, The Manc Riders Forum,  & TheIron Butt UK Forum where on the 4^th of August  I was pleased to spot Bunnyman’s thread aptly named “Ride Idea” which read:-

“Apparently a post box is being painted gold in the home
town of each Team GB gold medal winner.
Only staying gold for 6 months, but visiting them all
should make an interesting ride”.
Cheers
Martyn

And so the seed was sown and The Wandering Walton’s quest had begun. Martyn I’ve just got to say your idea is both inspirational and brilliant, well done that man.

My first thought after looking at the link Martyn had posted to the post offices official location site Gold Post Box Finder was this is going to be fun. After quickly plotting  the 16 Gold Post Boxes into MapSource I came up with a few figures and a basic SS1000 Route which I posted as a reply on the IBA UK Forum 

“Just hooking them all together and back to Manchester is 1774 miles.

1378 without the return trip.

Plus the games have not even finished yet ”

Cheers

Ray (Roy)

At this point I had no idea Team GB were just about to go into Gold Medal overdrive!

After a few posts request help to get the exact coordinates from fellow IBA UK Members I started plotting the Gold Post Box sites in MapSource by looking at their locations, putting this into Google Maps and finding a local post code. How I wish I’d done things differently but with a list of 38 locations I was ready to hit the road, the aim to visit each and every one, taking photos of them all whilst enjoying a leisurely ride around our Great British Isles.



Wednesday 8^th August 2012 - Day 1               Days Mileage 119 Miles – Total 119

Huddersfield. This was my first destination, local and quite simple to find taking that I had just done a search on Google Maps and acquired a post code for the local hotel on the other side of the square. “Road Closed” What a great start to my quest! Still that’s the beauty of being on a motorbike, up over the pavement and parking at the side of the box I “bagged” my first ever Gold Post Box, I was off!

Huddersfield Railway Road

Ed Clancy Gold medal Men's Team PusuitMore

 Hebden Bridge. “Sorry love there’s no Gold Post Box here, you need Hebden in North Yorkshire” said the very helpful Post Office attendant.

“This is going to be a long day” I thought to myself as I walked back to Mr T.

Colne. Sure enough there it was Hebden on the Garmin 660 Sat Nav, 32 miles away luckily for me Colne was on the way and as it was only 17 miles away that was where I headed. The local postman was doing a collection just as I arrived, after asking the local traffic warden where the box was, I was 200 meters short “not too bad from a postcode search” I thought. The postman was happy to take my picture just as soon as he had locked his van. A crowd gathered (something which is starting to become a regular event) asking me what I was doing, I explained I was visiting all the Gold Letter Boxes within the next 6 months as that’s how long they were to remain gold before reverting to their original pillar box red.

Colne Albert Road

Steven Burke Gold medal Men's Team Pusuit

Hebden North Yorkshire. What a fantastic ride from Colne to Hebden through some of North Yorkshire most beautiful countryside, all A & B roads with a couple of single track lanes thrown in for good measure. The Post Office is so picturesque and tucked away at the back of the village. Shame a Land Rover had parked straight in front of it but still managed a nice picture all the same.

Hebden Village

Andrew Triggs Hodge Gold medal Men's Four RowingMore

Day One - 3 Gold Post Boxes

Friday 10^th August 2012 - Day 2                           Days Mileage 95 Miles - Total 214



Manchester. Ben decided he would like to join me on me trip today so we headed off to “bag” another 5 Gold Letter Boxes. As Manchester is on our doorstep and I used to work 20 feet from its location on the corner of Albert Square it was a quick and easy ride through Chadderton and down into Manchester city centre. Traffic was as it always is but once through the roadwork’s on Chadderton Broadway it was plain sailing. As luck would have it there was a very friendly female photographer who offered to take our picture. One down, four to go.

Manchester Albert Sq

Philip Hindes Gold medal Men's Team SprintMore

Bolton x 2. As luck would have it there are two Gold Letter Boxes in Bolton one on Churchgate and the other around the corner on Deansgate. We had to wait a little while at the Churchgate box as there were a load of children making a documentary for school about the Olympics and being filmed and having their pictures taken in front of the box. The teacher asked if Ben would like to be interviewed on camera but he declined. So I was quizzed about our ride and what we were doing. Luckily it was not on film but the teacher did take down all our replies and photographed us instead. In all the excitement I forgot to ask her to take a picture of us both with my camera!

Bolton Churchgate

Jason Kenny Gold medal Men's Team SprintMore

The Deansgate box turned out to be a bit of a pain to find only as I had taken a short cut through the town centre. I parked in front of Fred Dibners’ Memorial Statue were I was lucky enough to ask a very helpful young man who pointed us 200 meters down the road to our destination. Postcodes don’t you just love them! Arriving at the box we had to wait for a couple of locals to finish taking their pictures and once again out of the blue a chap asked if we would like him to take our picture together which he did. Do you notice a pattern forming here? Even the Gold Post Boxes are bringing the Great British helpful side out of everyone.

Bolton Deansgate

Jason Kenny Gold medal Men's SprintMore

Chorley. Turned out to be the easiest and quickest box of them all to find. I stopped the bike at the side of the box, got off,  took the picture with Ben astride Mr T, then got “bibbed” by an old couple wanting to pass. Still I think it’s the best picture I’ve taken so far. I remounted and pulled out of their way only for the female driver to almost reverse into us as we plumbed in our next destination! When in Chorley, Bikers beware of old ladies bearing “Blue Badges” as they cannot reverse for toffee!

Chorley Market Street

Bradley Wiggins Gold medal Men’s Cycling Time TrialMore

Eccleston. Damn post codes are driving me to distraction! No I do not want to park up in a cul de sac to cause the local “curtain twitching brigade” to go into total shock! Still with assistance of a local chap out on his bike we soon found our way to destination number five the Carrington Centre. Parking on a “No Parking” zone to get the picture we were in and out as quick as you like. So that was that, job done for today. As a reward I took Ben to lunch at Millennium Motorcycles in St Helens where we enjoyed a tasty bacon and egg bap before taking a steady ride back to Wardle.

Eccleston Carrington Centre

Bradley Wiggins Gold medal Men’s Cycling Time TrialMore

So far so good however when I returned to the computer to take a look at the post office web site I was both shocked and surprised to learn we now have a total of 46 Gold Letter Boxes. I set to zooming right in to street level viewing and also discovered I can plot each and every location within 10 meters by just taking my time. I got to bed at 1.30am, tired but very, very happy that I’ve now plotted each and every Gold Letter Box that were available as of Friday the 10^th of August. Now all I need to do is get out there and take some more pictures, lot’s more!

Day Two - 5 Gold Post Boxes

“Stop the press, Team GB have won another Gold……………….. Come ON!”

To be continued……………………