The Pinkerton Collection

 Around the top of the spectator area in Manchester Velodrome are some of the Pinkerton Collection of historical bicycles.

This is a collection started by John Pinkerton, who also wrote about them and their history.

They are now in the care of his son Doug who runs Pinkerton Classic Cycles

and is also the event mechanic at this championships.

He also helps repair the track when people have crashed...and helps the first aid people as well.

Pirate is feeling better and after a long rest this morning we enjoyed supper in the Velodrome canteen..the chef made us a veggie bean curry especially, as all the choices left were definitely non veggie! Very good it was too.

As we arrived back at our digs, a couple approached us for help...you can no longer pay with cash at a Travelodge...you have also to book online.

They were having trouble with their card...and their phone was low on credit....so we paid by card for them and they gave us the cash.

Luckily the website has a part where you can say that you are booking for someone else, and add their details.....

People have helped us when we were travelling in the past....so this is paying it forward.

Quiet

 Pirate isn't feeling too good, so a down day today.  He said go where you want..but I can't think of anywhere and don't fancy walking alone in a strange place. 

So a quiet day for me too.  The older riders' events that we have mainly come to watch ( but it is fun watching it all and meeting friends of all ages!) have mostly been scheduled for rather late evenings and nights....they reverted to a race schedule from 2019 which apparently wasn't too popular then.  I know they also have to fit in with the schedule of the British track cycling squad...but having sessions of racing 10 am or so to lunchtime...them 6pm until 11 or 12....

I can't really criticise as I am not involved like before...but it isn't good for spectators either!!.. especially as the café has only extended its hours to 7pm!!!

Anyhow...we had a nice short afternoon walk yesterday in Phillips park by the Velodrome, where you can walk, cycle, run, there is a  BMX track and allotment gardens too..

The gates are a bit awkward for wheelchairs and buggies but not impossible..I think they are aimed at keeping the scrambler motorbikes out

A good mural! On the old railway viaduct..there is a path along the top as well.

And looking back at the Velodrome...the curving (and leaky!) roof over the track on the right, the one on the left is the BMX building 

I had a shopping foray too

This is the Manchester City (Etihad) stadium looking like a giant spider crouching with legs sticking up....

And views from the bridge by the Velodrome over the Ashton Canal which reopened in 1974 and is part of two canal round trips, linking up with canals at both ends, the Rochdale Canal in Manchester and Huddersfield Narrow Canal and Peak Forest Canal, by the Dukinfield junction in Ashton under Lyme. Its only six miles long, but a vital link and still used.

It is worrying how Pirate feels..but it is something that has occurred a few times since his prostate treatment...just an internal sore bit that cameras have previously found...but having all the present treatment plus an UTI....say TURP to any older man and he will understand..and wince!  It looks like he has flushed out the problem... thankfully and hopefully.

At least here in the travelodge we are self contained, and this branch is small and quiet..and if everything goes pearshaped, A&E is only 5 minutes away!  Although he is doing his best to stay out of there, understandably.

I am keeping myself entertained, doing my Duolingo lessons, watching S4C (Welsh language TV) programmes about St Ffagans museum where I used to work, reading blogs and writing.  A productive quiet restful day.   A quiet restful healing day for Pirate.