Winston Plowes has finally got his breath back after his incredible bicycle journey along the Rochdale canal posting selected poems on each of its 92 locks as part of last month’s canal festival. In a message to poets whose poems were posted the festival's poet in residence has recounted his adventure - and Write Out Loud reckoned it was worth sharing with everyone. Here is his account:   

“On Saturday 18 August the weather forecast was good. A following breeze and a warm, dry day in store as I assembled the Brompton folding bicycle on Manchester Victoria’s platform. My mission was to cycle the entire 32-mile length of the Rochdale canal to Sowerby Bridge, stapling a poem to each of the 92 locks as I passed.

“I also gave myself the challenge of taking a picture of every lock for the record, as so many of the towpath poets had requested this. A quick battle with the traffic along Deansgate and Jo Bell’s poem was in place in Castlefield.

“It was at this stage that my mental calculations revealed that if I only stopped for two minutes (and it took much longer for all sorts of reasons) then with so many locks, three hours would be added to my journey time. So busy was I with my mental arithmetic I only narrowly missed a heron on the towpath between locks 88 and 89. Right in the middle of Manchester! It didn’t flinch, a cool customer in his grey morning suit.

“Soon at Canal Street and had to climb over a wall in a car park to post on lock 86. Past Piccadilly and carrying my machine over a footbridge, only to arrive at the next lock to find I had missed one out. Back over the bridge, sort out Elaine Booth’s lock 84, back over the bridge again.

“There’s a knack to riding under the low bridges on this stretch without banging your head or riding off the edge of the narrow path. All these bridge tunnels are festooned with cobwebs and strewn with broken glass and not recommended for cycling.

“Disaster struck at Pauline Plummer’s lock 79 with a puncture caused by all that glass. Half an hour struggling with the front wheel, sanding the tube flat and applying the patch. Off again, fingers crossed that the repair would hold. A nice stretch through Failsworth and beyond and a stop for a scotch egg and pint of milk. Invigorated, I pressed on, getting severe nettle rash and having to wait whilst the many poles of a fishing mach were retracted.

“Sian Howell’s lock 59 and the sky turned black, but thankfully only a shower. Phew. Sun out and bush hat on for protection, things were hotting up. Enjoyed seeing the poems in a new light, especially those written specifically to their locations. A problem at Steve Garside’s lock 50 as the lock arm had become a resting place for a group of drinkers. Lost some time as I stapled around their cans of Tennants.

“Waving as I went, chain off and the pedal gouges out a small piece of flesh from my shin so that by the time I reached Milnrow and Eileen Earnshaw’s lock 49 blood was nicely trickling over the nettle rash bumps. Not a pretty sight. Cleaned myself up and enjoyed a second scotch egg. Met up with Robin Parker at lock 67 and enjoyed a break and a chat.

"A military routine was in place now. Stopping, stapling, photographing. I am a reasonable photographer but on this day sadly some of my results were below par. Maybe technique was sacrificed for speed.

“I think the sun was affecting me by the time Todmorden was looming as I cycled straight past Annie Wright’s lock 16. Posted the wrong poem on the next one and only realised the problem at lock 14. Had to retrace and put things right on a stretch where the locks are pretty spread out. Still, on the home stretch now as a huge pike floated past belly up. Locks few and far between from Hebden to Sowerby, so an uninterrupted trundle to the finish. Satisfied with a job well done. The excellent range of beers at the Puzzle Hall Tavern were especially welcome.

 “Thank you all again for making this project all that it was, and for been so enthusiastic and talented."

And we say - well done, Winston!