May bank holiday Saturday, our team of three set off from Clayport library to travel along the river side to Prebends bridge, where we would return via South & North Bailey, Slater St, Market place & back to Clayport Library.

You may think it is a short, relatively easy journey, but we are in wheelchairs, Adam is confined to an electric wheelchair (he has a muscular disease) I am using a lightweight wheelchair with a hand cycle attachment & a small hub motor for some assistance (I am Mike, I have an amputation & suffer with poor circulation due to diabetes). The third member of our team is JOHN, a frequent visitor to the library, who is a keen walker, with knowledge of the many paths around DURHAM. (He was press-ganged into helping us by BETH).

So off we set, crossing CLAYPATH, (not easy, there are ramps, but no pedestrian controlled traffic lights!!) heading down the cycle track to the tunnel under the roadway (MILBURNGATE A690?). Once through the tunnel we are faced with a choice of 3 routes, John advises the riverside path, so we continue under more road bridges, negotiating broken surfaces which are well past their sell by date, and could do with a LOT of REPAIR.
Eventually it is obvious the path is the riverside path, as it runs along the riverside!! Passing the moored river cruise boats the path narrows and snakes between river WEAR & the overhanging trees & undergrowth, BIRDSONG abounds! Thrush, blackbirds and small birds (ROBINS DUNNOCKS ASSORTED FINCHES & TITS) all singing their claim to territory, but not visible as the leaf canopy is so dense.

Pretty soon, we happen upon a clearing beside the path, it is bathed in sunlight, with well mown grass, the area is big enough for kids to have a kick-about, while parents watch from the picnic they brought, an idyllic scene.

As the path leads us on our journey, I realise why JOHN was sent out with us, for ahead of us lies a short ramp, about six to eight feet high (2-3 metres for you metric types). We need JOHN to push both myself and ADAM up this ramp, as it is very steep (other wheelchair users should bring their own JOHN, or perhaps a team of fit teenagers! As it would be impossible to push yourself up these slopes) THESE you say? Yes there's another one!....and more ahead!

But back to the journey, we pass the rowing club boathouses, noticing rowers out practicing on the river, the dappled sunlight glinting off the wet oars, the gentle ripples of water, sliced by the prow of their boats mixed with the sound of laughter, the ever present bird song lulls us into thinking the day is complete........

AHH-HA! There ahead lies the mountainous gradient that leads up to the dizzy heights of PREBENDS BRIDGE, other path users coming in the opposite direction are carrying small bunches of wild garlic (ramsons?) we are advised by a lady that it is good for cooking with and has a much more subtle & lighter flavour when used in salads or stir fry's, then JOHN tells us all that legend has it the garlic was planted by medieval monks to ward off evil spirits (he also says it must have worked, as no-one has ever seen an evil spirit here-abouts!)
Pretty soon, we rely on JOHN to assist us up the rutted steep slope to PREBENDS BRIDGE, where we rest, to prepare for the video team who have followed our every move so far, but when we have our interview to camera, they will cross PREBENDS & join another mapping group.
During the interview, I asked ADAM,"What do you think of it so far ADAM?"

He replied directly to the camera, with a huge grin on his face, saying, "I never thought I would do this.....but now I have, I want to do more, it is fantastic!"... JOHN & I said a few words, but ADAM had put everything we wanted into his comment, the facial expressions he had really said it all.

The video team left, JOHN told us a few points of local interest, then we turned and faced the track up to SOUTH BAILEY
After consulting with JOHN, we decided that ADAM should go first, with JOHN pushing him, the heavy electric wheelchair fighting for grip & traction, the summit was reached, but at the top a heavy duty metal barrier was locked across the roadway(apparently, only HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN may drive across PREBENDS bridge, so this barrier must be to deter anyone from such an attempt!) the track surface is hard-packed earth/rock, the slope is VERY steep! That would be enough deterrent, even for a tractor driver!!!

But I digress, my turn next! To attempt the climb, JOHN asked me how would it best be attempted by my wheelchair, after some discussion, we decided that I would use the assistance motor, JOHN would push the chair, we would pray(!) but the idea came to us both that a zig-zag route would be advised as the steep angle could have me fall out of the back of the chair!
Off we set, zig-zagging, the front drive wheel spinning for grip, JOHN heaving the wheel chair up the hill(it is a lightweight, BUT I AM NOT!!)

MADE IT!! But now JOHN has to wrestle the chair & me around the tiny gap at the side of the metal barrier, we are driven on in our efforts by ADAMS encouraging grin, as he surveys our struggle with gravity!

END OF CHAPTER ONE.
Coming soon, CHAPTER TWO - The cobbles!!!