Sergio Aguero - where are you?

Day 3 began with a short jaunt to the Peoples Republic of Wigan which was a good warm up for the rigours of the day. Saw absolutely no-one fishing off the end of Wigan Pier. Come to think of it never saw a pier! As we arrived at the DW Stadium there was a huge crowd of people (to greet us?)Alas no merely queueing for some season ticket deal or other.

And on to the Theatre of Dreams aka Old Trafford. The anticipation as I cycled into Sir Matt Busby Way was palpable only to be dashed by Joe the car park Guard/Attendant who told me that I could go no further. Rather disappointingly the area in front of the main entrance was being repaved and it was not possible to get close enough for a photo in front of the statue of the United Trinity (Best, Law, Charlton) or the one of Sir Matt.
Still had a good look around the main car park.

And then on to 'the only club in Manchester'

and a visit to the newly renamed Etihad Stadium. I have to say they were great and we were greeted by a lovely woman from the PR and Marketing Department by the name of Damaris Treasure. She really looked after us and took us pitchside. The playing surface was outstanding but we had to keep a lookout unless we got in the way of all the media and official action surrounding the transfer of Sergio Aguera who was somewhere in the stadium. We hung around for as long as we could in the anticicpation of a glimpse of the squillion pound player but find him we could not. Hopefully Premiership defenders have a little more success in finding him during the course of the season. Damaris if you are reading this - thank you very much for looking after us.

We could not hang around any longer for the elusive Senor Aguero and we moved on to our final call of the day Stockport County. County only qualified for inclusion in the trip as they were in the Football League on my birthday but will start their new season in the Blue Square League. They have big plans to get back and have appointed Didi Hamaan as their new manager. They too like many of the lower league clubs looked after us really well and did give us a shirt signed by the last group of players to play for them as a league team. As the bloke who showed us round said only a few years ago they were in the play offs for a place in The Premier League.

I then had the small matter of a ride to Oldham. Given that Oldham is one of the highest grounds in England I knew what was coming. The last 3.5 miles were seriously uphill and when they are the ones that come after the first 53 miles of the day they do leave a lasting memory to finish the day.

There is a real chance that I could make the Guinness Book of Records (do they still have that?)this evening for the shortest time ever to fall asleep. A record that I probably already hold from last night!

And so tomorrow we say goodbye to Lancashire which quite remarkably has been dry for the time that we have been here. Three sunny days. Another record?

And so to Yorkshire - eeeeee baaaah gum!