HEYSHAM

 A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE "TUNNEL"

5 MILES ?

PLODDERS :-  Jim, John, Danny, Anthony, Mike.

After arriving at "Half Moon Bay" we had a bit of a struggle working out how to use the Parking machine. A regular user stepped in ... THANKS !

Here we are unloading the car and soon after heading to the cafe for a "Start Off" brew,

and then the walk which was rather more than we expected.

After a short walk passing this anchor. A reminder that tiny Heysham is still an important port.

AND A DISTANT VIEW OF THE FERRY ARRIVING IN THE DOCKS.

We entered "Money Close Lane which soon became a sort of GREEN TUNNEL. No footpaths and lined with thick undergrowth, bushes and trees. It was impossible to see any sort of a view, This seemed endless. The only change being the surface tarmac underfoot. Hardly exciting.

Sometimes rough sometimes smooth and occasional changes in hue. (Your being grossly unfair Mr Writer)

Then briefly a change as we passed through a rather well maintained mobile home park, Some of the caravans (privately owned ?) being rather sumptuous.

To our right as we emerged from the caravan site was Heysham Nuclear Power Station. Well guarded and fenced off. to our left the open sea.

Before us was a L-O-N-G stretch of unremitting and unforgiving concrete. Plod on mi hearties !

At last we reached Danny's planned target. The lighthouse at the entrance to Heysham Harbour.

Now this was NOT the "Eddystone Light"  NOR EVEN the "Needles Light". This was more yer "Heysham Pebble" light or yer  "Rusty nail" and candle light.

Here's the said "Beast" but as usual the hyperbolic words are hardly warranted. We spent a very pleasant hour sitting in the sun and watching the activities around the harbour.

We surmised that the small structure amongst the dilapidated wooden pier could have been the original lighthouse.

Over to our right was the Manx ferry waiting to load up and sail off the to the Isle of Man.

The above photo shows a group with over three hundred years of knowledge and experience and you can tell.       Can't you ? ..... Well possibly   er... well maybe .... well er.....   mmmmm ?......... No mention of acquired WISDOM  then. 

In the harbour was what appeared to be a small tug boat which circled around all the time we were there.

Then whilst we were watching to our right (Starboard) this boat sneaked slowly in to the left (Port). Jim went out to greet it.

But what was it and why so slow.   Look !  Jim got there first.

It seems that it was a dredger and in this and the following photo you can see the muddy water being disposed of over the side of the boat.

By now it was time to return and we set off with some trepidation to follow the concrete corridor and the green tunnel back to Half Moon Bay and the car.

As we walked back by the side of the nuclear facility an alarm sounded and a group of police and others uniformed staff appeared. They were hidden by the inner of the two security  fences   Genuine alarm ? or regular practice ?

As we walked back we came across this fabulous wooden sculpture on the beach. Entirely crafted by the forces of nature. Cleaned up it would be worth a fortune in a garden centre.

I can almost hear a tired parent saying. "GO AND PLAY OVER THERE KIDS"

Almost at the end of the Green Tunnel" and the end of the walk. 

"The light at the end of the tunnel"

A hot and thirsty walk required a return visit to the cafe for drinks. Jim, who had left part of his lunch at home, was ready for a bite to eat as well.

Half Moon Bay.  35 years ago, sans cafe and other civilising things, this was where John brought the kids for a sunny seaside day out.

A very tiring but as always an enjoyable and companiable days walking....and walking....and walki............

Well done Danny.

That's all folk

John zzzzzzzzzz !