ASHTON PRESTON

 WATER ?    YES.... WATER !  5- Miles 

A Damp start for :- John, Anthony, Mike, Jim and Danny  

It's Raining - That's water 

    There's a Pond - That's water

        There's a Dock - That's water

            There's a Canal - That's water

Ok we've got the idea. Now get on with the blog.

As we left the car park in Haslam Park it was gently raining. (water)

By the time we got to the "Duck" pond the rain had ceased and didn't return for the rest of the day.

The Pond (water)

I write "Duck pond but it was also a "Swan" pond a "Gull" pond and a "Waterhen" pond.

A rather sad looking Silver Birch tree, There was , however, a certain alluring "Arty" feel to it. Hence the photo,

"Hello up there" said Jim . or was it something else he said.

Heading out of the park and under the railway.

Out into Cottam Lane, over Blackpool Rd. and then Pedders Lane down to the docks.

Half way down Pedders Lane and we pass this unusual building which Danny tells us was once the Fire Station.

There's a hint here that we might be approaching the docks.

 " Where is it ? can you see it ?"

"Oh yes. Got it now."

Butty time down by the the Dock (water). The walls and the benches were rather damp but we all had picnic matts in our rucksack so we had a dry seat.

 It seems that when this dock was built it was considered to be the biggest SINGLE dock in the country.

Paddy (RIP) was a keen sailor and moored his boat just about here. We have fond memories of him.

Banana boats from the west Indies and other goods from around the world are long gone. The dock is now used for recreational sailing. It is repeatedly plagued by the unpleasant and dangerous Blue-Green Algae.

We remember that when we were boys all the ships in the dock used to blow their  WHISTLES , HORNS  etc. at midnight on new years eve, They could be heard clearly throughout the town and beyond . As  little boy my parents would wake me up to go outside to listen to them. Such simple pleasure all those years ago.

Many of the docks original buildings have been demolished and replaced, on this side by shops and office buildings. On the other side are extensive blocks of flats and apartments. (see previous photos)

Lunch consumed we sat around chatting and watching the boats gently moving in the Dock in front of us.

After lunch we continued to sit and chat and I for one must confess to be glad of a few minutes rest. After eighty years the body is no longer so resilient. Others seem immune to the years. 😟

Then off along the quayside towards Preston.

"What" we asked ourselves "was a lighthouse doing INSIDE the dock complex. Totally unnecessary"  It is  in fact a replica built by Morrisons to draw attention to their store.

Danny wanted to visit the Garden centre at Morrisons looking for Tulip bulbs.

They had none. The  rest of us took advantage of the "Facilities".

As we proceeded  along the quayside we came across these chaps MAGNET FISHING.. Increasingly popular , even TRENDY hobby (imported from the USA. One of the more friendly and harmless of Mr Trumps "gifts".)  Throw a magnet into the water and see what comes up. Mostly junk but occasionally interesting stuff, even weapons thrown to hide them.

We came at last to the second "Lifeboat Bouy" This one, and the one we saw earlier. rather  "bracket" the dock area. (.................)

This building was the head office the Docks authority. They have certainly gone to town with the "Festive" decorations,

 NO...... the Christmas decorations.  One gets tired of this wokeish desire to neutralise everything into bland and meaningless titles.

The large entrance doors have the most incredible/beautiful door handles.

It was rather dark in the foyer and your gormless photographer didn't think to switch the flash on. 

Just a thought. In order that someone can be called GORMLESS, there must be something called a GORM. But what can it be ?

The "Lads " wait patiently for the photographers.

There was plenty of light inside at reception.

" Mr Trotter . Leave that hammer at reception before you go upstairs ......

THANK YOU !"

Dish after...Dish after...Dish after...Dish after...Dish after...Dish 

A careful look will reveal the row of satellite  dishes fixed to the terrace

Christmas wreaths were beginning to appear on front doors. This however was a mystery ????

The canal (water).

The final strech of our walk took us along the canal and back to Haslam Park.

The gardens on the far bank ranged through the prim neatness . the superbly built extravagant,  to the totally bizarre. All seemed quite acceptable.

"Ginny Greenteeth" seems to have been given free rein here, Perhaps because there is very little traffic so near the terminal stretch of the canal. Also we are in Winter. Most boats will be securely tied up.

This stretch of the canal was not the most salubrious. It reminded me of a song I used to sing in folk clubs in the 60s. (Danny's sister Rosemary used to sing it with me in a trio.  Adrian O'Conner made three)

To walk on water you need faith

bye Golly E`e By Gum 

I've seen it done on this canal

Supported by the scum

Never sang it in Wigan from where it emanated,

Just where are we right now ? Look over the rooftops and you will see.

Danny, had still not found Tulips. Perhaps its the wrong time of year, Remember the song

When it's SPRING again

I'll bring again

Tulips from ???

A garden centre,

As we entered Haslam Park there was a small garden centre. Danny tried again.  No tulips but a splendid DOG made entirely of old WELLIES

Back to the car and the short drive home.

THE END

JW

PENWORTHAM

 WHAT WHY WHEN ! 4 Miles

The Puzzled :- John W, John R, Mike, Anthony, Danny,  Jim.

Most of our walks are planned in advance and start from a set place at a set time.    NOT THIS ONE !

John had to take his car in for service near Strand Rd.  It was arranged to pick him up from there at the usual time and carry on to a walk round Haslam Park

Then John Russell rang to say he had arranged for a special Mass at St Theresa's in Penwortham to be said for John's wife Valerie. (thank you John) It was to start much earlier than our normal starts. The group decided that they would all attend the mass (Thanks lads) and so all our arrangements had to change.

Here's Mike pulling in at the Citroen Dealers to pick John up.

We were soon at St Theresa's where the Mass took place in the side Chapel. A class from St Theresa's school also attended which, as John was a primary school Headteacher, was delightfully appropriate.

 Mass over we collected our bits and pieces from the car and set off on our changed walk.

Out of Penwortham's affluent suburbs and down through the woods towards the River.

Under this natural archway and past a blockage of Ivy which the recent winds had torn from the trees.

We found benches down by the river which the weak sun had failed to defrost. We kept our bums dry using the "Picnic pads" we carry in our rucksacks.

Photography can be difficult at this time of the year as the low sun can easily flood any photos with unwanted light.

Coffee break over we set off in the direction of Penwortham bridge passing as we did the art work in the trees.

I think that owls must be one of the favourite items to sculpt. Perhaps they are easier than more complicated wildlife.

At this point the riverbank has been cleared and strengthened. I think this was to allow the servicing of the once large power staion which stood close by.

Looking across the river we can see the steps down from the quayside where the once busy inland port and the docks needed space for boats coming up the river to tie up. The photo does not show the  many  large strong bollards on the quayside which the boats/ships tied up to.

In the distance over the trees we can see St Walburge's steeple reputedly the third tallest in the land.

Unusually there were very few dog walkers about today. Indeed there were very few walkers of any kind about

Except for this bunch of course.

This building, where the old power station use to be,is now just a substation. Quite a large one though.

Look carefully and walk even more carefully. These two shots show the first ice of the winter.

Under Penwortham bridge and the Liverpool Southport road.

Throughout our walk we came across trees damaged by the recent storm force winds.

"They're coming to take me away.    Ha-Haaa"

   1966 Nonsense song  sung by Jerry Samuels AKA   Napoleon XIV

Who's this ? Well it ain't  "James the Less"  that's for sure

A short stop on the South side of the river for more comestibles and coffees. We soon moved on from this spooky spot.

Looking over the new (a few years ago) flood barrier back towards Penwortham bridge which we have just crossed. The tide is high bringing with it sea fishes. Mostly flat fish such as  Plaice,  Flukes and Dabs. The latter two might be different local names for the same species.

We continued along Broadgate until we reached the old bridge....... which we crossed.

Here we are, reduced to silhouettes, crossing the bridge.

John looks like he's STAG---gering in this photo

Aha --- he's dispensed with the additional  headgear.  THAT'S BETTER !

On the neighbouring "Service" bridge were rows of white things.

A closer shot revealed them to be gulls. (remember there are NO birds called SEAgulls.) even though we all call them seagulls

After crossing the road we followed a narrow footpath. Penworthamite John R called it the cinder path.  In less affluent times there were cinder paths all round Preston. I followed one on my way to school. They were , I think, using the waste from factory furnaces. Again uncertainty  but I think it was called Slack or Slag. 

We passed a strange device which seemed to be for controlling the flow of water coming under the path.

No cinders here anymore !

We eventually climbed away from the path to cross over the busy, nearby road and into the area containing the cemetery and the park.

This appears to be a mounting post so that horse riders could LEAD their mounts over the busy road in case they became startled by the noisy traffic below.     

THERE'S  LOT OF SPECULATION GOING ON IN THIS BLOG 😕

Look at that sky. a beautiful day...... COLD though.

As time was not an issue we opted to go into Hurst Grange park in search of coffee, tea or maybe Hot Chocolate 😃

We soon arrived at the cafe and sat down to chat as we waited for the "charming" waitress to bring our drinks ( when men such as ourselves are of a certain age care has to be taken over one's vocabulary when talking about young women)

The drinks when they arrived were quite amusingly presented.

John rather cheekily asked the waitress was he supposed to drink his hot chocolate, eat it or even climb it.

It all added up to a pleasant few minutes towards the end of our walk.

So.... out of the cafe and down the path heading back to St Theresa's church and the cars.

A final wave from John R as he heads off in the opposite direction to where he lives not too far away.

Another  enjoyable "Amble" draws to a close. See you all next week.

JW