20th November - 8.5 Miles
Walkers - Paddy, Anthony, John W, John R, Martin, Mike, Vic.
Return to the Ribble - "Paddy's Peril"
By 9.40 we were on our way out of Preston and heading East through Whalley and down to the river at Mitton Bridge. Parking at a rather "swish" refurbished pub the name of which I cannot recall we were soon following the south bank of the river towards our first stop - Edisford Bridge. The weather was ideal, grey and overcast but decidedly dry. The area was entirely delightful with charming vistas, riverside scenes and small gently rounded fields lined with healthy indigenous trees. Birds sang in the trees and ducks quacked and whistled to our right. (get back in the real world John) We soon met our first encountrant (If you think there's no such word - there is now ) A man with a REAL dog - A Lurcher ! Arriving at the river bank we spent a few minutes checking out the water measuring unit next to a small weir. Much surmising was done around the meaning of the warnings attached to it. Not long after we were sitting comfortably at picnic benches at the Edisford Riverside Park for an early lunch. Here there were enough seats and benches to accommodate (notice the spelling Vic ?) a regiment. Nearby an apple tree had shed it's bounty beneath its now bare branches and the local ducks were tucking in. Many of them waddled over to check us out as possible Bread Dispensers ? As usual the handy toilets were visited before we left the park to walk uphill towards Clitheroe. Here a "Stampede" of young men (youths) and ladies (girls) temporarily barred our way as they burst from a sports centre to cross the road to the games fields. And so for'ard to the Zenith of our walk - Brungerley Bridge. But not before re-enacting an episode of "Last of the Summer Wine" with Paddy and Vic having an arboreal adventure. (see Photo) The remainder of the group remembering that "Meanderthals were early homo-sapiens not advanced apes gave the tree a miss. Over Brungerleu bridge and up the hill into the grounds of Waddow Hall, the local headquarters of the Girl Guide Association. There is always a danger at some point during our walks that we see the finishing line and forget to enjoy our journey and switch to trudge gear which is tiring . This seem to happen at this point. A short stop to finish our flasks and then our journey turned into a minor challenge as the path closed in around us and became a little difficult to follow. At least one walker was reduced to reversing through the obstacles. Back onto the highway and over the bridge to the cars. Here Martin's SAD syndrome kicked in.. His Seasonally Adjusted Dispensary was out of Kilter and although he had already provided the winter's Spiced Wine he now produced the summers Shandy - THANKS MARTIN. I have forgotten to mention a rather picturesque set of weirs complete with the ubiquitous heron and the sighting of goosanders moving along the river.
An excellent and "Perilous" walk. Thanks Anthony.
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