CROSSING the RUBICON (Spelt R-I-B-B-L-E )

TARLETON and BANK HALL  6/7 miles

Walkers :-  Anthony (leader), Jim, Danny, Martin and John W.

Funeral, holidays, and voluntary work combined to reduce our numbers this week and crossing the river always means a special day with special requirements.

But we were up to the challenge and our brave quartet slipped unnoticed across the river for our rendezvous with a local native guide (5th Columnist ?). Shortly after we were parked up in the , to me, surprisingly attractive and vibrant village of Tarleton.
Boots and rucksacks in place and we dropped quickly down Plock Hill stopping as we reached the banks of the canal beyond which rose the levee'd banks of the River Douglas (Asland ?) We crossed neither but turned to the right and followed the canal bank as it led us away from the built up area

We stopped briefly at garage were John had spotted a "Riley 1.5" one of the first cars he had ever owned.
At the first bridge we climbed the few steps up to the A49 Crossed over the canal and dropped back down again on the opposite bank where we were now sandwiched between canal and river. A very large ploughed field and a well defined path at it's edge fooled us into striding out and missing our planned turning point. We have done this before when invitingly obvious paths cause us to obliviously  pass our turning point. No matter ! Fresh challenges opened before us. Anthony soon picked out a new route and led us boldly onward. He even found us a comfortable and attractive spot for our coffee break.

Coffee time rarely passes without it's own minor dramas. Today one of our number found his coffee was rather weak. It somewhat resembled water - indeed it WAS water - he had forgotten to add coffee to his hot, sweetened water. As one would expect flasks were proffered from every direction.  (think there was no offer from N.N.E !) Then another companion found his "Fizzy" water so tightly stoppered that  the best efforts of several large hairy beasts could not shift it.  Anthony, however,  had "Strategies" and the "Fizz" soon flowed.
We now left the canal behind us and followed a well surfaced farm track taking us east across the fertile farmland. Ignoring the temptation to follow inviting side paths we stuck to the main track arriving at last at an unusual bridge with a "temporary" feel to it with an aluminium trackway and a rubberised central "carpet"

"There's a weight limit on that bridge fellas. Go carefully."

The strange bridge with a "Carpeted" mid section.




Once over the bridge we again took to the fields now searching for a lunch spot. The sun was  shining down upon us but even so the bare open fields somehow didn't invite us to linger and eat. After crossing two especially large open fields we once again found ourselves  in a country lane which led us to a rather "Exclusive" development. At least it felt exclusive as even the road verges looked like well manicured lawns. It felt a little uncomfortable to sit and munch on such  well tended sites so we plodded on until we entered a wood on the Bank Hall estate.  Here our valiant leader led us off the road into a tiny "delph" within the wood. A lovely sylvan dining room.

                                                                                                                                                   
Had we known what was just around the corner we may well have waited for a few more minutes before lunch. Five minutes after we emerged from the "Delph" we came to the ruins of Bank Hall. Very dramatic with magnificently elegant Elizabethan chimneys poking proudly above the ruined walls of the once beautiful mansion. A local volunteer told us all about the restoration plans.
.After exploring the grounds of the hall we left to complete our journey. The A49 soon roared in front of us and after joining it and crossing the bridges over the river and the canal we dropped down to the canal bank which we followed back to Tarleton and our parked car. After swallowing Martins dispensed largess we climbed aboard and headed home. 

Another well led walk with lots of interest. Well done leader !