Walkers :- Anthony (leader) John W, John R, Paddy,
Danny, Mike, Martin, James, Harry.
As we try to recapture or make up for lost youth please indulge me as I begin with a poem by A E Housman.
Into my heart an air that kills
From yon far country blows
What are those blue remembered hills
What spires what farms are those ?
That in the land of lost content
I see it shining plain
The happy highway where I went
And cannot come again.
Blue skies and warm breezes promised us a lovely day. The promise was fulfilled !
We parked in the delightful Copster Green, a calm oasis just off the busy A59. and quickly made our way across this busy highway. Within minutes the green bucolic magic of the English countryside spread out around us. A hint of jealousy perhaps filched it's way into the mind as we passed pretty country cottages and magnificent manicured mansions.
Lush grass covered the little used footpaths and on the day when some of us came in shorts for the first time ( JW and DK) lush nettles adorned the stiles. Ouch !
Once again a helpful local guided us on our way as multiple farm gates had us guessing. People are very kind. (well most are -- see later) By now our path was leading steadily downhill towards the Ribble. The exquisite view of the river was framed by woodland on either side and included geometrically mown fields which we believed were being prepared for the Lancashire Agricultural Show.
Over a stile and onto the Ribchester to Clitheroe road. This we soon left and crossed a car park before descending to the River at a bend known as the Salesbury Wheel. Here the river squeezes through a rocky hiatus and creates a swirling "Bay" before continuing on it's way to Ribchester. We turned our backs on the Romans and followed the woodland path upstream towards the marvellous bridge at Dinckley. This is a classic woodland footpath with tree roots and man-made structures combining to help the walker over the ups and downs
The woodland opened out into sheep-grazed fields which soon yielded our first view of the Dinckley suspension bridge. As we approached the bridge there were shingle areas on the banks. We have learnt from previous expert led walks that roman remains (only small ones) can be found there. And so we arrived at the bridge and lunchtime. A wooden bench carved from a large tree trunk provided seating for five meanderthal backsides and others had their own stools (see "Who are the Meanderthals") After lunch the childish (ChildLIKE ! do you mind) John W insisted on crossing the bridge to have a "Bounce". Why, we wondered, was such a striking structure erected in what seems an unimportant point on the river ?
Now our course led us upwards as we began the return leg. We had rather an amusing surprise as Anthony waved at a security camera and a disembodied voice "spoke " from the wall.
"Have a good walk" it said "Please keep of the grass down my lane." There was more than that, but no matter. We avoided the precious grass. All except Martin who had not heard the "Mural Message" The "Voice" belonged to an erstwhile VIP from Blackburn Rovers F.C. (Forgotten Who) A little while before this we witnessed a remarkable piece of animal behaviour. A herd of cows led their calves away from us to the corner of a field and then with the calves "Corralled" the cows formed a barrier in front of them almost challenging us to approach. We were not that foolish.
A little further down the rural lanes we witnessed another rather more strange sight. A burly agricultural gentleman apparently beating the road into submission with a large lump hammer. He told us that the road to his farm had recently cost him £20,000 and was being ruined by dandelions bursting through it. So the furious attacks. He was also rather dismissive of the "Speaker of the Wall". "Oh 'im" he said.
By now we were well on our way back to the cars but Anthony's GPS "Died" leaving John's GPS which had not been programmed to help with the map reading. After a final stop on the banks of the Dinckley Stream we weaved a somewhat erratic path before a footbridge assured us that we were indeed on the planned route'
With yet another helpful local opening gates for us we eventually arrived back at Copster Green where Martin dispensed cool shandy to a hot and thirsty bunch.
This was an "Archetypal" nay "Quintessential" country walk, A delight from start to finish. Well done leader.
Over a stile and onto the Ribchester to Clitheroe road. This we soon left and crossed a car park before descending to the River at a bend known as the Salesbury Wheel. Here the river squeezes through a rocky hiatus and creates a swirling "Bay" before continuing on it's way to Ribchester. We turned our backs on the Romans and followed the woodland path upstream towards the marvellous bridge at Dinckley. This is a classic woodland footpath with tree roots and man-made structures combining to help the walker over the ups and downs
Now our course led us upwards as we began the return leg. We had rather an amusing surprise as Anthony waved at a security camera and a disembodied voice "spoke " from the wall.
"Have a good walk" it said "Please keep of the grass down my lane." There was more than that, but no matter. We avoided the precious grass. All except Martin who had not heard the "Mural Message" The "Voice" belonged to an erstwhile VIP from Blackburn Rovers F.C. (Forgotten Who) A little while before this we witnessed a remarkable piece of animal behaviour. A herd of cows led their calves away from us to the corner of a field and then with the calves "Corralled" the cows formed a barrier in front of them almost challenging us to approach. We were not that foolish.
A little further down the rural lanes we witnessed another rather more strange sight. A burly agricultural gentleman apparently beating the road into submission with a large lump hammer. He told us that the road to his farm had recently cost him £20,000 and was being ruined by dandelions bursting through it. So the furious attacks. He was also rather dismissive of the "Speaker of the Wall". "Oh 'im" he said.
By now we were well on our way back to the cars but Anthony's GPS "Died" leaving John's GPS which had not been programmed to help with the map reading. After a final stop on the banks of the Dinckley Stream we weaved a somewhat erratic path before a footbridge assured us that we were indeed on the planned route'
This was an "Archetypal" nay "Quintessential" country walk, A delight from start to finish. Well done leader.
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