Walkers :- Danny, Anthony, Harry, Mike,
Martin, John R, John W.
"These boots were made for walking" but they won't walk by themselves. So Danny had to go back home for them. And THEN we set off !
We soon arrived in "Beautiful" Burnley and magically managed to make our way to "Turf Moor" football ground.
There was a chilly wind coming off the moors and we all wrapped up warmly before setting off. A short walk through the old terraces (houses not football stands) and we found ourselves crossing the river Brun into Towneley Park.
The paths through this rather attractive park took us alongside a golf course and eventually led us to our first watering hole the cafe at Towneley Hall. Not, however, before those of us with less than cast iron bladders were cruelly taunted by the water feature in the grounds,
After a welcome coffee in the cafe (thanks Harry) we made our way round the hall's magnificent buildings
and took the track uphill and away through the grounds.
Out of Towneley Hall and across the road where a track led upwards towards the moors where on previous occasions we had visited the "Singing Ringing Tree" . No moors on this walk as a right turn took us alongside a deep railway cutting and, to our childish delight, a train emerged from the tunnel we had unknowingly passed over . (Yes ! Yes ! Mike you knew it was there.....'cos you had the map.)
A little further on the track veered to the left but immediately in front of us the ground rose to a mysterious brick construction. Intrigued, we climbed the grassy bank to have a closer look.
Our inspection revealed that it had been designed by local primary school children and sponsored by a local brick company. What it was, however, remained a mystery. As we descended from this mossy mound the local geologists were able to record a tremor of seismic proportions as John W's 16 stone frame hit the ground with considerable force. The irony being that he was in the middle of reciting the story of a previous walk when a Meanderthal had worn trainers on a muddy slope and had come to grief. Guess what John W was wearing......... correct. Sympathy was shown by all but there was a corollary upon which I shall elucidate later.
Back onto Terra-firma or rather tarmac-firma and a short steep drop down to the railway line we had been following. Across the line and once more into the terraced streets of Burnley.
The internal alarm clocks of several of the walkers were by now trilling and pinging away and a lunch spot HAD to be sought. We were at the beginning of the "Straight Mile" part of the Leeds/Liverpool canal which we were to follow. Anthony told us of a decent lunch spot a little way in the opposite direction. Not in a rush, we turned round and soon found it.
Out of Towneley Hall and across the road where a track led upwards towards the moors where on previous occasions we had visited the "Singing Ringing Tree" . No moors on this walk as a right turn took us alongside a deep railway cutting and, to our childish delight, a train emerged from the tunnel we had unknowingly passed over . (Yes ! Yes ! Mike you knew it was there.....'cos you had the map.)
Back onto Terra-firma or rather tarmac-firma and a short steep drop down to the railway line we had been following. Across the line and once more into the terraced streets of Burnley.
Lunch over we retraced our steps to march along the "Straight Mile" which would take us to the geographical zenith of our walk. As we turned back an almost poetic sight lay before. A scene that contained all the elements of a cliched view of the industrial north.
"Dreamed a dream by the old canal, Dirty Old Town. Dirty Old Town."
At the end of the mile was another handsome Victorian park complete with boating and paddling pools and lots of other classic attractions. It lacked one ingredient that we sought - an OPEN toilet. A curtain must be drawn around the next few minutes.... sufficient to say that Meanderthals emerged from the park feeling quite comfortable.
Leaving the park we were soon once again admiring the superbly built terraced rows as we made our way back to "Turf Moor"
Here, at the home of Burnley F.C. where that chilly wind was still blowing, Martin announced the arrival of winter proper by treating us all to tipples of fiery liquid (I can't spell it's real name).
And so into the cars and a sunblinded journey home.
Oh Yes...the corollary....
At various intervals, various persons, asked John W if he "had everything he needed" or "Was he warm enough", When the response was a qizzical look from John they would, with great glee, produce from hiding whatever piece of clothing or equipment John had left or forgotten at their last stopping point or dramatic fall.......... B******S !
A few photos not used in the report
Coffee Time
I think the record is "Queen" "I want to ride my bicycle."
The start of the "Straight Mile" ... a little over a kilometre actually
2 comments:
Wrong town, John, for 'Dirty OLd Town'!
Yes I know and I shall be humming the tune next week. Burnley, though, is also a Dirty Old Town.
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