The Meanderthals: SAMBO'S GRAVE

SUNDERLAND POINT 6.5 Miles

WALKERS ;- Frank, Harry, Mike, John R, Danny
Anthony, John W, Paddy, Jim C.

With the construction of the new road to Heysham having changed our familiar roundabouts we experienced just a little confusion as we drove to Overton. On arrival we were the only two cars on the rather expansive car park.

With shorts being the order of the day and no waterproofs in sight we were soon "Togged Up" and on our way - with Harry proudly displaying his "New Boots".

Our route began along the public highway, passing a gaggle of large white geese which honked at us loudly. Then past a shady corner which held some inviting tables and seats. "Coffee Time ?" came the cry. NOT YET ! (sorry readers your favourite bit is not here yet.)

Shortly after we left the road and took to the fields. This was very DANGEROUS as the stiles were overgrown with nettles and you will remember many of us were in shorts.

The way through the fields was rather easier than usual as hay time had come and gone and the grass was cut down to short stubble. We stopped briefly to watch two young gentlemen quickly reducing tree trunks to firewood with a rather remarkable machine.

Turning away from the "Wood choppers" yard a herd of cows blocked the way but Gene Autry and Roy Rogers (Harry and Danny) soon had them mustered and corralled.

A couple more fields and we were back on the public highway which zig-zagged it's way to the shore.

Now it WAS coffee time .... Hurray !

"Are you sitting comfortably ? Then I shall begin"

("Listen with Mother" - 1950's radio.)

The pipeline stretching out into the Irish sea can be seen top left of the photograph

Thirsts quenched (and it was a hot sticky thirsty sort of day) we set off to follow the coast in search of Sambo's Grave. The path at first was smooth and broad (sounds Biblical) but before long we were following a rough littoral line of assorted flotsam and jetsam.

Our pace was slow (isn't it always ? ) and we were soon strung out along the shoreline. It wasn't long, however, before we arrived at the seats which signalled the presence of the gravestone marking Sambo's final resting place. We, of course, paid our respects before settling on the benches for lunch.

One version of the story tells of Sambo, a negro slave, who was put up in a local hostelry whilst his master took a trip abroad. Fearing he had been deserted in a foreign land Sambo took to his bed, pined away and died. Not being a christian Sambo was not allowed to be buried in the local churchyard so he was buried all alone in the fields. The irony being that the Christian graves have gone but Sambo is still there. I cannot vouch for the veracity of this tale.

It was at this point that the battery in John's camera gave out. Paddy offered John the use of his camera. The two cameras memory cards were swapped and normal service was resumed. No photo was taken of our lunch spot.

With the tide beginning to flow we continued our walk towards the "Point". The path hardly now existed and we had to negotiate our way through a rough boulder encrusted section of the shore.

A large piece of flotsam. In the distance our group can be seen approaching.

More flotsam ...the tree silly, the tree !

With High Tide forecast for sometime after 2 0'clock we could quite happily round the point and head north again towards Sunderland Village.

Rounding the Point

The rock strewn terrain continued for some distance before a path emerged and we climbed a short slope onto an embankment above sea level. This took us along the river bank and past the almost romantic and certainly characterful buildings of this once busy port which was almost certainly involved in what is now recognised as the despicable slave trade. We cannot change history though.

In complete contrast to this once dark trade there is now a very modern lifesaving device on the old quayside.

A Defibrillator and instructions for it's use.

As we walked along the quayside the advancing tide could be clearly seen filling the Lune and heading towards the roadway back to Overton. A local told us that there was still time to walk along the road back to our cars before it was covered as the tide was slightly late arriving.

That was not our plan, however, and we once more took to the fields to complete our journey.

Not a sheep to be seen for "Shepherd" John.

After tramping through several fields we once again took to the highway to walk the final stretch to the cars. Here Anthony had taken up Martin's role and provided a refreshing drink. John's 70th birthday cake was also distributed

and TWO presentations took place, John R was presented with a certificate to commemorate his days walking the "Pennine Way" and Frank was awarded the "Walker of the Week" trophy...... Well..nearly !