The Meanderthals: "RE-WYRED" by SPARKIE

SKIPPOOL CREEK 9 Miles

SWIMMERS :- John R, John W, Mike,
Paddy, Mick and Vic.

The weather forecast was not good.
The weather forecast WAS RIGHT !

When we arrived at Skippool Creek the wind was blowing and the rain was falling.
When we left Skippool Creek the wind was blowing and the rain was falling.
In between the wind was blowing and the rain was falling.

We initially parked at the cricket ground and waited for our Blackpool contingent to arrive. As a super High Tide was predicted, inundation was a possibility so we sought safer parking in a nearby pub car park. Here we were joined by John R who came late in his own car. THEN we set off. The state of the car park did not fill us with optimism.

Immediately out of the car park we entered a world of boats. Sadly many of the boats we passed were decidedly the worse for wear and in no way seaworthy. Even the moorings looked ramshackle and quite frankly "disreputable".

Paddy, a seafaring man, seemed to find much of the boat strewn shoreline almost distressing. Here he is comforting a disconsolate vessel.

By now the rain was incessant and the sky sombre and heavily grey. We continued along the shoreline path keeping a watchful eye on the level of the broad grey river to our right. The full tide was due in a short time.

............ and we had been warned !

As the rain continued a wonderful sign appeared before us.

A warm cafe with a welcome mug of coffee courtesy (again) of Paddy,

Coffees consumed we set off again with the rain, if anything, even heavier. On our right was the swollen river Wyre. Cold and grey. To our left the path was following the uncompromising fence of the massive industrial site which formerly housed the various sections of the I.C.I. chemical works.

The path continued, in places, arrow straight, until we reached the end of the industrial site when it took a sharp left to cross a "Disused" railway. Perhaps not quite disused ???

These tracks are something of a conundrum. The rails are shiny indicating recent use but if so that is a very brave bush growing there. Once across the tracks another puzzle awaited. What was the original purpose of this bank the footpath followed.

At the end of this path lay a busy road which we were to follow briefly as we looked for sheltered spot to have our lunch. Mike's local knowledge led us to an amateur football club's ground where a handy shelter kept both ourselves and our butties dry.

From this amateur club we followed the backstreets of Thornton (Stannah ?) to the professional club. "Fleetwood Town" and it's impressive training complex.

After a short stay at this surprising complex we were off again following the streets to Mike's early History. His very early history as it turned out.

Here he is outside the church were he was baptised all those years ago. (Think Biblical years here.)

........ and then even further back to the house in which his mother was born.

By now we were heading towards the end of our walk but as is usual on our progresses the show isn't over till the fat lady sings or in this instance 'till the rain (still coming down) gives us a final kicking. If we were not WET by now we were soon to be so. The water pouring out of the sodden fields filled the lanes from side to side and there was no option other than to wade through it.

Although Mick (John ?) seems to imagine he can walk on water !

Soon after this we left the lane to follow a short path which led us to the Cricket Ground car park and so along the creek and back to the cars. Here, Damp, and stiff and rapidly chilling we climbed gratefully into the cars for a WARM, DRY journey home.

Thanks to Mike for an interesting and decidedly challenging walk.

A FEW MORE PHOTOS