RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY. - OK !

Aplogies  dear reader for the late posting of this report.  Baby sitting duties and the general election kept the writer away from the keyboard. Then, having written the report your sleep deprived and befuddled writer pressed some button which deleted all the work.

AAAaaargh !!   Ah well. Try again.

ANGLEZARKE  9+ Miles

WALKERS :-  Anthony, Martin, Vic, James, John W
                       John R, Danny, Dave, Frank, Mike. Jim.


"White Coppice."
"Where's that ?"
"You know where it is."
"Yeah. But how do you get there ?"
"Follow me." 

Well, we got there. Then we drove a little further to park at a viewpoint high above the reservoirs. 
With a terrible weather forecast we all ensured we were well waterproofed before setting off down towards the lakes.

  Here you see Frank sporting a very fetching green tent.

During the day we were to follow tarmacked roads, Farm tracks and woodland paths. Rarely crossing grassed areas (fields). But first down a long, steep hill eventually arriving at the banks of Anglezarke reservoir. We turned right along a broad track to follow the shoreline stopping briefly to check our map to assure ourselves that although the notice said Rivington we were in the Anglezarke area.

 It was not far along the track before it narrowed as it entered the woodland. Here the starkly bold and dark tree trunks lent drama to the scene and benches simply had to be sat upon for coffee time.

 

 Having imbibed whatever amount of coffee each wanted our departure was delayed by an intriguing Latin inscription on one of the benches. It started Nunc..... and ended ....amor. Your author has forgotten the rest. (anyone help ?) 

 A gathering of great linguists.... I think not !

Onwards through the woods until we took our customary unplanned diversion. This took us up a steep scramble  through the wood before reaching a tricky stile leading  out onto a short piece of grassland.

Several of us were grateful for helping hands as we tried to surmount this stile. Meanwhile Anthony adopts a classic "I'm waiting patiently" pose.

Our boots only crushed a few blades of grass before we reached the highway again. The views from here were worth the effort we had made climbing up and the grey skies had lightened and the rain stopped. The road soon took us down a long and relatively steep slope. Knees and toes let us know how steep.

 At the bottom of this hill choices had to be made. Before us was the "Goit".  A man made channel bringing water from one reservoir to the other. Should we turn back and follow the opposite bank back to the cars or head north following the goit to the pretty hamlet of "White Coppice." adding a couple of miles to the walk. The vote took us north.

Leaving the road we followed the goit, although the path was some yards away from it. Initially a dry , broad track.  THIS CHANGED !

Mike offers a helping hand to a wet Vic.

Having acquired a wet a*** on a previous stream crossing James was determined to cross this one dry.

A dry James smiles as he looks back at the water.

The path continued alternately wet and dry before we arrived at White Coppice's charming cricket ground. Here was one of the best lunch spots we have had for a long time. The clubhouse veranda.

 As we ate our various lunches we were conned by a one legged robin. Having won our sympathy this Para-lympic conbird took our offerings (crumbs) and hopped off on TWO legs

As we left White Coppice it's obvious charms had attracted other people wishing to live here. We passed a refurbished building. Looking through the windows we could see very stylish interiors and the extensive gardens had been tastefully and certainly professionally laid out.

 Passing the Posh !

A couple of fields (grass !) now had to be traversed before we again found ourselves on a rough track.

And then it was only a matter of minutes before we were once again on tarmacked roads next to a reservoir. As we joined the road we passed this handsome "Mock Tudor" (Victorian)  house. entitled "The Waterman's Cottage"

 Jim is telling us something. Is it about the evils of litter?

Jim still telling it as it is .

 

We crossed this embankment and then turned left to head back down the far bank of Anglezarke. The popularity of this area for walkers is obvious when you see signposts like this.

Inevitably, on this walk, the woodland path  led us back to a road (We will be back to tracks before long.) Along this road it was necessary for Mike to adopt a paramedic stance to come to the aid (only slightly) of one of the group.

It was gratifying and encouraging to find evidence that it is not just old F**** who enjoy walking in the outdoors as we met several groups of youngsters on their Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. 

 We soon wiped the smiles off their faces by pointing out that in looking at this bunch of walking oldies (nearly wrote something else then) they were looking at the future.
The "Wet & Dry"  nature of our walk was still to confront us with as we left the road AGAIN. 

 Unusual stepping stones but unmissable.

One last embankment before the final push to the cars which could be seen in the distance above the trees. (not flying you understand.) The wall of the embankment was ideal for flask finishing. 

 "Ello Ducky"  (pssst....they're geese)

As we crossed this last embankment the rain, which had managed to hold off came on with a vengeance. We tramped on taking a right turn up a steep hill. 
Tramp Tramp Tramp Up Up Up  till a shout. "Come back we're going the wrong way." Back on track and a final long haul up to the view point and the cars.

At last the sun broke through as we enjoyed Martin's welcome shandies before we departed.

 "Where's Wally ?"

A grand walk but if I had been told it would be 9+ miles you wouldn't have seen me on this last photo 😁 

Other Photos :-

Mike has become very suspicious of being asked to pose for a photo. I cannot understand why.

 As well as the Canada Geese seen in a previous photo there was a large group of what we thought were Pinkfoot geese which Danny told us had arrived in massed waves at Martin Mere earlier in the season.