The Meanderthals: CLEVELEYS

COSTA BLANCA ?
NO ! COSTA CLEVELEYS.

7 Miles

WALKERS. Anthony, Martin, Paddy, Dave, John W
Vic, James, Danny, John R, Frank and...
...... Fanfare !! ....... Harry !!!

Yes. Harry was back with us after his operation and convalescence. Everyone was delighted to see him.

Ten of us set out from Preston with the rain pouring down. As we drove along the M55 blue patches appeared in the sky and by the time we had parked up in Cleveleys the rain had stopped.

Side streets offered several separated parking spots but we soon came together and set off for the promenade. As we walked a voice came from a car at the kerbside. "What about that phone call Whittle ? It was a smiling John R who had come by himself after a late start and had been promised a call once in Cleveleys. "Once we got to the prom I said." came the reply.

John R quickly parked up and arrived at the prom where we were waiting for him.

Once on the promenade the wind was rather more than a "Stiffish breeze" and the waves were boiling in to the shore.

The revamped prom at Cleveleys is a delight and we made steady progress towards the cafe which was closed so we "used the facilities" and found a sheltered spot in the cafe's leeward side. Coffee !

Vic, as is his wont, took his refreshment some distance away, where he harassed a passing local .... or something.

.....and so onward with the tumultuous sea on our left and a tear inducing wind whistling behind our glasses.

Such a contrast !

Just a little reminder of last week's coast walk !
Photographed the Thursday before.

As we walked little fish appeared on the top of the sea wall.

A passing local told us they were to tell match fishermen where their "Peg" was. (Where they had to set up and fish.)

walking onwards towards Fleetwood we came across the first signs of the coastal works which would cause us to divert from the promenade and follow the road for perhaps a mile.

Harry enjoying his first "Meander" for weeks

"May your shadow never grow less." is a delightful Irish saying. We were just happy to have shadows on such a rumbustious day.

As we continued our walk those of us "Trailing" a little were rather pleased to see our more rapid colleagues coming back towards us. They had been turned back at the point where the sea defences were being upgraded - STILL ! twelve months after our last walk along this stretch.

The diversion took us along a suburban road, onto a grassy embankment and finally to our only stile on this planned for stile-less walk..

If you look carefully to the far right of this photo you will see , on the horizon, a building which appears to be falling over. This is the coastguard watch tower (?) which was our lunchtime target.

Along our way we came across several acts of commemoration. This bench being one of them.

As we arrived at the coastguard tower the chilling wind had not relented and we sought shelter within the building to have our lunch.

James looks entirely befuddled by the range of "helpful" identification posters spread out before us as we ate our lunch in the observation tower.

Meanwhile our more hardy section took lunch outside in the shelter of the tower.

And of course our "elderly" gents are always happy to "use the facilities".

Fleetwood now beckoned as we set off again on the last stretch of our walk. As we left however a rather "spooky" piece of driftwood caught our attention.

Walking - Talking ? Which takes priority. NEITHER in my opinion. Our purpose each Thursday is to go for a Walk but without Talk it would be a sterile day indeed. This does mean , however, that both activities proceed at different speeds so we frequently find our group stretched out as we walk. NO MATTER. We can wait for each other. (and often do.)

See ! Off they go the speeders about to disappear over the horizon.

You will understand, dear reader that "Speedy" is a relative term. In Meanderthal vocabulary it simply means a velocity that will enable us to overtake a slightly impatient tortoise.

As we approached Fleetwood A shower cloud appeared before us from which descended a "Rainbow" which can just be seen if you look carefully mid-right of the above photo.

...and so into Fleetwood where there are constant reminders of the towns maritime tradition and history.

Just a little further along the promenade was a sculpture redolent with emotion. It depicts a fisherman's young wife and child scanning the salty horizon ready to welcome her fisherman husband back from what was often a risk filled trip out on the unforgiving ocean. It, too, held commemorative tributes.

Around her feet and trailing along the path were further reminders of what Fleetwood was all about.

Just ahead of us was a cafe and hot chocolates, coffees and pots of tea had a strangely magnetic effect upon us. Before satisfying our beverage cravings , however, we took a moment to record that our shadows had not "grown small" and that the sun was still in the sky to cheer us.

After, as we sat with our drinks, conversation once again successfully competed with other pleasures and considering the time we remained seated, possibly won.

Time to end our journey by taking the tram back to Cleveleys and our parked cars. So we gathered at the tram stop ....