THE JUMBLERS:- Danny, Martin, Anthony, Vic, Mike,
Paddy, John W, Mick K, Dave, James.
"The went to sea in a sieve they did.
In a sieve they went to sea."
"The Jumblies" Edward Lear.
We did not go to sea in a sieve but we did go to the "Jumbles Country Park" where we parked in a little wooded car park just outside Bromley Cross.
Here we see Mick ready to set off with his newly acquired walking pole and leggings.
We walked back to the road. Crossed over and took a right turn up the hill towards the "Last Drop Village".
It didn't take us long to reach the locally famous shopping and entertainment venue.
We had to admit this "Mock Tudor" centre was quite attractive. Attractive enough for us to stay and have a coffee.
Don't look behind you fellas that van is reversing rather rapidly towards you...……. Oh Darn.......it's stopped.
But comfortable as we were "Onwards and Upwards" as the saying goes.
The complex was next to a golf course and our way followed the edge of this, passing as it did, a spectacular hole in the ground ...on the map..."Quarry (disused)".
And as always on our walks there is an "Interesting tree" (or part there of) Your writer thinks so anyway.
This one seemed to be watching and commenting as we go by.
From this point the paths became very wet and muddy and so narrowly confined that there was no avoiding the squelchy mess beneath our feet.
Indeed water featured quite prominently along this section of the walk.
This little bridge simply took us from one soggy stretch to another.
Eventually , as we gained height, we broke free of the mud and found ourselves on firmer ground.
Beyond Mike and Mick, dimly seen is Winter Hill with it's various towers and the TV mast.
...and then I heard "Lunch is on Whittle !" "What ! what ! There's ten of us. Where's me wallet. Have I enough cash ?" No need to panic though. Lunch was on Whittle Hill.
as we neared the top of "Whittle Hill" a sheltered spot was found though perversely the cool breeze was actually blowing in our faces ….. so NO shelter then.
James looks to be enjoying his lunch though. Food in one hand drink in the other.
The view looking back (from the other side of the fence) was still dominated by Winter Hill)
As I said before "Onward and Upwards" skirting round the actual top of Whittle hill.
This next photo is not very clear. Perhaps this is just as well and it is of a place of great suffering. It is of Bolton Wanderers stadium. DAVE IS A SEASON TICKET HOLDER !
Then as we topped the hill to begin our descent..... A Magic Moment...…… LOOK UP !
There high above a small bird hung in the wind
"Hail to thee blithe spirit. Bird thou never wert
That from Heaven or near it pourest thy full heart
In profuse strains of unpremeditated art"
(Shelley)
A bird it was though.... A SKYLARK
Once over the brow a long downhill stretch lay before us (Oh the knees !) but it was certainly not without interest. What for instance was the purpose of these two slabs holding each other up.
Paddy left the path to investigate a tree which he thought had a red light inside it. (better have a sniff at the contents of Paddy's flask...Ah - but he didn't bring one. There's the answer ...Withdrawal symptoms !!!)
As we approached the foot of the hill a gentleman with a very friendly dog was coming up. It turned out that he had been operated on by the same surgeon as Vic when having knee replacement operations. We eventually left them to compare notes.
At the next stile we discovered which of many footpaths we were following.
Wherever we walk we invariably come across memorial benches often to people who have had tragically short lives.
Down from the hill we now arrived at civilisation and a railway crossing.
Beyond the railway lines we found ourselves on a magnificently cobbled road
alongside which were some rather unique houses including a former bank.
alongside which were some rather unique houses including a former bank.
and a very modern house.
Here a "Bridge Photo" was taken but not by your writer. Hopefully it will appear in Danny's contribution.
Coffee time was taken in a small well maintained community orchard.
Coffee over we set off again on what was to prove a quite frankly challenging final stretch.
We first climbed up and away from the river bank (Thank you Danny) before descending to greet the river again.
The descent was awkward, slippery and even a little dangerous. (for those of us with less than perfect knees).
We rested briefly on a pleasant bridge alongside which was a garden with a "Manicured " lawn and it's own recently constructed "Medieval Ruins".
Now we were following the river as it meandered it's way towards "The Jumbles" reservoir.
An excellent well shod path but being a Meanderthal walk nothing stays straightforward and easy for long.
"Swallow Falls ?" well maybe "Sparra' falls "
But still a pretty trickle and then back on track.
The river led us on with old and sometimes ruined weirs along the way. This one was surprisingly whole.
Only a little way on and the river opened out into the broader waters of the Jumbles reservoir.
The walk had taken it's toll on the ageing limbs of several of the walkers and we now looked forward to finishing our walk back at the cars. BUT..
there was a sting in the tail
At the end of the reservoir there was a steep set of steps leading down to the holding wall (Dam).
Then an even steeper, crumbly and slippery set of worn steps back up the other side.
Beyond the flight of steps a not particularly steep but decidedly unrelenting slope took us, heavily breathing, back to the cars, HURRAH !
An altogether excellent walk full of variety and interest but a very tiring (Speak for yourself !!…… I am doing !)
Well done Anthony.
THE END
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