Caption Pic 26th Oct

"Now will you listen to me?"
"No ! Just pipe down for a change."
"Am I on Facebook ?"  "No.  U-Tube."
   "Blowing his own trumpets?"
"D'yu know. I always thought the hornpipe was a dance."
"All together now...Gimme an "A" Gimme a "B"  Gimme an "Eb"  "

b"

Hoghton Bottoms 5.25 miles Walkers Anthony, Vic, John R and Danny

                                           

After parking up on Bolton Rd at Riley Green. we crossed the A675, walked up the short lane to the left of the Royal Oak public house and crossed a stile into pasture land.

The path across the field led us on a gradual rise. On top of the hill stands Hoghton tower. This shot is taken with the aid of zoom.

Our path levelled out, until we reached a point where we crossed the long drive leading up to the tower.

We continued on, following the outside of the perimeter wall of the tower.

Reaching the unmanned level crossing on the East Lancashire Railway, we took heed of the signage as we crossed.

Once across the line our path led downhill.

Part way down we arrive at this ruin of a pair of semi detached houses, renovation of which would not be an option as there is no access to it by road.

This tree presented us with a topic for discussion, but no-one
came up with a logical explanation.

Any ideas ?

On reaching the village of Hoghton Bottoms we turned right passing under the impressive railway viaduct. We followed the River Darwen in search of a place to have our morning brew. Within minutes we arrived at this ideal spot

Brew over we retraced our steps back to the village.

Unfortunately at this time of year it isn't possible to get a clear photo of the impressive viaduct towering overhead.

A terrace of cottages in the village, would in earlier days have been home to a community of weavers.

Continuing along the road through the village we passed these none native animals that are becoming ever more popular these days.

The road took a sharp turn to the left and so began a long steep climb upwards out of the valley. At the top of the hill is the 18th century Methodist Chapel where we stopped for a breather. Sad to say it looks like it has fallen victim to a fire, and is now looking derelict.

About 80 yds after crossing over the railway we crossed a stile on our left which took us across a field to the perimeter wall of Hoghton Tower again. Turning right we headed back the way we had previously come, to meet up with John W, who had come to join us for lunch, which we had by the war memorial opposite the drive leading up to the tower.

John has been unable to join us on our walks recently, due to a knee problem, for which he is awaiting an operation. Lunch over we said our farewells and turned right. Immediately after Holy Trinity church we crossed a stile on the right.

Several stiles and fields and lanes later with not a great deal to interest the reader we emerge onto Sandy Lane close to it's junction with the A675, from where it was only a short walk  to our cars.

John had brought some cakes for us, to celebrate his umpteenth birthday. Thanks John and may you have umpteen more.

Caption Pic 19th Oct

"Here's one I knitted earlier."
"I think he's barking up the wrong tree again."

"I can't find this one in my 'Ladybird Book of Trees'.
"C'est un arbre francais. 
Vous n'avez pas le "Right book" "
   "Well it matches his jumper! Which came first?"
John presents his new "Easyclimb" tree jacket. "Kind to the knees." he says.
"Probably started off as a pair of socks!"

"Is there sumfin you don't like about this sentence ?"

Question posed during our last outing:-

"What is "Guelder" ? "

Guelder was a region in the low countries during the time of the Holy Roman Empire. 
A Guelder Rose (name of the pub) is a variety of rambling or climbing rose. 

Thank you Google !  

Caption Pic 12th Oct

"I can't decide whether to climb over the stile or walk round it!"
"KEEP OFF THE GRASS !"
John always does everything with "Stile" !
"Such a big decision to make."
"Deep thinking about the Guelder Rose.?
Perhaps he thinks he's just seen one!"
"Are we talking Guelder or Gelding here ?"
"Has he found that crooked sixpence yet ? "

Southport Bike Ride. More photos

Mike, our leader on this expedition, assembles one of the battery assisted bikes for Martin

Our group was divided. Four with battery assisted bikes and four relying solely on peddle power.

Disaster..... John announces that he has left the key for his battery at home. He tries the keys of the others, in the forlorn hope that one of theirs might fit, but all to no avail.

We set off along the promenade in a southerly direction, with a powerful headwind making progress slow, and soon paused for a breather

Looking back north as we head away from Southport, the sky looks tolerably fair. Had the camera been pointing in the opposite direction, dark threatening clouds would be seen. 

We battled on towards Ainsdale with no let up from the beast from the south until the dark clouds that had been threatening us from the start joined forces with the unrelenting wind to thwart our resolve, forcing a unanimous change of heart. Setting off back with the wind behind us enabled us to change from the lowest gear on our bikes to the highest, and we were soon back in Southport looking for a lunch spot, and thence back to the cars.
DK

SOUTHPORT - BIKE RIDE

WHEELS ! WINDY ! WET !

Wheelers :-  Anthony, James, Jim C, Danny, Mike, John R
                     Martin, John W (" Is 'e back " "Only briefly")

With the weather forecast hardly encouraging we met at Mike's (this week's leader) before setting off to Southport with John R and Jim C joining us as we passed through Penwortham.  Our hearts sank as rain lashed down on our windscreens but by the time we had parked up in our usual (walks) spot the sky had cleared.

Bikes always take a little time to prepare before we set off.

Danny … determined not to get wet before we even set off.

……… but who is this "man of mystery"  ?

 ……. with the unusual feet !

At this point John W burst into tears and howled inconsolably ( Lies!  Lies ! ) The silly old fool had forgotten the key to his electric bike. He was going to have to pedal properly all the way. 

All sorted we set off along the  promenade. A howling gale blasted in our faces (Well....it was definitely a stiff breeze.) and not too far away sombre clouds were gathering to threaten us. Nonetheless all was going well.

A rest stop and we gather round to hear words of wisdom from our leader. "What next boss ?" " Er...keep going. "  James looks singularly unimpressed.

No sooner said than done. Off we go again led by the "Man of Mystery". Have you guessed yet ?

After passing the Pier we arrived at the point at which the Trans Pennine Route started it's long cross country journey. Here we rested again and took our coffee break. A group of birdwatchers with enormous telescopes told us they were trying to sight a visiting "Kentish Plover". It had been there scarcely minutes before they arrived. Now it had gone. "C'est la Vie !"

Kentish Plover or Danny the Rover ?

Coffee break finished we set of in the direction of Ainsdale. A couple of miles further and the constant strong wind in our faces was beginning to take it's toll on our non-cyclist legs.  We stopped to have a rethink and wait for everyone to gather together. THEN .... The threatening clouds no longer threatened but acted. Large drops of rain began to patter upon us. WE TURNED BACK !

With the strong wind now at our backs it was blissful to whizz along the cycle track taking us back to Southport. Not too fast though as there was a SPEED LIMIT.

SLOW DOWN DANNY !

THAT'S MUCH BETTER JAMES.

Somewhere warm for a hot drink or somewhere sheltered for our lunch break were now our priorities.

"Down there I think " says Mike "But that's the Irish Sea" we respond. "Could be a bit damp." (or perhaps he had spotted the elusive Kentish Plover )

Having arrived at the pier we decided to  turn inland in search of refreshments. Although McDonalds and KFC were on offer nothing really appealed and our continuing search found us splitting up in quest  of lunch sites. One group crossing the bridge over the Marine Lake. The other staying on the seaward side. Here are the latter group at lunch near the miniature railway.

Being in a "Railway" cutting it was relatively warm and sheltered here. A text from the other group told us they had found an excellent spot with seating and shelter. Warm as toast too they said.  Too late. We were already munching. (and rather sceptical.)

On the other side of the rails were some voluminous bushes which some of the group were eyeing up..... I would not wish to speculate as to why !

Lunch over and the onset of some rather persistent rain soon had us crossing over the afore mentioned bridge to link up with the others.  (They had indeed found an excellent lunch spot.   Better than ours perhaps ???)

On meeting up again, after a rather tricky descent to the lake, we discovered that Danny appeared to have grown some strange appendages. Ears ? Aerials ? Hearing aids ? Who knows ?

With the rain now set for the afternoon it simply remained for us to pedal our way back past the end of the Marine Lake and eventually  to the cars.

Set backs and challenges are all part of our days out so , perversely,  I'm sure we all enjoyed  the companionship of our wet and windy wheelie day.

THE END

p.s. The writer apologises for the rather disjointed nature of this report and the sparsity of photos. Photography, whilst cycling, proved difficult for this amateur.

p.p.s.   "Man of Mystery" ? ...……… "John R." ... but you clever readers will have guessed that already ...………. Won't you ?

Caption Pic 5th Oct

"Is Vic preparing for a Brexit 'No Deal'?
"Did you get a decent part exchange for your Skoda Vic ?"
"Probably not but this is a better colour."
"Dave looks a bit tyred !"
Vic and Dave wait patiently for their can of soup to warm up on the exhaust pipe.
When Vic told us he had bought an "Off-Road" vehicle this was not quite what we expected.
"Too late Vic. Brexit means farm subsidies will be finished."
 Just waiting for the dog, "Come bye! Come bye!"

Entwistle & Wayoh reservoirs - East Lancs

Entwistle & Wayoh Reservoirs
5.5 miles
Walkers: Mike H, Jim C, Danny, Dave, Vic & Anthony
Visitors (at lunchtime)  John W & Martin

Booting Up in the public carpark. Not in the rain for once!

Tree of The Week

I know it's not a bridge.

Hunters coming in search of food

The view across Turton & Entwistle reservoir

......and again

The northern end of the reservoir. The path continues down the right-hand side

Coffee Time

Yes. The heron is still there.

Heading down the east side of the reservoir

???????

Martin  and John W joined us at lunchtime outside
The Strawberry Duck pub to catch-up on the latest gossip.

Looking across the dam on the southern side of Wayoh reservoir

Looking up the reservoir

This railway viaduct carries the Blackburn/Bolton railway line across the river, which connects the two reservoirs.

The outflow (left) and the dam (right) on Wayoh

...and with the water treatment plant

The village of Edgworth 

Glutton!

Oh! There's a piece for everyone
to celebrate Mike's  70++++ birthday. Thanks Kath!