LOCKDOWN LOOSENING

FOLLOW THE RULES ?

It's all very confusing. These rules keep changing but we know what we're doing.  I think !

Six (6) is an important number .....  Got it !

One Metre Rule ..... Got it !

Temperature checking ..... Got it !

Rulers numbered "6" .....  Got 'em !

....... so let's go walking .

PENWORTHAM to LOSTOCK

DAN DARES 5/6 Miles

Walkers :- Danny, Martin, John W, 
                  Paddy, Anthony, Vic.

An obscure car park down an obscure lane led us to wonder if everyone would turn up. All six did.... eventually. After last weeks biblical flood scenario, (It rained ALL day) Noah went into retirement and Moses (Danny) led us out in desert conditions (30 degrees plus),  Pharoah's chariots were not to be seen but horses appeared. But is that a pair of Marigolds or a comedy "Fly " hat ?

The first part of the walk was a repeat of part of last weeks walk until we left Factory Lane behind and turned right  on Tram Road. We soon left this and followed a much more country style footpath.

This took us behind the demolished "Vernons" factory alongside what we assumed had been the "Mill Pond" but was now an unexpectedly attractive lake.

The path rose away from the Lake until it came to a junction. We turned right to avoid a rather steep drop down to another track.

This was a mistake in the true tradition of our walk leaders  and after about quarter of a mile we had to turn back and follow the empty path back to the junction. We must remind our readers that we are NEVER lost simply not where we planned to go. "Ahem !"

Back at the junction we followed the original path down a rather steep and tricky slope to join another hard surfaced footpath. 

Wherever we went on this walk there was evidence of old "Industrial" activity.  Your writer, for one, at virtually no point in the walk, knew exactly where we were. Even though we were surrounded by major "Urbanisations" (Preston, Walton le Dale, Lostock Hall etc.) we were walking in thick woodlands with  lakes, hay meadows and cornfields on either side. WONDERFUL !

Coffee time !.... taken by another quiet lake with ducks and Moorhens for company.

The photo above is typical of the shaded nature of most of our walk. The dappled sunshine rarely being hot enough to trouble our elderly group.

"Social Distancing"  was of course "De rigeur" between ourselves as well as the many other, walkers and cyclists who were out enjoying the superb weather.

As we walked through this thickly wooded area in Danny's well planned "Cool" shade. we occasionally burst out into sunny emerald gems.

And of course a couple of times we were reminded of our close proximity to "Civilisation"

As Vic "strolled" across this dual carriageway he came rather closer to "civilisation" than the rest of the group thought wise. The driver of the car didn't think it was wise either !

Once across the dual carriageway we found ourselves following the "Yellow Brick Road"  well...... a sandy coloured track anyway. It was also "A Long and Winding Road" as it snaked it's way through more woodland. Cyclist were more numerous than pedestrians here.

Every so often breaks in the trees reminded us that, in spite of the thick woodlands we were walking through,  we were always close to built up areas.

Once the "Road to Nowhere" brought us to "Somewhere". (Your writer still clueless) this beautifully manicured lawn slope and the wineglass topiary wiled us from the "True Path" and we made a short unplanned  detour.

Back in command our glorious leader forges on.

There is never a sturdy oak table with two carvers and four stand chairs when you need them so here is the wayside spot where we choose to unfold our stools and take lunch.

Hardly "Fine Dining" and the "Cuisine" wasn't particularly "Haute" either.

Soon after we burst into the known world (Known to our group anyway)

A bridge over the River Darwen close to it's "Watersmeet" with the River Ribble. A spot we have passed several times before on different walks.

A distant view of Preston looking rather magnificent in the glorious sunshine.

The next stretch of the walk WAS Hot as we were exposed to the hot sun for more than a couple of minutes for perhaps the first time.

And there was traffic......... "HEAVY traffic".

Another short stretch of woodland and out onto tarmacked roads. A bush shelter offered us a place to sit and finish our coffees and other liquids.

Not long after we were back at the junction with "Factory Lane" and Tram Road" and thence to the car park.

Here "Martin the Magnificent" provided each walker with a Choc Ice ... How ? and Wow ! and in the best  Enid Blyton tradition of little boys adventures..... "Lashings of Ginger Beer" !!!

During lockdown Martin has been transformed into a 21st Century Percy Thrower. His Deepdale garden is a picture .... But...  "No Martin. Your courgettes are NOT that big".

Well done Danny for well chosen route on a steaming hot day

See you all next week

THE END

Who looks at this Blog?

This blog is viewed in the following countries....

Percentages of 65,594 views. I'll leave you to do the sums!

Where is Turkmenistan? I hear you ask.

Scroll down and you will find out   

V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
nearly there

V

V

V

V

V

So now you know!

The BOULEVARD

AN AMIABLE AQUEOUS AMBLE 6+ Miles

WALKERS :-  John W, Vic, Anthony, 
                       Martin,  Paddy,  Danny.

A little confusion about where exactly to park led to a slightly delayed start

With one member still searching for a parking spot we set off (slowly) through the small "Frenchwood Rec." following the raised Levee (?) towards Avenham Park. It started to rain.

It was not long before we arrived at the point where the little park merged with the larger one.

It is Raining

A few days previously some young men (youths) tried to use ropes to climb this bridge and had to be rescued by the Fire Service.  We chose not to emulate their adventurous spirit.

Through Avenham and on into the equally beautiful Miller Park then under yet another Railway bridge and out into South Meadow Lane. This was only for a few metres before we set off past the Continental Pub heading for Broadgate.

Knowing that we were near to the home of Dave, one of our Meanderthal comrades, we decided to knock on his door and say a distanced "Hello". David was not at home but his wife Liz came to the door to say hello and wish us a good, if wet, day's walking.

A little reminder that our walk was built around the 

River Ribble.

As we left Dave's house our missing walker caught up with us and we were soon crossing the Old Bridge over the river.

It is still raining

Paddy and Martin are still on the Old Bridge.  

Can you see them ?

The stone on the South side of the bridge certainly caused some interest. It might be the remains of a former Bridge. A bridge , it seems , was built in 1755 and fell down in 1765. Cowboy builders even then !

Looking for a dry place to have our coffee break we turned immediately left and followed the riverside upstream. After leaving the housing area we came to a large willow tree with a good area of dry ground. COFFEE TIME !

"I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree"

from a poem by Joyce Kilmer

A short backtrack through a housing estate 'till we arrived at the Lower Penwortham road which we followed for only a few metres before leaving the road to follow the old railway track.

You may have noticed a certain mistiness on some of the photos and spots on others. RAIN ! The continuous rain made it impossible to take photos without the camera getting wet.
We continued our walk following the abandoned railway and were pleased to meet up with some old friends coming the other way.

Onwards towards Tram Road our next target and hopefully a dry spot to have lunch. The railway took us past the old Catholic College Sports fields. Scene of many a humiliation and occasional (very occasional) triumphs . Your writer distinctly remembers on one cross country run, as us mere mortals, lumbered around the field before taking to the country lanes, watching one individual streaking away into the distance. The next time I saw him was on the television running in the Olympic Steeple Chase.

Just before we joined up with Tram Road we came to the site of VERNONS medical dressings manufacturer. Long gone now but the sports facilities were still there. The bowling green shelters provided excellent dry dining space. There was even the opportunity for some exercise....it was declined.

Just before we joined Tram Rd. Martin met someone he had not seen for thirty years. He was driving a tractor. (Might have been a horse and cart last time)

Still raining

With the rest of us waiting (in the rain) we began to fear the catch up conversation might last just as long.

At last we joined the Tram Rd. and if you will pardon the cliché, this really is an iconic piece of Preston's history. Built to link the Leeds Liverpool canal to the Lancaster canal.

The next two photos were taken just to Prove JW was there

 (if only in "Fuzzy Felt" form)

Sadly of course Tram Bridge itself is sealed off and banned to the public for safety reasons. Surely this equally iconic structure must be replaced or repaired.

Paddy goes to investigate much to the amused tolerance of a line of seagulls perched above him.

I wonder if he noticed the graffiti to his left. Perhaps I shouldn't have pointed it out.

We were now back on the Ribble banks heading towards London Rd Bridge.

I think it's raining

Others, too , were enjoying the rain after their own fashion.

Approaching the A6 at Walton le Dale near to London Rd Bridge.

Over the bridge and onto the last "mile" along the Boulevard.

And so back to the cars Still raining but we are all well equipped with waterproofs that it was only small patches that were damp

THE END

STILL raining !