HALTON BRIDGE

 ANOTHER OLD FRIEND 

5 Miles..er no ! 6 ?..er no !  7 ?  er no ! 8 ?  got it.

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

We parked on the South side of Halton's unusual single track bridge and were soon making our way up the attractive lane leading to the main road.  The sun sparkled on the stream flowing alongside it.

Across the main road and straight on up Grimeshaw Lane.

This was a long but gentle uphill tramp.

We met several cyclists, no walkers and one car which sensibly turned back as the recent heavy rains had left the track quite unsuitable for cars.

As the track levelled out it also drew nearer to the M6 Motorway and before long we were crossing it and looking for somewhere to have a coffee break. 

Once over the M6 we searched for somewhere suitable for coffee and eventually had to make do with the edge of the track. The metal knee brigade ( Vic and John W ) like to find a bank or raised area as getting up from a flat surface can be difficult.

The track next took us past the "Young Offenders Institute" (prison)

Which in an effort to make it sound less daunting was euphemistically called...........

.................. The "LANCASTER FARMS". I suspect that not many of it's inmates were experienced agriculturalists.

On the opposite side of the track were the buildings of the long since closed Lancaster Moor Mental hospital. Now converted to apartments and greatly extended.

We were now in Lancaster itself and looking for the entrance to Williamson Park. This was NOT it.

but rather the entrance to the Victorian church's graveyard.

Just across the road from here, though, was one of the entrances to Williamson Park where a fascinating tree just had to be photographed.

Now for the first time the area became busy with lots of young families enjoying the sunshine before the "dodgy" return to school.

On cold, wet winter walks we have had our butties inside the Ashton memorial. VERY NAUGHTY as notices say food is prohibited inside. Today, with so many people about, we felt it inappropriate to do so,  so we found a quiet spot at one side. 

Inspite of the large crowds around the memorial very few people invaded our quiet, sheltered, sunny spot. Perhaps the guardian lions kept them away.

One lady who did pass by laughed and said "Living the dream eh ?"  "Certainly are."  we replied as long as the dreams include the occasional nightmare !

Lunch over we returned to the thronging masses and as elderly persons stopped briefly to visit some well set up facilities with excellent sanitisor available .

Then back past the monument and down the road to the park exit.

As we walked, particularly within Williamson Park, we came across many beautiful and unusual trees.

And at frequent intervals we were overwhelmed by the heavy, cloying scent of large areas of the invasive weed - Himalayan Balsam.

We left the Park.

and headed downhill towards the city centre.

We were not to reach the City centre but after passing the Lancaster Royal Grammar School and the Catholic Lancaster Diocesan Cathedral we took to the canal.

Danny....obviously a snappy dresser...... or something.

Another family of swans. Unless of course they've paddled all the way from Glasson.

The amount of green weed on the canal showed that it had not been used much. There was some floating traffic though.

After a mile or so along the canal we stopped briefly to finish our flasks.

And a little further on we left the canal to go under rather than over the famous aqueduct.

We were now on the Lune Cycle track heading back to Halton Bridge. The way however was blocked and we were diverted through a small but interesting piece of "parkland"

Out onto the busy main road for about a quarter of a mile.

Then back to the cycle track and so onwards to the car park at Halton Bridge.

Ice cream and Ginger Beer all round . Thanks Martin.

THE END

p.s.  Anthony informed us that the phrase"Lashings of Ginger Beer" although correctly attributed to Enid Blyton was never actually used in any of her many books,  Well Well !

p.p.s. before our walk began Vic handed a small package, obviously containing money, to John W. "Whats this for ?" John asked. "For you." said Vic. "You don't owe me anything !" said John W.  "Look at it" said Vic. It was in fact an amount of Euros that Vic thought he would never use so he was giving it to somebody who probably would. A thoughtful gesture. Thanks Vic.