A WALKING KALEIDOSCOPE
Walkers : Danny, John W, Vic, Martin, Anthony.
Nobody really knew where we were going to park our cars (Except Danny) but we got there and were soon on our way through the woods in search of Roddlesworth Reservoir.
Danny, todays leader, contacts base before leading us off.
Still "plagued" by the ubiquitous Himalayan Balsam.
Our path took us once again through dense woodland.
At times quite "Spooky".
Not all of them walkers.
After half a mile or so we emerged from the wood and continued along a well defined track. Here we did our regular trick of missing the path we intended to take. i.e. we briefly got lost. (Excuse :- the sign was hidden by overgrown bushes)
As we passed a rather smart farmhouse we saw all these starlings lined up on the roof.
Perhaps they were planning their evening "murmuration". Swooping all around them were multitudes of House Martins perhaps they too were planning - their imminent departure for warmer climes. One of them can be seen in the photo high above the starlings.
The narrow path took us across a field and down into the woods again.
Down through the woods and to the banks of a river - coffee time.
Daring Danny crossed over the river on a fallen tree trunk to take photos (see his blog contribution)
The water in the river was clear and clean but an amber colour gave evidence of it's origins on peat covered moorland.
Flasks away and off again through this continuously superb woodland.
As we approached Roddlesworth Reservoir there was an offer of some adventurous activity. WE DECLINED IT !
As we continued along the path we met other people out enjoying themselves in their own way - wonderful.
With the reservoir on our left we continued through the woods.
A steep climb took us out off the woods and into open fields with clear blue skies overhead.
"Follow me" says Danny todays leader.
Vic and Anthony pause to look back over the woods and the reservoir to a distant Abbey Village..... and Martin pauses to tackle a stile.
"Yer on the right track lad", Straight from the horses mouth.
The horse lived at a rather impressive establishment though JW was rather surprised that his wife (Val) had bought a new car without telling him.
Over the door was a stone "portrait". Of whom ? - we discussed at length. No decision was arrived at.
Soon after Leaving "horsey". we followed a very narrow pathway which eventually opened up at "Chapels Lane"
The first of the "Chapels" had a large churchyard (graveyard) which offered comfortable seating for our lunchtime.
There are invariable rather eccentric things to see in graveyards (apart from the above) but what is this little fellow doing ?
On leaving the graveyard we followed "Long Lane" which was LONG but also very STEEP. The next lane we followed was the rather intriguing. "Weasel Lane" leading to "Weasel Farm".
Here's a weasel.......
Hmmm..... I thought weasels were thin and crafty.... yeah..so...?
No other weasels were to be seen but this was rather nice to witness.... A farrier.. farriering ....... or something ?
As we continued along this lane the "Moonrocket" appeared on the horizon . We mean of course Darwen Tower. This caused some discussion as John W averred that it was built as a celebration of the local people's victory over the "establishment" when they demanded public access to the moors. Anthony was equally certain that the name "Jubilee Tower" indicated that it celebrated Queen Victoria's Jubilee (which one ?). Later research revealed that both were right.
It was not part of the plan for the day to climb up to the tower instead the track took us downward to a cobbled hill which led steeply down to another reservoir.
At the bottom of the hill a stone told us how goods had once been taken up the steep hill.
Once at the bottom of the BREW we found ourselves crossing the end of Earnsdale Reservoir.
A lovely, friendly little dog.
Now the road rose steeply away from the reservoir until we stopped for a final coffee.
From here the road continued before taking a dogleg back in the direction of Tockholes. (Which one there are two ?)
John W decided to take a short cut through the woods.
As he reached the road again some extra steep steps nearly defeated him. It was only a few minutes before the others arrived.
Not far up the road before we left it to cross the fields to arrive at our parked cars.
A quick look back over Earnsdale reservoir towards Blackburn ? Darwen ? Burnley ? If you know let us know.
When you.....
have seen a moonrocket.....
talked to a horse
talked to an Italian Greyhound
been barked at by a Bernese Mountain dog
watched the fish in a river
seen a horse being shoed
seen starlings in a line
had house martins swirling overhead
pretended to be a weasel
seen a tiny footballer on a grave
been cheerily greeted by lots of strangers
walked through woods, fields and past lakes
and finished up with ginger beer and a choc ice
you know it's been a good walk.....well done Danny
THE END
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