NOW YOU SEE 'EM - NOW YOU DON'T
8 Miles
Walkers :- Anthony, Martin, John W, Danny, Vic, Dave, Paddy.
The group gathered in the shadow of St Thomas's ( St Tom Finney 😃otherwise known as the Preston North End stadium. ) and were soon on our way.
As we passed the Old Grammar school (boys) and the Park School (girls) Vic regaled us with tales of his encounters with the girls who had pinched.......... ............his cap ??? You must ask him yourselves if details are desired.
But what's this ? WALKING in WELLIES, Well wet weather wear I suppose. See if you can spot the wellie wearer as you read through. Easy !
.... and look at that footwork ! Has our walker had Ballet Training ?
The Park School.
As we reached the end of the driveway which took us along the edge of Moor Park, Martin and Danny left us to drive to our next destination - Haslam Park.
The rest of the group crossed over the busy A6 and followed the maze of streets through the terraced houses eventually ending up at the far end of Aqueduct Street. ( "Accadock" as previous generations of Prestonians have pronounced it.)
Only a short distance further on and we turned right to climb up to the end of the shortened canal. The aforesaid Aqueduct having long been demolished.
A rather sticky trek along the wet, muddy towpath took us to Haslam Park where we were to meet up with Martin and Danny for our customary Coffee break.
Blimey... that's the second plastic Heron we've seen in two weeks. The beggars must be breeding !
By the time we had finished our coffees the duo had not appeared. Phone calls established that path closures had hampered their progress. As we packed up and set off again they appeared over the horizon.
Look there they are !
After a brief chat Martin and Danny left us and both parties headed by different means to the docks.
Leaving Haslam Park we joined the side road which took us under a bridge and shortly to Blackpool road beyond which was Ashton Park. Down through the park and across the busy Watery Lane/ Riversway and onto the quayside of the Albert Edward Dock - once the largest single dock in the country (possibly still is)
Martin and Danny arrived at exactly the same time as we did. We ambled further along the dock as they turned inland in search of somewhere to Park.
Here we found Dave who had come along to join us for lunch and share the last part of the walk with us.
At this time of year, sitting next to water and with a chill wind blowing we didn't dawdle over lunch but with a lingering look at the dock and it's environs we set off on the penultimate leg of our walk.
We walked round the Western end of the dock basin, over the lock gates and alongside the railway. Ignoring the railway crossing which would have taken us to the Bullnose, the curiously named limb of land between the dock and the river, we stuck closely to the quayside.
Some distance down the dock a narrow gap in the rows of modern apartments led towards the River Ribble and on to a section of the Guild Wheel. (Preston's circular walkers and cyclist route which, since it's creation, has proved a tremendous asset to the town.)
Once again Martin and Danny left us to make their different way to our final destination, Miller and Avenham Parks.
Through the gap in the apartments and across the volunteer run riverside Railway,
....and so onto the Guild Wheel.
We followed the Guild Wheel until it arrived at Strand Road then across the A59 Liverpool Rd and onto Broadgate.
Some way along Broadgate we stopped to look at a stone wondering why it was there.
Dave, who lives close by, said he thought it was to mark a point exactly a mile from the geographical centre of Preston. Another curious stone in the embankment wall had GB 1844 carved into it. ( ?? ) Strangely the two 4's had been carved backwards. Was there a reason for this or was the stonemason subsequently sacked ? I rather hope not as he has amused and entertained us.
As we walked Danny and Martin passed us by in their separate cars looking for parking space to rejoin the walk.
All together again we set off into Miller Park and on into Avenham Park.
Coffees and hot (very hot) chocolates all round from the cafe except for these two dubious characters who lurked by the cafe wall.
Martin and Danny left us to walk back through the parks whilst the other group set off up a well remembered hill. (Cath. Coll. games afternoons when this hill felt like a mountain after an afternoon chasing round a muddy field)
Can you believe that during the sixties Preston's dim-witted council had plans to turn Winckley Square into a car park. Recent councils have had much greater vision and Winckley Square is a joy today.
We now made our way into the town centre to catch the bus back to Deepdale, walking as we did up the rather nicely revamped Cannon Street. Revamped as a desert by the look of it.
A short wait, bus passes in hand, and on the bus back to our cars.
THE END
JW
p.s One of our group (your writer) managed to lose his wallet on the bus. It was handed in at the Preston Bus office minus about £50 recently drawn from a cash machine. Everything else was still in it, including bank cards but these had been cancelled and he is now waiting for new cards and pin numbers. Very inconvenient at this time of year. Just hope the person who took the money needed it. If so Happy Christmas to you whoever you are.
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