The Meanderthals: FLEETWOOD

SOCIALLY DISTANCED 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6 Miles

GROUP 1. Paddy , John W. Vic, Anthony. Mick, Danny

GROUP 2. Martin, Dave, James, Mike.

Back together again !

The first group of Meanderthals set off from the erstwhile "Freeport" in the full knowledge that it was "April Fools Day". Anything could happen. But "lockdown" easing was allowing us to meet together after months of keeping apart. Wonderful ! After just a few minutes we were on the banks of the Wyre following the footpath to Fleetwood's promenade where a young man was using a GPS surveying system. When asked what for ? He said " I don't know. I just do as I am told."

The tide was out exposing a menacing acreage of MUD.

And some rather gauntly forbidding wrecks.

The footpath continued along the edge of the old quayside. Rising over a bridge at one point.

To our left was the long defunct lorry park whilst to our right was the causeway which presumably took the lorries onto the Ferry Boats.

Soon after, we left the quayside and walked into the promenade area of the town. Ahead of us was the "Pharos".

At this point we settled on a couple of benches and sat chatting with our coffees. In front of us was the ferry house to Knott End and above us was a flag at half mast.

We supposed that this was out of respect for one of Fleetwood's leading citizens and generous benefactress . (Are we allowed ...esses in these P.C. days ?)

Mrs Doreen Lofthouse, owner of "Fisherman's Friend" who had died the day before aged 91. However, several uniformed RNLI members and bouquets of flowers, obviously not fresh that day, seemed to indicate that there was also mourning for one of their colleagues.

The poignant statue of the family gazing out to see was adorned with flowers which rather gave credence to the idea the the RNLI was the object of the tributes.

Coffee break over and along the sea front

No.... not an optical illusion. Danny is actually standing on the second railing

Part of the piscatorial pathway

A commemorative spot. Sorry don't know what for........ help Danny !

We continued past the lighthouse before dropping down to follow the edge of the sea.

At about this point we got a phone call from the second group to say that they had arrived in Fleetwood but didn't know where to go next ( the plan was that our paths would cross and we would meet up briefly)\ So.. I told them exactly where to go... (read that as you will.) ... 😏😆

By now we had reached the "Lookout post" and stopped for lunch ( and toilets)

Social distancing a little suspect here I'm afraid. As we did our lunch munching a jolly gentleman passing by said, "Are you are you the six elderly gents that three others are looking for. (though he didn't quite phrase it so politely.) 'Cos they told me to tell you they're on their way"

Indeed here they come. but there are FOUR !

They were to stop at the same place .for lunch

As we gathered round a soothsayer told us.

" Listen to my words. The entrails tell me that although the Ides of March are past. Your numbers are too great, Beware of a man in dark uniform who goes by the name of P.C. Copperus !"

Let it not be said that we didn't listen to his words. We didn't. But let it not be said.

As we stood around the watchtower we chatted to a gentleman from the Wyre council who for some reason produced a unicyle from his "Ute".

The "Savvy" amongst you will have immediately spotted that this was a "Pedometer" (?) not a unicycle !

Following the Social Distancing advice we set of at short intervals to continue southward along the prom.

Where someone had arranged cuttlefish "Bones" into a word.

A few hundred metres along the prom the larger part of the group crossed the sea wall to follow the footpath alongside the golf course.

Mick and Mike are lads we like
Mick and Mike came on the hike

Mick and Mike climbed over a wall

Mick and Mike had a great fall

No they didn't !

Or perhaps they did . Here's Mike by himself and he's laughing.

The smaller group continued along the promenade where they came across this sadly apt little poem .

When there's cobwebs in the sky

It's a warning from the deeps

Far down where sailors weep

The sea is rising high

Both groups were heading towards the same point where their paths would divide . The smaller group heading North back to their cars and the larger group moving in an Easterly direction, through the town back to their cars.

The smaller group can be seen here as the approach the dividing point

As the larger group neared the town centre we passed this mural. Soon after Vic and John W turned off to visit fleetwood's football ground and explore Memorial Park.

Both of John W's sons played football for Lancashire schoolboys. David (surname ? ) was the goalkeeper at that time and is now Fleetwood's goalkeeping coach. We have been to Fleetwood matches and were amused and charmed by their custom of playing a snatch of Sailor's Hornpipe ( think Blue Peter tune) whenever they scored a goal😊😊👍