PRESTON 5 PARKS

 PARK UP AND PARKS  7.5 Miles

Parkers :- Anthony, Frank, Danny, Vic, John W

                  with   Martin and Mike.

With car sharing not yet acceptable we are at present planning walks that we know have ample parking space. Often, as today, we repeat walks we have enjoyed and we know offer such facilities.

Today we found ourselves once again parking in Moor Park opposite the football stadium and setting off to visit 5 of the towns parks.

Off through the park with our cars behind us.

"Hands out of pockets you scruffs "

Tall trees seem to be "Our Thing" just at the moment. 

The rather out of focus figures in the distance were four muslim ladies exercising in the park. They did not stay out of focus long but passed us by at great speed giving us a cheery greeting as the giggled their way round the park.

Following the signposts was hardly necessary as we all knew the park well and where we were heading for.

Frank stops briefly to read about the observatory which now it seems belongs to UCLAN (University of Central Lancashire).

We exited the park by the western "Gate" passing as we did this handsome bench. We wondered if the camels held any significance.

Then crossing the A6 we set off down the side roads towards our next park - Haslem. As we walked one of Preston's iconic buildings poked up over the roof tops.

St Walburge's spire. the third highest in England looks ready for a moon shot.      ( don't light too many candles at Candlemas or Quarantore 😀 )

Then on down Aqueduct Street. now aqueductless except in the memories of some of the walkers 

At the bottom of Aqueduct Street we turned right to join the reason for the aqueduct in the first place.... the canal.

As we walked the alarm cries of a magpie and the unusual "bustle " of a water hen drew our attention to the far bank.

The flustered water hen is at the bottom middle left of this photo but look carefully and you will see a ginger cat hiding in the bushes a little higher up.

A couple of bridges later after passing what Anthony wittily described as a socially distancing bench............

.......we left the canal to turn into Haslem Park. (the path that is - not us personally) where we were to stop for coffee and meet up with Martin  who had gone back through Moor Park with Mike who had also joined us briefly but whose day was mapped out differently. (Sorry. That was a very complicated sentence 😞)

 As we drank our coffee and waited for Martin,   who should join us but "Danny Poppins" !!!

being very "Nature wise" and feeding grain to the birds NOT bread, Well done Danny but where's your Magic Brolly ?

"Feed the birds   tuppence a bag

tuppence, tuppence, tuppence a bag"

or jar

No Martin appeared but  a phone call explained why. ( Mobile phone calls not easy for us LOWTEC oldies )

Interestingly we seem to see more Herons lately and they seem much bolder hardly seeming to bother about human proximity.

 

This one hardly moved all the time we sat near it.

and so on to our next park. Ashton.

We mostly followed the edge of Ashton Park

John W claims that he was the only one to actually enter Ashton park 😉😉

A rather specious claim as  he only stepped briefly into it to take a photo of the others passing by.

Once at the docks we found Martin waiting for us at our usual dining spot by the marina.

A splash of colour amongst the pavement cracks caught our attention

and there in the distance is that "Space Rocket" again.

Our regular readers will know that we have a penchant for taking photos as we cross bridges. and here's a bridge.

and here we are crossing it.

As we crossed the bridge we looked back to a final glimpse of St Walburge's spire  beyond what has been claimed to be the largest single dock basin in the country.

Then two hooks almost begged to be photographed.

..... and look,   they seem to have faces......   two eyes a nose and a mouth..I think.  As well as a rather retro hairstyle.   Well the photographer was "Hooked"   (groan ! groan !)

With three parks under our belts so to speak we once again set off to notch up the final two.

First crossing the "heritage" railway line before following the "Riverside Walk".

Vic seems to be enjoying the crossing but has he looked behind him ?

As we reach the end of Strand road Danny takes a breather on....A wheel ?

While Vic and Frank catch a glimpse of Penwortham Bridge through the trees.

Across the A59 and onto Broadgate which will lead to Miller park.

Past the "Continental" pub where we had arranged to meet Martin again.  We must have missed him as there was no sign even after checking out the car park. "He'll be at the cafe"  was our thought.

Passing under the railway bridge into Miller Park we noticed these nascent stalactites.

Straight along the riverside walk through Miller Park

Through into Avenham Park (No 5) and finishing our flasks or buying Cappucinos at the cafe. As we did so we were passed by a couple of equestrians.

As we sat a phone call from Martin informed us that he had just arrived at the "Continental". much later than we had exoected . Ah Well !

Coffees finished and off out of the park to walk into the town centre

To the right there was a meeting going on.      A wedding ?  There was a Wilkie Collins person there !!!

One child has had enough and is making a break for freedom .

Does Winckley Square merit the title Park. If so it was a SIX park walk.

As we left and walked into the town centre to catch the bus there was a gentle controversy over the removal of statues when the person depicted was involved in slavery. Sir Robert Peel was. So.................................. ?

Back into town with tired legs and bus passes and masks in our hands we caught the number 19 bus back to Deepdale. Back at the cars John's wife had baked cakes to distribute as is customary when a walker has had a birthday that week.

A nice ending to a good walk.  Thanks  Anthony for the walk  ( and Mrs Whittle for the cakes ) 

THE END

JW