FORTON

WELL I NEVER     4.5   miles

COWBOYS   :-  Mick. Danny, Vic, Anthony, John W, Martin.

Cowboys ?  I'll tell you later.  

This is a completely new walk so lets hope it's a good one.

After driving up north up the M6 and dropping back to Forton we parked in the car next to the Forton sports complex just a couple of hundred yards off the A6.

Danny examines the bowling green just in front of where we parked.

Mick Killgallon (following J W's instructions) had parked at the village Hall but a phone call soon had him with us and we walked back to the A6. A very short distance along the A6 and we spotted the Stile leading us to the real start of our walk. Crossing the road was rather hazardous as a speeding motorist loudly objected to our presence.

The field rose steeply but briefly away from the busy road. A couple of fields to cross before we found ourselves back in the outskirts of Forton.

Again a short walk amongst a mixture of old and new housed many bearing the word Wallace in their titles, (some rather delectable properties) before we once again took to the fields.

For those of us with shorter legs the stiles in this area seemed to be rather tall.         (Couldn't be ageing limbs ...... could it ?)

We have rather avoided walking through wet fields recently so it was a pleasure to be crossing open fields again.

The problem with fields is that they are contained within hedges and hedges demand stiles to negotiate them.

The delight of walking through fields is the flora to be found in them.

Flora doesn't just mean wildflowers but also the awe and wonder of the trees both old and new.

Back on the tarmac of a quiet country lane we stopped to chat with a man walking his THREE exceptionally well trained dogs. On the approach of any vehicle a quiet word from the "Boss" and all three shrank into the roadside and sat quietly waiting for the vehicle to pass.

As we arrived at the canal our road appeared blocked but this was only for vehicular access not pedestrians.

The instruction on the road was entirely superfluous. SPEED is a dirty word on our pensioner planned walks. 👍😀😁😃

As we dropped down to the canal we met a gentleman from the "Canal and Rivers Trust."  A volunteer whose job it was to observe the activity on the canal and record the number and names of craft using it.

We left the gentleman behind at the bridge under repair and set off on our next part of the walk along the Canal towpath. 

What about the "Cowboys" ?  I hear you ask. Well Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Wyatt Earp did not appear as we walked the towpath but a man coming the other way was excitedly shouting " There's a cow in the canal !"

The poor animal had somehow got into the canal and couldn't get out.

We , of course, spent several minutes puzzling the problem but had no idea how to extract a half-ton animal out of deep muddy water. After a few minutes the cow struggled across to the other side of the canal . We decided that as there were canal workers there and as there was nothing we could do, we should leave it to them.

At this point a phone call to Martin informed us that he was parked up in the area but was not sure exactly where ! We explained where we were intending to stop for lunch and gave him directions to the nearest canal bridge where we could meet him

As we walk along the canal we could hardly fail to notice this very extensive and handsome property which had a manicured lawn big enough to accommodate a full sized football pitch

 

We continued our walk and arrived at Stony Lane Bridge our planned lunch spot. Another phone call to Martin. He had driven over the bridge and was parked up some distance away,, Eventually we all got together and sat at a picnic table just a matter of yards away from the bridge.

 

Lunch over we said goodbye to Martin (At this point loud "Creaking"noises could be heard and I don't think it was from the wooden table 😟 )  We then continued our walk. (Martin can be seen leaving the photo and the group.)

Bit late in the season to see ducklings we thought !!!

Back on the country lanes again and passing more, rather desirable, homes.

This large but rather plain house was enhanced by a stained glass window.

The window depicted a heron. Perhaps odd as the area was known as "Goose Green".

"Mirror Mirror on the wall".............  better not go there !

Back over the canal we had left a while before.

I thought they were about to break into the song "The Old Bazaar in Cairo". and do the Wilson Keppel and Betty Sand Dance !.......... No ?  Disappointed.

This obviously prosperous area continued with a parade of superior houses.

At this one, the lady of the house came to the gates to quieten her dogs and ask were we alright. We probably didn't look alright by her standards. she chatted pleasantly for a few minutes before we carried on.

Even some of the older, smaller houses had been "Refreshed" and perhaps renamed.

This next house had the best possible views (ahem !)

during recent weeks we had all noted fields which from a distance looked flooded, The shiny surface ,however, was plastic sheeting (weed control ?)

In this fields it was to help corn get started.

Whist not actually a "stile" this form of bridge has, in effect, two "Stiles".

Is Anthony looking under the bridge for the "Troll Boldy Wold" or simply looking where he's putting his feet.

Just as we reached the edge of Forton Village a tiny Nature reserve looked ideal for us to finish our flasks.

The pond ,however, was covered in Ginny Green Teeth pond weed. Legend has it that beneath the surface lurks a malevolent "Boggart" ready to ensnare the unwitting folks venturing too close.

Is this a scene from "Last of the Summer Wine". Our elderly walkers appear to be enveloped in the mists of time.

The other bench was not so sturdy and as Danny and John sat down John's end collapsed. John stood up as Danny's end also collapsed.

TIME TO GO HOME I THINK !

but not so quick.............. Back at the car John couldn't find his keys. PANIC !

After emptying out his rucksack and pockets in his shorts the keys were found.

and then the car joined in the mayhem and for no immediately apparent reason started blaring out it's VERY LOUD alarm. It was telling us not to drive off with the boot not properly shut .

THE END 

Anonymous😟

(It's JW actually)