ADD UP - TAKE AWAY

 COUNTING !

One of Preston North Ends stands is called.......

 "The Invincibles". 

It harks back to the dim and distant past when Preston fielded a team that couldn't be beaten by the other teams in the league at that time.

Today, however, our team, "THE MEANDERTHALS" themselves face a foe that cannot be beaten,

 TIME !🕑🕒🕓🕔🕕🕖😢😔

About twenty years ago one  of our "Team" retired and decided that to avoid becoming a "Couch Potato" he would have a weekly outing walking in the country side.

In the years that followed others joined him and the numbers gradually rose.

1...2...3...4...5........................14...15...16 of the sixteen as many as 12  retirees would join us on our weekly walks.

Other numbers also gradually mounted as the years came and went.

2003....2004....2005..........................................2020....2021...2022...2023....2024?

our ages,also, kept increasing.

 👨.............60's.....65......70's.....75.....80's.....?👴

But inevitably other numbers began to diminish. a Couple of years ago the tally of attendees each week began to fall

12....10....8...7..6.5.4.3   as old age, infirmity and other outside pressures take their toll.

Also inevitable that dodgy hips, knees and other parts (?) have caused our walked mileage to gradually lessen.

10/9..8..7..6..5..................4/5 

Now, each Thursday, as few as 3 and as many as 6 "oldies" turn up each week.  Not always the same ones.

One number has not changed though. 10 out of 10 for the desire to meet up each week and 10 out of 10 for the enjoyment we get from it.

Harking back to the "Invincibles" I mentioned to begin with. 

In Footballing terms the 90 minutes are up. 

The final whistle has been blown. 

Time has won.

But No ! Wait ! 

The referee says we still have extra time to play. Yipee ! Let's make the most of it. 

JW

BLACKBURN

 EANAM WHARF  3.5 Miles

BLACKBURN "ROVERS  :-  Anthony  Danny & John

We pulled into the Car Park at Brown St. but quickly decided it was too near the centre to provide us with at least a short walk. Out of the car park and somewhat further to a small Car Park next to Eanam Wharf on the Canal. We had no particular plan other than to potter round the Centre of Blackburn.

Eanam Wharf is not what it used to be, The pub has gone and the whole place seems rather dismal.

The canal was frozen from bank to bank. The weather forecast was for zero degrees until at least lunchtime.

Something has amused Danny. I wonder what ?

We turned away from the Wharf to follow the Canal until we were able to drop down to the town centre.

Is this a way marker on the Family Canoe Trail or an advert for the Trail ? One things for sure..... It ain't Seaworthy (or even canalworthy)

At one point the swans and ducks had kept their little area Ice free. When asked how they did it they said "We made quacks in the ice !"

The bright winter sun was very low in the sky and was casting Looooong Shadows.

At the next bridge we dropped down through a long, narrow footpath as we approached Blackburn town centre.

We now had to cross several busy roads as we searched for the elusive "Blakewater"  which we surmised gave Black-Burn it's name ???

As we made our way towards the town centre we could see the arches of WAINRIGHT'S BRIDGE dedicated to the writer of the famous Lakeland Fells guidebooks, One of Blackburn's favourite sons. 

What are Danny and Anthony looking at here ? John is also in the picture but he's a mere shadow of his former self. Has he been dieting ?

Aha !  The mighty Blakewater powering it's way through Blackburn at one of the few places it isn't culverted.

But OH DEAR !!!   What is this ?  Not a sign you would wish to see near a river. 😖😕

A few minutes and a few corners later we found ourselves outside the "Radio Lancashire"  Headquarters. On previous visits we have popped inside to look around, Today the doors were securely locked. A change in policy ?

"Who put that tree there ?"

Ooooh !  John's in this photo. Can you spot him ?

Immediately across from Radio Lancashire was the Cathedral. Our next target for the day.

The Main entrance positively glowed in the morning sunshine.

The rather austere externals of the Cathedral belie the splendour of the interior.

With it's rather magnificent pulpit. This must be the "Good Shepherd"

I think he's working from home at the moment 😀

However, our less than pious bunch may have quietly whispered an odd prayer as we entered but our less than pious aim was to have lunch in the Cathedral cafe.

Sadly the Potato and Leek soup was rather less than exciting

On leaving the Cathedral we were intrigued by these Tepee type structures. They turned out to be housing a sort of nightclub cum wine bar. 

 

We were quite amused by this little chap.

and his seemingly very  patient mum ! 

As we left the Cathedral precinct we wondered what this large bronze  circular plaque was about ???

Just a short distance from the Cathedral was the Market and the shopping Mall.

As we entered the Market there was what we think was a Tuc Tuc . Perhaps  a colourful tribute to the large asian population in Blackburn.

From the Market we took the escalator up into the cheerful and bright shopping Mall.

Once in the mall the numerous ways around left us rather confused. Which exit did we need to find the museum  our next target.

We were asking one of the security staff who hadn't a clue. 

Then a young lady almost ran across to us. 

" I know where it is " She said, "I'm going that way. C'mon I'll show you."

Here we are with our bouncy, cheerful, self appointed town guide. 

THANK YOU !

A week or so ago we went to Lancaster where we wanted to visit the town's museum. It was closed !

SO WAS BLACKBURN'S

Back in Preston The Harris Museum is also shut. Is this a devious plot of some kind ?

In spite of these signs outside it was SHUT.

OH NO IT ISN'T !

So... back past the Town Hall..........

and the Mayoral Car........

 And an anachronistic sign on the town hall wall

Then  follow the roads back to Eanam Wharf and the drive home.

JW

LYTHAM ST ANNES

 WIND & THE WHITE CHURCH   5 Miles ?

Windblown  Walkers :-  John, Jim, Mike, Anthony.

Phew !  That was a close shave. That Spitfire nearly took Mike's head off.

Being tight fisted pensioners we parked our car on the roadside where it was FREE. We declined the almost empty car park which was NOT FREE.

Then,  just for a change, we followed the "other" side of the lake.

This is a very poor effort of a "bridge photo" but it was the only bridge we crossed on this walk

In the distance as we walked could be seen the famous "WHITE CHURCH"

Obviously you can only park white cars by the church so as not to spoil the effect...............................................................................Eh !!

"I've never been in that church." Said Mike as we approached it. Outside the church was a notice saying "Come in and have a coffee."   So we did. 

Here we are, inside, ordering coffees and toasted Tea Cakes.

" Is that a bit hot Anthony ? "  Here we are in the church hall.

We asked if we might look around the church and immediately a lady offered to show us round  THANK YOU !  They were very proud of their magnificent stained glass windows.

The stained glass was mainly of leaders of the protestant movement.

 eg John Knox

Not sure but I think this might be Wesley.

We said goodbye to the kind people who had welcomed us to the church and set off towards the "Green" and Lowther Gardens.

Between the promenade and the gardens of the large houses was a sturdy wall. At first constructed of Bricks and then of Cobbles .

One of the houses was the care home "Stella Matutina" where Anthony, John and Jim have entertained the residents on several occasions.

Leaving the wall behind us we returned to the promenade and continued our walk towards Lowther Gardens.

Lytham  was quieter than when we last visited. Probably because the very strong wind had kept people at home or within the warmth of their parked cars.

In the middle of the boats seen above a track led down to the water's edge. Here we found this delightfully curious chair made of drift wood.

We had to try it out of course.

We soon arrived at Lowther Gardens where, after paying our respects to Bobby (Bobby Ball), we sought the cafe where there were excellent cakes and beverages to wash them down

Duly refreshed we walked through park to the western exit.

As we walked through the park, Mike told us he had bought a neat little book on identifying trees. BUT  He had forgotten to bring it,

 

What was this tree ? No ideas.  Jim, using his plant App, discovered it was a "quercus" a species of Oak possibly "Quercus Virginiana"

Last week at Clitheroe Castle the squirrels watched us from high in the trees. This little fella (madam) was much bolder.

Here's Jim coming up with a name for the tree.

We were now heading back to the cars. We made our way along the roads away from the coast where the wind was not quite so strong. Not far to go now as we approach the White Church once again.

On the return we followed the more usual path through Fairhaven Lake Gardens. 

By now both the wind and the sun were in our faces. This made taking snaps rather difficult.

SEE WHAT I MEAN !!

The sun was directly behind the iconic aircraft.

I did eventually get a half decent shot of the Spitfire.

Not exactly a crisp clear shot though is it ?

So into the cars and off home after a very wind blown BUT dry and enjoyable walk

JW