Morecambe

 "HAPPILY STONED" 5 Miles

Strolling Stones  :- Paddy, Danny, Mike,  Jim, Anthony, John.

"Happily Stoned" ? This smacks of anti-social behaviour on the part of our Meanderthals.   No, No !    It's just that we started at HAPPY Mount Park and walked to STONE Jetty.  A gentle stroll on a gloriously sunny day.

We drove to Morecambe then up the prom as far as Happy Mount Park.  Parking the cars at the roadside we set off along Morecambe's splendid promenade. It would be an easy walk at the request of one person's dodgy knee.

Not far along the prom we passed this pool. Was it a paddling pool or a model boating lake ? We couldn't decide.

This signpost held a lot of information. It was difficult to read in situ and impossible on a photograph.... sorry.

Question...  "Why have we stopped here ?"    Answer...  "Why not ! Superb views and delightful warm sunshine."    

      Although it might also be to admire Danny's colour coordinated outfit !

Being inveterate creatures of habit as soon as 11 o'clock arrived we sought a spot for "Elevenses" ( coffee time ). We chose one of the ramps leading down to the bay's edge where there were no benches but plenty of "sittable" rocks..

This smartly maintained building is used by the "Morecambe Bay Sailing Club".

The promenade was hardly busy and certainly NOT crowded but the children's play areas gradually became busier as our walk progressed.

Part of the redevelopment of the promenade were areas of interest such as these silhouettes of the distant hills across the Bay. Not forgetting the now much loved statue of Eric Morecambe.  

If you look VERY carefully you may just be able to see the  Lake District fells to the right of Danny's shoulder.  (back to those Blue Remembered Hills ? )

Once again the question arises, " Why have we stopped here ? " 

A rather more prosaic reason this time. In front us the view across Morecambe Bay.  But rather more pertinently -  behind us TOILETS 😖

By now the iconic Art Deco Midland Hotel is in view. It's the white building on the horizon and to it's right our destination..... the Stone Jetty.

As we approached Stone Jetty the wonderful Bird "artwork" began to surround us.

Behind Danny, presently occupied by a fairground, is the site of the marine version of the "Eden Project" . A very exciting prospect.

 "You lookin' at me Birdie ? "   I would seriously NOT argue with this bird.

If you look beyond a rather grumpy looking Paddy ( He wasn't at all grumpy) and a more cheerful looking Anthony you will see another feature that has appeared as a backdrop on several of our walks this year. Ingleborough Fell. In that OTHER county.

Is that Mike in the hat or an escapee from the 50's or a Lowry painting.

Danny.....   Has Mike dozed off ?

The cafe,  just beyond where we were sitting,  was quite busy.

Mike must have woken up 'cause he's not in either of these photos. He must be taking the photo.

Cormorants drying their wings in front of the Midland Hotel.

It took us a while (and Danny climbing up to feel it) for us to decide this bird was metal (Bronze ?)  not wooden.

As we followed the promenade back towards Happy Mount Park we should really have included a photo of Morecambe.  Not the town, of course , but of Eric, it's most famous son. We did nod our respects as we passed the statue but as there were others waiting to be photographed with it and we have taken group photos surrounding it on several previous walks we gave it a miss on this occasion.

"Mike" 

 "Yes Jim ?"

"Do you think we should tell the people at that cafe table to move.  That clock could fall on them."

A beautiful display of flowers.

Paddy was most impressed by them.

When we arrived back at the cars we then walked into Happy Mount Park to sit outside the cafe with an ice cream.  Your writer/photographer was enjoying his own cornet too much to think about taking a photo of the smiling Meanderthals licking their cornets.

No idea why this photo was taken !

Didn't take a photo of the cornets being demolished but the ice cream van is in the background of this one.

ICECREAM CORNETS

A fitting finale to a warm, sunny seaside stroll.

JW