The Meanderthals: SKIPOOL CREEK

A SLOE WALK 4.6 Miles

SLOW STROLLERS :- Anthony, John W, Jim, Paddy, Mike.

Not another boring car park photo to start the blog 😕? Don't be silly ! Car parks are very interesting. They're flat and have cars in them .......

We left the car park. (IS THAT BETTER THEN ? 😜) and set off walking north along Skipool Creek and then the Wyre itself.

It was quite surprising how many boats were moored or pulled ashore along this river's edge.

Although, in places, the mooring stations resembled something from the final scenes of the movie "Oliver".

In the distance we could just make out the outline of the Shard Bridge.

After only a few minutes walking we came to the "Blackpool and Fylde Yacht Club."

Looks like John wanted to look nautical as he sports his Captain Pugwash outfit (cap)

Not exactly a sleek modern craft but nonetheless attractive.

This craft looked more residential than seaworthy.

There was a crooked man

Who walked a crooked mile

He found a crooked sixpence

upon a crooked stile

There was a sad old man

Who walked a weary mile

He found a painted pebble

Upon a wooden stile

Look at this........

There's a wooden stile

and look there's a painted pebble

It appears to be telling the Sad Old Man to contact the Samaritans😒. Even gives him the Telephone number. Somebody , it appears, did not enjoy this walk

BUT WE DID 😃

As we walked along the riverside path there were benches at regular intervals. Most of them commemorative ones.

I think Paddy has found something interesting up there. What do you think ?

Here's another bench and there's Paddy pretending he needs it.

As we walked the hedgerows on our left were, for long stretches, full of Sloe berries the fruit of the Blackthorn tree.

A Sloe Gin anyone ? Very bitter to taste. (the berries, that is, not the gin)

The abundance and regularity of wayside benches along the path were warmly welcomed by ageing Meanderthal bodies.

but here's Jim warning us not to linger too long and points to the sign telling us that High Tide is due and the water can reach as high as the path.

Soon after the tidal warning we arrived at a country park which had lots of comfortable seating and a cafe. LUNCHTIME.

A bird sculpture seemed to be guarding the toilets (but we have a magic key)

and a large anchor reminded us that this was a Maritime walk.
The park was quite busy with families enjoying the playground facilities and the picnic spots. One lady was very eye catching as she appeared to be wearing a tablecloth......... or am I being unkind ?????

In places the sloes lining the path were replaced by tall reeds going to seed

There are so many types of reeds. It is difficult to identify them. Nearest guess is "Reed Sweet Grass"........... But ????????

After leaving the cafe we also left the river and walked back to the cars along narrow country lanes which were also delightful in a different way.

The hedge rows were just as full of interest as the seaside path had been. This bush/tree was quite outstanding (literally). It was a Silver Poplar. (Jim used "Plant App" to find out)

ANOTHER WELCOME BENCH 😃

After about a mile we left the road to climb a couple of stiles. cross a field and join another even smaller lane which would take us back to the riverside path.

Speed limit "20". I think that means 20 metres per minute. Bit of a rush that 😟

The road we were now on ended near to this gate and a narrow path took us steeply down hill through a narrow wood and over a small bridge and back onto the riverside path.