GLASSON DOCK

 RAILROAD, STEAMBOAT, RIVER & CANAL. 3+ Miles

VOVAGERS :- Anthony, Jim, Mike, Danny, John.

The title of this blog entry is the first line of a song which Danny's sister, Rosemary, and myself used to sing in a folk group in the 60's. I have waited years to be able to use it, truthfully, in the blog . 

RAILROAD.

Here it is. Disused now and serving as a footpath and cycle way (and car park) between Glasson and Lancaster.

try as we might we could not get this parking ticket machine to work. £1 a day was hardly exorbitant but we couldn't even pay that.  Ah well !

STEAMBOAT next...

Probably diesel actually but this ship nosing it's way into Glasson dock was near enough to fit the bill

Glasson dock was our target for today's walk but it was at this point some distance away.  

There it is. Over there in the misty distance.

So we had better set off past the early flowering (?) Gorse bushes.

The tide was high, threatening to wash away some of the wrecks abandoned on the shore..   Why do farmers and seamen simply abandon worn out or broken equipment ?  I must quickly add that probably most of them don't,  if only  to avoid slander laws.😟

A strange colour for garden lights. BLUE ??😕

A fine, handsome pheasant on that wall..... 'cept it's made of tinplate 😲

Just a few yards further and we were passing the popular "Stork at Condor Green"

RIVER follows on....

Here's Danny approaching the bridge over the muddy river Conder which flows on , winding it's way to join the Lune.

I think John is colluding with Jim (taking the photo) to turn this perfectly innocent road sign into a rude one. They did not succeed. 

and finally the CANAL ...

Next Bridge and we take to the canal

But what's going on here ?

Bit of a nuisance on the towpath .

The hedge is being layed to lower it's height and thicken it up.

Once clear of the "Brushwood" our way was again barred. This time by a large bird.

Jim soon sorted it out though. Very gently of course.

Short break for a knee rest and a coffee break.

Then on towards the freshwater basin at Glasson Dock.

But just before we reached it we passed the church next to the canal.

Christchurch .

As we reached the large freshwater basin a young man was fishing for Pike, Traditional quarry during the winter months.

And so on to Glasson .......

....... and a welcoming cafe.

Across the bridge spanning the lock between the freshwater and the Saltwater basin and  there it is "The Quayside Cafe" . Hidden behind Jim. 

( How big is Jim ?)

Another excellent and busy cafe which had opened today for the first time after it's winter break.

The world (the one we walk in at least) is full of friendly, charming people ready to chat and laugh with an odd bunch of old fellas ( does he mean US ?)

Leaving the cafe we set off to follow the disused rail track back to the cars. Being stupid it took me a few seconds looking at this photo to realise couple of cyclist  sitting on the bench are in fact NOT THERE !

Taking a photo in the opposite direction told us what the Wheel was all about.

If I remember correctly many years ago the white fencing was not there and a lady drove her car down this ramp and into the water. Was it accidental or something rather more sad. I couldn't say but it certainly made the papers.

Having seen the Condor River we now spent sometime looking out over the LUNE. The birdlife was fantastic. Hundreds if not thousands of birds were moving on the water, at the muddy edges or in the air. Lapwings, geese, various waders, (quite hard to identify at distance ) curlews, crows and numerous SBBs ( small brown birds) in fact too numerous to name them all. Strangely we didn't see any of the increasingly common Canada Geese.

This boat looked in a state of distress. The ever kind Danny shouted did they need assistance, There was no reply....... the skipper was obviously something of a "Stick in the mud " 😜

It seemed to be a "shipwreck" as Danny, indeed all of us ,  understood perfectly well.

 The old railway track made an excellent footpath and it was not long before we arrived at the cars and were soon on our way home after a short but pleasant walk.

JW