AVENHAM

 CONFUSION ! 2 Miles

The Gathered :- John W, Danny, Anthony, Paddy,

                             John R, Jim C,  Mike.

With John W giving his new knee it's first real outing our walk this week was planned to be short.

We parked at the end of the Boulevard which runs beside the river at the bottom of London Rd. (or did we ?) There were four of us to begin with.

Jim C said he would meet us there and after a few minutes he phoned us to say he was close at hand and would be there in " 2 ticks". So we set off to meet him en route. 

There are two paths from the car park leading to Avenham Park. we chose different ones and so, like blind men in the dark, we walked past each other.

 

It was only a short walk to the Tram Bridge where Avenham Park begins. Realising our mistake, phone calls were exchanged ............

........and soon Jim arrived to join us.  Here comes Jim !

Jim informed us that the Car Park was NOT at the end of the Boulevard (as instructed) which had by then become an "Esplanade" ( Which amongst other things is a flat area where people may walk back and forth for pleasure...( OXFORD DICTIONARY)

We stopped here a little while discussing the imminent rebuilding of the tram bridge. A seemingly knowledgeable young lady told us that the new bridge HAD to be built soon or the money for it (Levelling up) would be withdrawn. She also explained how a giant crane would work from the opposite side of the river dropping the various parts into the river from there. The next photo shows that trees have already been cut down to clear the way for it.

Then along the riverside walk and into the PAVILION (cafe).

Although the cafe was busy we were able to find a table to accommodate us all and as it was quite early we ordered drinks whilst we thought about what we might eat.

Not long after we arrived we were joined by John Russell (on the right here) who had come down from Penwortham and entered the Park from the opposite direction.

At this point Paddy announced that he had to go home and standing up and putting his coat on he left us ????? Fortunately he got home safely.

Then Mike H joined us having parked, he thought, on the Boulevard to the west of the parks. ( Actually Broadgate )

We now ordered food. Being Gourmands rather than Gourmets bacon/sausage Baps were the popular choice for a light lunch. 

We took a leisurely lunch, talking and laughing all the while, before leaving the cafe to continue our short walk. Once outside the cafe we said goodbye to John Russell as he left to return to Higher Penwortham.

Rather than simply go back along the riverside walk we walked uphill past the Japanese Garden.

As a group we are somewhat addicted to "Bridge Photos" so we couldn't walk past the Japanese Garden without taking a couple.

Arriving at the top of the slope we took a right turn back towards Tram Bridge.

As we walked along the top of the park the lady on the left of the second photo below offered to take a shot of all five of us together. (Two had left remember) Thank you kind lady.

                  Danny         Anthony            John      Mike            Jim

From the top walk of the park we looked back over the "Amphitheatre" to see the rather handsome "County Hotel". It's name has been changed to .....??

A short stop to investigate this building (Belleview,, Beauregarde ?) before dropping steeply down to Tram Bridge once more.

From here Mike and Jim turned right to follow the river back through Miller Park to where they had parked their cars.

The small remaining group returned to the car to drive home.

Just before we reached the car we came across this warning....

Oh ! I'm glad they told us 

JW