PRESTON DOCKS

 IN THE DOCK    4.5 miles

Plaintiffs :-  Danny "The Prof" Kirkby

                     John "The Joker" Whittle

                     Anthony "King of the Keyboard " Donlan

Charge :-     

 "Loitering suspiciously on many O-ccasions   and even more LO-cations !"

Enough of this nonsense. Tell us about the walk.

The walk ?  Oh yes of course........ the walk !   Before you begin I must apologise for the standard of the photographs. The low winter sun crept into many of them.

With illness and personal circumstances taking a toll, only three of us climbed out of the car close to the locks divided the Saltwater and Freshwater docks. The photo above shows us crossing the bridge which takes pedestrians. motorists and steam engines across the dock waters.

Rather a confusion of boats in the yard for the winter or perhaps repairs.

Somewhere up the line  there is a steam Engine museum.

We had heard of an excellent cafe nearby and set off in search of it.

The cafe, which was obviously word playing on the famous "Hard Rock Cafes", proved to be an adequate cafe with good coffee and snacks. We enjoyed both. (it was "Elevenses" time)

Then we continued to walk westward  to see what was there.

This was there.

There are the rails we saw earlier.

Having taken grandchildren on one of the steam powered trips I can happily recommend it.

Cutting through the strips of woodland lining the road  --"Chain Caul Way" -- we continued westward in search of the Millenium Wheel. (cycle and footpath)

It was easy to find. Just follow the direction arrows.

We take a breather to admire the surprisingly pretty views.

As almost immediately we came to a bench offering lovely views of the Ribble at high tide. We rarely leave an empty bench without warming it up a little.

and here we came across a sad reminder of a fellow walker or cyclist who had died as he negotiated the "Circle".

Unusual (to us) was this umbrella shaped anchor. Without gripping "flukes" it seemed designed to use water pressure to slow the vessel down.          Anyone ???

We were now walking back towards the dock itself.

Walking back towards the dock with the Bullnose projection behind John and Anthony.

Looked back to where the Ribble seemed very big with the tide still flooding in.

As we approached the locks we discovered that there was a footpath over them which would take us onto the Bullnose.

As we crossed the lock gates we were rather puzzled by the water boiling into the lock. Perhaps it was river water being let into the basin.as the flood tide reached it height.

Once on the bullnose we stopped shortly to talk to the anglers who were hoping to catch Plaice, Fluke and if really lucky the odd Codling.

Staying on the same side of the saltwater Basin we walked on before once again crossing the footpath/car/train  bridge.

After crossing the water once again we passed this cleverly created seat, made out of a giant cogwheel,  before arriving at the "Beach huts" cafe.

After the troubles with the unpleasant and toxic blue/green algae which had bloomed in the dock it seemed that the dragon boat racing had been resumed and the figure heads were being stored on the beams of the cafe.

The cafe was very popular and we were warned as we ordered our food that it might be 25 minutes before it came. No problem. We were not in a hurry.

We were glad we had not ordered chips as above our heads was a flock of seagulls, Notorious "Chip Snatchers".

Danny insisted on introducing us to his friend. It's amazing what comes into the mind when idly waiting.

Danny waits outside for the Toilet visitors to catch up.

Leaving the cafe behind we set off along the busy Northern side of what has been vaunted as the largest single dock basin in the country. AND  St Walburge's Church spire said to be the third highest spire in the country  topped  only by Salisbury Cathedral and Norwich Cathedral both being listed as higher.

Cap'n Bird's Eye ?  More like Captain Pugwash but it's  just John being a poseur.

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It is difficult to understand the purpose of this lighthouse 20 miles from the sea and well inland of any water. perhaps it's just a decorative "Folly".

Rather a grand building at the end of the dock. Not sure what it is for.

We continued our walk around the perimeter of the basin and it really was BIG. Well illustrated by this shot. We excitedly recalled the New years eves when as small children our parents woke us up at midnight to hear the TIMBER CARRYING  boats from Scandinavia and Russia as well as the BANANA boats from the West Indies blasting out their hootings into the dark skies. They could be heard for miles.

Our walk was now nearing it's end as we crossed the railway tracks to rejoin the Millenium Wheel taking us back to the car.

An excellent walk on a sunfilled but chilly day, The low winter sun was not conducive to good photography from an amateur.

Well Done A.D.

JW

BLACKBURN

 "BUZZ"  

MUSEUM PIECES :-  Danny, Mike, Jim, John.

This is rather a strange photo to begin the blog with. What is it telling us ? Indeed, what is it ?

Well it is telling us that today, just for a change, we left our cars at home and went by bus to our neighbouring town..... BLACKBURN !

We caught service buses into Preston's "Iconic" (Don'tcha just hate that overused word) Brutalist bus station.  Then Bus 152, which took the slower way to Blackburn following Blackburn Old Road.

Jim planned to meet us at the Cherry Tree stop of to avoid town centre confusion but timings didn't coincide so he came into Blackburn centre where he was warned " KEEP WELL AWAY FROM BUS LANES" (Heavy fines).

Poor Jim parked carefully but was then sternly admonished for trying to cross the apron of the bus station . 

( I felt very welcome to Blackburn he averred.)😠

Our first visit was to the Blackburn museum. As we entered the museum we were confronted by a picture of Victorian Blackburn's  "Great and Good."  But.... what was that overhead, A manifestation of the Victorians fixation with the spirit world .. An appearance of ectoplasm ?  No ! It was just your stupid photographer forgetting that "Flash" bounces back off glass. 😖

The museum was packed with artefacts. Too many in your writers opinion. "Multum in Parvo" is I think the appropriate latin phrase.

What's going on here ? Liquid filled mat's on the floor which when stepped on squeezed the different coloured liquids into different shapes. Quite amusing but WHY !

And then we met him  😇 A delightful elderly gentleman who eagerly told us about the weaving history of Blackburn..... at great  length....................

He was very proud of his town. and insisted that Blackburn NOT Manchester was the real "cottonopolis" He himself was not a weaver but was an engineer employed to make and maintain the looms.

His tales and explanations were fascinating but we eventually had to thank him profusely and make our escape.

We now know for certain that Humble Blackburn is no other than the centre of the universe. He was a tremendous advocate for the town.

The rest of the museum was likewise stacked with wonderful artefacts and works of art. There was just too much to really take it all in.

Ooh look ! Never mind the ectoplasm here we have proof of levitation. Watch out you two !

Those horns would look magnificent on a Viking's helmet.

THEY DIDNT WEAR HORNS ON THEIR HELMETS !!!! 

Oh of course not... Sorry "

As we left the Museum heading for the Cathedral  it was gently raining so professor Kirby suggested cutting through the "Mall" to keep dry. We should have known better. After several minutes "circling" we asked an attendant the way out to the Cathedral. He explained it very simply and then seeing our (my) puzzled expression said "C'mon . I'll show you".

Here he is ...........

This happened last time we went into the "Mall".  Last time a young lady spotted our confusion and dashed over to lead the Sad Old Farts out of the shops and showed us the right way to go.

Now.... There before us was the Cathedral. Source of spiritual fulfilment ?

Sadly not ....   More a source of tummy fulfilment...  It was LUNCHTIME.

Just across the road was Radio Lancashire's Base.

The Cathedral is magnificent but like true Philistines we hurried through and descended to the cafe.

As we went towards the cafe Danny met a colleague from the past complete with grandchild.

No food photos.  As I have explained before you have probably already seen too many shots of fellas feeding.

As we left the Cathedral we spent a little while admiring some of the features within it.

The Good Shepherd on the pulpit

Mary washing a young Jesus

Perhaps a more honest portrayal of a young mum of her time.

Jesus the worker

This sculpture by John Hayward shows Jesus with a weaving frame. I felt it was very reminiscent of Epstein's sculpture in Coventry Cathedral

This a reminder of where we were............. "The Centre of the Universe" 😉

Sorry if I am being a little unfair and facetious but that museum attendant certainly did Blackburn proud.

We finished our visit by walking with Jim back to his car which was just over the way from the Bus Station.

 

"Bye Jim. See you soon.

Then across the road, catching a last glimpse of the Cathedral, to the bus station where we caught a No. 52 bus bringing us back to Preston by the more direct Blackburn New Road.

A pleasantly gentle visit entirely suited to a damp, grey Lancashire day

THE END

JW

p.s.

BUZZ  ?

When I worked in Blackburn  many years ago I was struck by the difference in the pronunciation of many words in two towns only a few miles apart. A simple example being the way we in Preston say "BUS" whilst in Blackburn it is pronounced "BUZZ"