Walkers :- Vic, Martin, Danny, Paddy, Anthony, John W.
9.30am saw us gathered , each in our own cars, at the Crematorium oftimes shortened to "The Crem." hence the title.
Leaving the cars we walked through the grounds of the Crematorium an immaculately and sympathetically kept area.
Once out of the manicured grounds it was hard to comprehend that we were still within the bounds of a large city as we walked through the long grass and wild flowers.
Ahead of us could be seen the edge of the wood at "Horseshoe Bend". Here we picked up two routes -----initially the "Ribble Way" which led onto the "Guild Wheel". This is an ancient woodland and there were some magnificent trees. Not all still standing.
"Tree of the Week" a posthumous award.
Before long we emerged into open grassland,
…...crossed over the track of the Guild Wheel and strode out through the wilderness of Grange Park. The overgrown fields and large areas of bushes and saplings gave no indication of the many football pitches on which both Martin and Vic had played in their younger and fitter days.
A strong wind quickly blew us across the old sportsground.
Through this "Pinch" gate and only a little further to the Motorway (M6) footbridge on the other side of which we could see the houses of the "Moor Nook" estate.
At this point we turned our faces into the wind and took another path back towards the Crematorium. Here Danny decided that he needed an extra layer in case the cold wind filched through what he was wearing.
Before setting off back to the Crematorium our leader Vic gave us a short but informative history of the immediate area where sports facilities and changing rooms had once stood.
Our leader lechering.... oops , sorry. LECTURING !
Wild flowers now occupied these spaces. Large patches of Oxeye daisies in full bloom but there was one particular weed which was not welcome. ( It's John W. He's not in the photo). No ! Not him. The pernicious Giant Hogweed. We certainly maintained an UNsocial distance from this nasty plant.
The path led us to a pond where we stopped briefly.
"On yer marks !" No swimming for Danny but he did give us a little fright as he stumbled stepping down to the pond's edge.
As we walked along the Guild wheel again we veered off to the left to visit a strange but solid concrete structure almost hidden in the wilderness.
" Pipe down Martin. "
"Good Heavens ! Cap'n Birdseye seems to have joined the group. "
Soon we were back at the Crematorium where we came across these unusual items.
Has something alien landed ? No ! These mushrooms are there to mark the area where people wishing to have their ashes scattered in a quiet spot can be remembered if they wish. Little memorials were scattered throughout the adjoining wooded area.
We now looked for a discrete place to have our coffees. The gardeners pointed to a picnic table in a quiet spot near a pond.
Clearing the pond of "Ginny (Jenny) Greenteeth. A losing battle I suspect.
Coffee/tea was taken at a picnic table at the edge of the Crematorium during which a lively "conversation" ensued about the rights and wrongs of "Changing History". Very much in the news just now. One person was very definitely holding a "Minority" view.
Coffee break over we left the Crematorium and crossed over the Longridge road and made our way past the recycling centre. "Recycling Lives". We quickly skipped past the following sign. Not for us just yet !
Once again we were following the Guild wheel which soon took us to the line of old Preston to Longridge railway .
To the left is the recycling centre but we kept , as we should, to the straight and narrow Which eventually brought us to the area to the West of Grimsargh called "Cow Hill" (very rural !) We didn't see any cows as we approached but several horses one of which was, it seems, all geared up to help the NHS tackle the Coronavirus.
Even down quiet country lanes there can be road-kill though perhaps this little friend , a common shrew, simply passed away.
Lunchtime at last (One walker threatened to faint with hunger if we didn't have food soon)……. Taken at LondonDerry bridge.
On the right "social distancing" on the left "Self Isolating"...….. perhaps ????
The sun was now shining but Danny still seemed to find the windy conditions somewhat chilly.
Lunch over we retracing our steps before taking a short path past "The Hills" housing estate and rejoining the Longridge road a few hundred yards from the Crematorium entrance.
And so back to the cars were a well chilled glass of Martin's shandy was welcomed by all...…. in socially distanced car boots of course !
A good walk over. Well done Vic. Time to go home but not before Anthony came to Paddy's rescue. A rear tyre on his car was very soft but Anthony produced a nifty , but rather noisy , electric pump which soon had it re-inflated.
THE END.
p.p.s. Six Septuagenarians walking round and revisiting the Crematorium throughout the day might be considered to be pushing their luck.😟😟😟😟😟😟
