Meandanthony's walk. East Preston 7+miles

Leaving the carpark on Moor Park we headed for Sainsburys. Leaving this nice, tidy, clean road behind, we entered a world quite different. A grotty world.

I will mention this only once. to get it off my chest, otherwise a negative perception of our walk may be given, when some parts of it were fine.                                                                 As soon as we reached the footpath that runs alongside Eaves Brook, or should I say, the brook runs alongside the footpath, we were faced with a scene of litter on a grande scale, and it has to be said, this was a recurring theme on a good part of our walk.

                                      We followed the footpath to Cromwell Road

          Crossing Cromwell Road, still following the brook, we entered Brookfield Park

      The distinctive Cornus bushes add some much needed colour to the winter landscape.

Coming out of Brookfield Park, we got up onto the embankment of the disused Preston to Longridge railway line. After a short distance we exited right, onto Sion Close.

Crossing Ribbleton Lane, a path to the right led into the valley, on the opposite side of which is the RSPCA. Keeping on along this path led us to Grange Park.

There is little remaining of what was the mansion called Ribbleton Hall. All that is left is the remains of what was probably the main door, and the footprint of the house.    

Some of the garden monuments are still to be seen and the gardens themselves though not extensive, are looked after by the council. The avenue in the background is lined by what  my plants app tells me are Metasequoia Glyptostroboides.

A pleasant location for our dinner stop, was it not for the noise from the motorway on the other side of the bank, at the end of the avenue.

After dinner we left Grange Park, turning left along the fringes of the Moor Nook estate, high on a bank above Brockholes Wood. But what's this doing here.......

..... And all this. Hopefully, some fisherman has left it all here, with the intention of feeding the wildlife.

Anthony's stick is coming in useful on this flight of steps down through the woods, were wet leaves are making the descent hazardous.

The River Ribble is channeling more water than usual out to sea following the recent prolonged rainfall.

This mud splattered memorial at the side of the road on Brockholes Brow, is to Shelby Maher. One of two girls who were tragically killed whilst crossing the road in 2016.

Work has begun on developing the former Deafway home for the deaf, at the top of Brockholes Brow into a housing estate.

The path through Waverly Park with the weaving sheds coming up on the left. We kids used to watch the women on their weaving looms, through the open door. The noise was deafening.

Here we are back on the disused railway line which we accessed from Cromwell Road after a diversion through the cemetery. Will the plans to run trams along this route ever materialise??

 We exited the old railway by the Morrisons Car Park, and made our way along Blackpool Road to Moor Park while Anthony told me tales about his formative years in the area

                                                                The End   DK.

GARSTANG

 WHAT ?   NO RAIN !!!

John & Martin   3+ Miles

After the sodden, flooded, muddy, rain soaked walks of recent weeks certain songs kept floating across the mind,

"Raindrops keep falling on my head"  -  "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid".

"Listen to the Rythm of the Falling Rain" - "The Cascades" (1962)

"Laughter in the Rain" - "Neil Sedaka" 

" Raining in my Heart " - "Buddy Holly"

"Singing in the Rain" -  "Gene Kelly"

Let's hope some "Sunshine" songs begin to intrude on future walks.

But enough of that. We left the cars parked at Booths in Garstang.

Then after walking through one of Garstang's narrow "Wiends" we joined the almost deserted High Street............ on market day !

A right turn took us away from the centre and out along the Preston Rd,

Over the ancient bridge,

to where we stopped briefly to look at St Michael and St Mary's church.

Here we have......

St Mary

St Michael

St Martin (Don't think so !)

Just after the church we passed a house with this magnificent garage door. The rainbow actually lights up at night.

A little further on and we turned down Dimples Lane towards the "Leonard Cheshire Home" where an uncle of mine (suffering from Post Encephalitis Lethargica - the after effects of sleeping sickness contracted during the war ) used to be a resident.

As we walked down dimples Lane we passed these terraced bungalows built for the elderly.

No John I don't think they need an oversized garden gnome right now.

On past "Pasture Drive" (I shall resist my usual joke) where one of my sons and his family live and onto a rather dangerous hump-backed bridge, The road is completely "blind" until you get to the top.

Then down to the canal.

Where we stopped briefly to chat to an angler from Chorley.

Just loved the wit of this boat's name.

This mile post led us to ponder... could 17 miles still be considered "Local"

As we continued our walk two gentlemen passing by recognised Martin and stopped to talk . Andy (?) Barwise who had been at primary school and college with Martin.

The day was moving on so at the next opportunity (bench) we stopped for lunch.

This is one for Anthony, a "Navigator" in a previous life, to explain to us all.

Just a little further along the canal passed over the River Wyre on a small but spectacular aqueduct.

Over the aqueduct to where more information about it is available. 

Time now to leave the canal and walk back into the heart of Garstang.

For a small semi-detached cottage this front door might be considered O.T.T.

Back to the High Street through another narrow wiend.

A left turn this time took us along the still deserted High street in the direction of Lancaster. Only a couple of hundred yards before we took a right turn off the main road and onto the old railway embankment.

As we joined the old railway route a signpost alerted us to part of it's history.

This photo seems to echo the "misty" past it tells us of. The "Pilling Pig is a locally famous part of the past. It seems the first locomotive's whistle resembled the squeal of a pig hence the nickname which was passed on to subsequent engines.

In the distance can be seen another well loved walking destination. "Nicky Nook".

At the present end of the causeway, near to where the Knott End Branch line (Pilling Pig) left the West Coast Main Line, were the flood barriers helping to save Garstang when the Wyre floods. Martin drops down to get a closer look at the flood control.

But was he wearing "Hydraulic Gloves"  whatever they might be,

The rams (pistons) would raise a "Gate" and the water would be obliged to flood out into the adjoining fields rather than rush down towards Garstang.

Here's one local resident who simply laughs at flood warnings.

Not far too go now and we come across TWO kinds of memorials.

This one a personal tribute.......

This one a "Civic" memorial.....

So...... back to Booths, load up the car, and off home.

Oh ! One more thing..... IT DIDN'T RAIN ALL DAY !

THE END

JW