Missing Meanderthal’s Socially Distanced Cycling Circuit

 

It looks a rather sterile development of new detached properties though some sound environmental sensitivity has been deployed in preserving much old woodland…but it was exciting to emerge a mile or so further down The Causey onto London Way, the A6, a little South of the Capitol Centre, effectively cutting out Lostock Hall and the fringes of Bamber Bridge from this roundabout route from Penwortham to the Capital Centre    

Skirting partly around, partly through the retail park the Meandering Cyclist was delighted to cross the River Ribble over London Bridge and turn onto the Guild Wheel 

through Frenchwood, passing a lone fisherman, too focussed on his task to notice onlookers...

and onwards downstream along the Guild Wheel between the Boulevard and the River towards the Victorian splendour of Avenham and Miller Parks 

But first the old Tram Bridge, due for demolition and hopefully replacement?

New elms replaced their diseased cousins some years ago and have taken delightfully to form a fresh airy avenue at the foot of Miller Park to match the Victorian Limes of Avenham Park…how long has that horizontal tree been growing there?

Past the old cobbled Penwortham Bridge – too slow with the camera to capture the cormorant in flight - and on along Broadgate.

Crossing Liverpool Road and returning to the Guild Wheel, MC passed the Sea Scouts hut but, encountering a hive of pedestrian and cycling activity, sacrificed photography for safety!  Before reaching the dock a clear stretch provided opportunity to turn around, retrace the path to Liverpool Road, cross Penwortham Bridge, and take a right adjacent to the allotments to hug the Penwortham bank of the River.  

From the bottom of Priory Park with it sculptures 

and old landing stage it was good to look back across the Ribble

A little further downstream and a choice presented itself: turn left and climb up into Penwortham or stick to the River and head along the Ribble Way, a decent walk which should surely be possible on two wheels? 

When you make a mistake don’t keep digging…but MC persisted in the vain hope of improved conditions and would have welcomed a spade to release his sunken wheels.  

For most of the pathway, or rather quagmire, the bike had to be pushed but occasionally there appeared images worth pausing to photo - the tallest church spire in the land of St Walburg's’s could just be glimpsed through the descending gloom.  And the entrance to the dock.

Looking out towards the estuary – next stop Dublin

This five barred gate was heavily padlocked.  A very muddy bicycle was unceremoniously hauled over and almost dismissively dropped on the other side…but it was still needed to cover a surprisingly long couple of miles up from the river to Howick Cross. 

…and it just gets better…I mean wetter.  This has been authentic Meanderthal conditions

…tarmacadam gratefully received at last…

The light was beginning to fade so a speedy last stretch back along Liverpool Road to Penwortham, with just one final stop to capture to the old in the form of the Water Tower, recently sympathetically renovated, modernised and beautified 

and the new

…14.3 miles on from the MC’s starting point. 

Jim C.

PAST TIMES

 A BLAST FROM THE PAST

Whilst searching through old photo albums for something his children had asked about J W came across these.....

John W  Wildfowling , Lune Estuary 1979

(John no longer participates nor approves of shooting wildlife)

During the 90s John W spent time as "Crew Chief" for the hot air balloons G-ONZO and G-LOSS the latter being sponsored by "Crown Paints"

From 'The Bard of Blackpool'

 

THE RIVER

I went to the river early

Before even the water got there

In between each bank was a void, a blank, thin air.

Then without so much as a gurgle, a trickle or splash

The water was suddenly there.

Becoming annoyed I shouted out loud, “Just what’s going on ‘ere?

A surprising reply said, “I’d not finished colouring it in.”

“What do you mean, I don’t understand,” was all I could say.

“There’s a team of us do it every morning before break of day.”

“But isn’t it just light, light from the Sun,” I said a little surly.

“No it’s our job you were so exceptionally early before I ‘d got it done.”

The pleasant voice continued thus,” “Please don’t tell anyone or make a fuss 

Or I’d be in trouble ‘cos it happened once before.”

“Do you remember Moses and the Red Sea well that was me.”

“Well pleased to meet you Moses,” I replied somewhat overawed.

“No I am not he I was the one who missed colouring some sea and left the sand

And that’s  how he made it to the Promised Land.”

“Well that’s not so bad, it worked out well,” I replied.

“It was what happened next that got the Big Man vexed,” and he sighed.

“I was so keen to finish the scene that I drown all the Egyptians behind.”

“Well the Big Man forgives but never forgets and I was immediately demoted,

I spent a thousand years doing nothing but drawing raindrops each one individually denoted.

Millennia past and I got a break designing the new snowflake.

Then three centuries ago onto rivers and streams I was eventually promoted.”

I cheerfully replied “No one hears about this from me,

 and I hope one day  there will  be your handiwork  in some great lake or inland sea.”

He left me with a sign  a perfectly aligned glow of a double rainbow.

(Mick Kilgallon)

Meandanthonys Walk. Fulwood / Cow Hill 6.5 miles

Midgery Lane. With Storm Christoph causing havoc in many parts of our fair county, we set off from our homes to walk around an area we are familiar with, in the hope that we wont get too much of a soaking before getting home again.

              The Motorway Bridge on Durton Lane. Dark clouds are looming in the north.

St Mary's R.C. Church at Fernyhalgh. Not wanting to prolong our walk we pass the church heading towards Our Lady's Shrine at Ladywell.

Again, not knowing what the weather has in store for us, we pass the shrine and along the narrow path, where fallen trees are testament to Christoph having passed this way.

                       Approaching the entrance to Squire Andertons Wood.

      Savick Brook is full and the water is very mucky, but not overflowing, thank goodness.

By the gated entrance to Haighton House, we met up briefly with our friends John and Martin, who were doing a similar walk to ours, but in the opposite direction.

                                                      We go our separate ways.

Having crossed the bridge over the brook, we find there has been a landslip, that has taken a section of the fence down with it.

   But thankfully the path remains intact. We may be among the last ones to pass it before the health and safety bods come along and declare the path unsafe. Or am I being cynical?

                            The path leading to Cow Hill was quite muddy in places.

Londonderry Bridge. Quite why it got that name, I haven't a clue. We had intended to rest here, to recharge our batteries you understand, but the rain began to come down heavily at this point, so we pressed on.

                    We carried on up to Cow Hill, but there wasn't a cow to be seen.

                                           From Cow Hill we started to head back.

After passing a row of terraced houses, we headed along a farm track, which, after passing the Spar Distribution Centre, we joined the Guild Wheel.

I think Anthony is suffering from altitude sickness.

Not a single bike passed us on our trek along the Guild Wheel. No doubt the stretch through Fishwick Bottoms, by the river will be impassable. The day had turned out to be not too bad at all, Indeed as we made our way home along the Guild Wheel the sun was shining. 

DK