WOODPLUMPTON REVISITED

 MEANDERTHAL VISIONARIES

( Triggered by Jim Cullen's query, " Can anyone else see what I can see in this photo ?)

In France we find the town of LOURDES Quite close to the Pyrenees 

And FATIMA too you'll have heard of,  and that one's Portuguese

In Bosnia Herzegovena,   MEDJUGORJE 's to be found

Another place where folks believe They walk on holy ground.

In Ireland Green the hill of KNOCK revered for decades long

A Holy place where thousands flock.

 Each town has it's own "Song".

But what of places nearer home. Do we have tales to tell ?

Well FERNYHALGH is close at hand 

And down some gated steps we find,   a crystal-watered well.

There, as boys, we walked from home. In shorts, with dirty knees.

No Chapel, seats or Calvary just a well,  hid 'neath the trees.

Decades passed and now we're old and ramble through the land.

But what is this ? What can we see ? As on a bridge we stand.

There we see a vision. Miraculous or what.

Is that the Virgin we espy above the water cold 

Dear reader take a careful look to see it clear and bold.

A patch of blue will give a clue, The Lady's there . It's true (?)

Can you see it ? Do you believe ? It's plainly up to you.

Are you convinced or  cynic. Which way it doesn't matter.

Either way it entertains - creates excited chatter.

So will WOODPLUMPTON take it's place and welcome hordes of pilgrims

Or maybe - just the status quo as int'rest fades and dims.

Will you think that all of this is simply just a trick 

And say "poo ! poo ! There's nothing there I'll stay a firm cynic."

Or maybe you keep open mind and think "You never know."

and remember .......

There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, 

than are dreamt of in your philosophy ( HAMLET )

So there ! 

It's up to you.

JW

Grimsargh

After parking up round the back of JWs house, we crossed the busy Longridge Rd and turned left down Douglas Lane. A large innocuous looking patch of reeds, John told us hid a dangerous pond of water in it's midst

A little further along the lane we came to another pond of water. Whilst ponds are a wonderful asset for attracting wildlife, they can present a danger to young children.                Sorry, I think i'm getting to be a worrit in my old age.                                                                We followed our leader along a winding road harbouring some large individually designed detached houses.

Some blind ended cul-de-sacs led off what appeared to be the main road, but weather it was the main road or another cul-de-sac was by no means certain. It was little wonder that we finished up in the wrong one. Enter Vic. (That's not him). Not Grimsargh's official guide, but could well be a contender if that post ever became available. He led us along a little used path and soon had us back on track.

Anyone not in the know might be deterred from venturing down this lane, but a little way along it we came to a stile on our left leading down some hazardous steps to a narrow bridge crossing the Tun Brook.

The rain that had been with us on and off from the start of our walk showed no signs of easing.

This house which we have passed on more than one occasion during it's construction and landscaping is now looking completed.

We took advantage of these well positioned planks outside this woodstore to have our brew whilst sheltered to some extent from the wind, if not from the rain.

          As we set off again, the track was getting muddier and the sky was getting darker.

       

We set off across the field enduring strong winds and sleet, but then, oh no!! Turn back lads we've come the wrong way.

Well we've had our dinner in cozier surroundings, but beggars can't be choosers, this was the best we could manage. This is the entrance gate to UCLANs observatory at Alston Hall. Thankfully it was not in use today.

This is the observatory. The sky is looking much better in this direction, but was I to turn 180 degrees and take another photo, it would have looked as dark as ever.

Behind the observatory, Alston Hall is a Victorian gothic style house built originally for John Mercer, a Newton -le-Willows colliery owner in 1876. It has had many owners over the years. More recently Lancashire County Council, who turned it into a residential training centre. It is now privately owned.

                                     Dinner over and ready to continue our walk.

Dave, our friend with the cap and stick has decided to take a short cut back to Grimsargh and his car.

The rest of us walk in the opposite direction, downhill towards the river Ribble. Before reaching the river however we turned left, crossed a stile and climbed a muddy bank. This is the furthest part of our walk. On reaching the top of the bank we followed a path, not very obvious in places as we started our way back.

As we pass through a farmyard, John pauses to make the acquaintance of an inquisitive calf.

This is Jenkinsons farmhouse. The lady who lives here is a keen and accomplished gardener. Her garden during the summer is well worth seeing.

                        At the end of the drive we emerge again onto Alston Lane.

                          Passing another farm we spot two young lambs in a tub.

                                       This one is trying it's best to escape.

We set off along an enclosed path, as we make our way to Elston Lane in Grimsargh, and back to our cars.

                                                    A wet but interesting walk. DK

 

GRIMSARGH

 NEVER RAINS ON THURSDAYS 😆 

Aggregate Mileage 7 

Water Babies :-   Anthony, Danny, Mike, Vic, Dave, 

                              John R, John W.

As we set off from John W's house it was raining. Two hundred yards towards Preston and we took a left turn down Douglas Lane. Although JW had walked down Douglas Lane many times he still managed to end up in the wrong Cul de Sac. Up stepped Vic ( Grimsargh's rambling king) and set us on the right path.

A short way down this track and a narrow gap in the hedge took us down a steep valley and across a narrow bridge.

As Danny took this photo Mike (front of line) saw a little mouse (aren't ALL mice little ?) skip past behind him. Apparently it stopped briefly to wink, wave and make a rude gesture behind Danny's back. 🐁 (There actually was a mouse !)

I saw a mouse. Where ?

There on the stair

Where on the stair ?

Right there.

 A little mouse with clogs (hiking boots) on

Well I declare !

Across a couple of fields and out onto ELSTON Lane.   It was RAINING !

As we emerged onto the lane a rather smart residence lay to our right.

We followed the lane for a few hundred yards before leaving to the left to follow a farm track heading East towards ALSTON  Lane.

Coffee time arrived but in spite of there being cover from the rain........

John R chose to eat "Al Fresco". 

"Yes we have no bananas.......... "   " I 'ave ! "

The rain continued and although the entrance to this field was by no means inviting we still stubbornly went into it before realising this was NOT the correct way,  by which time we were into the NEXT  field......... ABOUT TURN.

Get yer act together leader (J.W.)

Back to the muddy gate and then continue the walk in the CORRECT fields . As we crossed these fields we had a brief but fierce burst of hail.

Hail filled the air , blasted by the wind and for just a few minutes the world took on a greyish tint.

Once past two large fields we arrived at ALSTON Lane and looked around for a spot to have lunch. Not much available.

We eventually stopped by the gates to the UCLAN  observatory centre.  Firmly locked.

" Enjoying the walk so far fellas ? "  Oh dear.  It would appear that everyone was sitting on the fence (or next to it)  on that question.

What's Danny up to ?

Oh,  I see he's,  trying to take a photograph the observatory.

Lunch over. time to continue our walk and look - blue skies and sunshine just for a while.

At this point Dave wisely decided that the very inclement weather and the roughness of the terrain experienced so far was a little too much and he left us to walk back to his car and home.

The rest of the group continued to the bottom of Alston Lane's steep hill. Along the hedgerows the Hawthorn is still in early leaf but the Blackthorn was in flower.

At the bottom of the hill a stile took us over the hedge and back into the fields. I say "hedge" but there was little of it left. The areas hedge and bushes looked as if they had been attacked by Sweeney Todd using a chainsaw, a machete and possibly a bulldozer . They had definitely had a "bad hair day". 

That sign post doesn't look too well either.

On the stile was a small emblem telling us this was part of "St Michael's lockdown walks" This particular stretch was more "Knockdown" than "Lockdown".

Our path now took us steeply uphill through heavily grassed fields (difficult to walk through).

At one point we dropped down to cross a busily gurgling stream by a sloping and slippery "Temporary bridge".

Anthony very cautiously crossing the extremely slippery "Plank" bridge . A dip in the turgid brown stream was not an inviting prospect.

There was even a crocodile waiting for the unwary walkers.

Soon the fields ended and we joined a track leading through a farm yard,

As we passed through the farm a very amiable farmer came out to ask John "What can I do for you governor ?" a most unusual greeting for our motley crew. Looking past John , however, he immediately recognised Vic as the local wandering "Nosey Parker".

Mr Ibbison the farmer told us  he was feeling rather sore as he had just been tangling with an excitable bullock and was somewhat bruised. He also told us that one of his sheep had just given birth to FOUR lambs.

Just before we left the farmyard an equally amiable young cow (heifer) popped out to greet us and give our hands a thorough, rasping lick.

Onward to the next farmhouse  (Jenkinsons Farm) 

which had an exceptionally well maintained garden.

A little down the lane we came across an unusual patch of wildflowers. Danny took some photographs. They were the fairly rare Snakehead Fritillaries.

Further down the lane something is amusing Danny and John R,

I'm sure that if you lived through the 70s you will have heard about "Chicken in the Basket" ......but  ........ "Lambs in the Bucket" ?

There were two of them . Anxiously bleeting and trying to get out.

At the end of the track there was a rather unusual B + B sign.

Just how old were the proprietors ?

A short distance along Alston Lane before taking once more to footpaths through the fields and arriving back in Grimsargh.

A thoroughly damp day with both difficult and interesting incidents keeping us alert. Not so JW whose lack of alertness led to several "cock ups" and brought him near to having his leadership" licence revoked ! 😔

That is DEFINITELY all

THE END

JW