Still Strolling in June
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| Wednesday June 22nd. THE BOWLAND ROUND. Part 2 Cabus to Chipping 20 walkers. The yellow bus was waiting for us at Chipping to take us to the start of the walk at Cabus. After a 35 min. journey we alighted the bus and walked towards to Lancaster Canal. Navigation was easy here, we just had to remember to keep the canal on our left hand side. The countryside was excellent with lots of wild flowers growing and views of the Bowland hills. We walked past the new Marina at Garstang to have our first quiz of the day. Norman was willing to give a pound (yes I did say, give a pound) to anyone who could name the architect of the bridge we were crossing, which carried the canal over the River Wyre. The answer was John Renne, the architect of London Bridge. Although several people got the answer, their reply was not within Normans 10 second answer time.(The pound was not won) After leaving the canal we headed east to cross the M6 motorway. Walking near to a small copse, we came to a eucalyptus tree planted in honour of Tom Hobday of the Austrailian Army, he was killed in the Far East just days before the end of WW2. After passing near to the village of Calder Vale, our journey continued to reach Bleasdale Church where we had our lunch break. The church is dedicated to St Edmar and is the only church anywhere to be dedicated to this saint. Onwards again to pass Bleasdale School (surely one of the nicest places to go to school in Lancashire). Now we had excellent views of the Bowland hills including Parlick and Fairsnape Fell. We reached our cars in Chipping at 3.30pm to find that the Sun Hotel was closed, as was the other hotel in Chipping. No problems we thought; we will ride 2 miles down the road to the next pub. Unfortunately that too was closed and our convoy had to separate as people went their own ways home. Not to be beaten, 8 of us eventually found a pub in Grimsargh Village that was open and served excellent beer; so the day had a happy ending. Sunday June 26th. Book a Look at the Crook. 20 miles from Crook O'Lune. 21 walkers. Leader: Ruth Redmayne. 21 people turned out despite the weather (hot, not wet for a change!) for what turned out to be a walk of slightly more than the advertised 20 miles, which led from Caton village up towards Littledale. The scenery was terrific and there were great views from the higher points. Morning coffee break was taken above Littledale Hall and was pleasant and relaxing; lunch was a much more rushed affair as the walkers ate their sandwiches and the resident horse flies ate the walkers. After a scenic section along the path of the river, we enjoyed a welcome and untroubled break at the tea rooms in Wray then via Hornby to cross the river and head home along the Lune Valley path. Ruth |
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