Crossing the border.

As we passed beneath bridge 21A, we left Merseyside behind.

It seems that the boat people of Lancashire are very welcoming.

They left out a couple of chairs for us!

Fine Fayre

Time for lunch in the beer-garden of the Scarisbrick Arms, a large bankside pub.

This was supposed to be a time-lapse photo of us both. I didn't quite make it!

The food looks pretty good though!



Another week---another walk.

It's taking a while to catch up with these walks!  This is walk #3, on Aug. 9th. We began where we finished last time, at bridge 17.

The Mersey Motor Boat Club is right by this bridge. 

It's a bit cooler today. No need of suncream or hats. Coat weather for Allan.
After a warming cup of coffee, it was 'best foot forward'.

Really tall, lush ferns grow by the side of the canal here.

They remind me of Susan in New Zealand, the land of ferns.

This photo, plus the milestones we pass, remind me of a long but well-loved poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson, called 'The Brook'

Two oft-repeated lines....

'For men may come and men may go,

But I go on for ever.' 

A bit further along, the ferns have given way to these beautiful long grasses, which I love. There is such a variety of plant-life along the canal bank.

It's a joy!



Eating up the Miles

We are getting nearer to Leeds with every step!!

Our final bridge of the day---No 17---Dicconson's Bridge.

It had been a good walk, interesting with pleasant scenery.

Now our long journey home began!

First, a bus from Lydiate to Maghull, which meandered around the villages and seemed to go on forever. Then a train from Maghull to Ormskirk, change for Preston, and a final train to Euxton, to pick up the car.   Whew!!!

We walked just under 6 miles today,

but I forgot my pedometer so no record of steps.

A Swing Bridge in Action.

On this stretch of canal are quite a few swing bridges which have to be opened with special keys and handles. Here is one in action.

The swing bridge has been opened to allow the boat through.

Here the bridge is almost back in place again. Cyclists and several cars are waiting patiently for their road to be restored.



A Winning Name!

We have seen some amazing and amusing names on the many boats moored along the canal. This play on words was a winner for me. You may have to brush up on your Latin!!

We stopped for lunch near here beneath a sheltering tree in a field.

We had thought of finishing at Maghull as we were a bit weary but, fortified with food and drink, we went a couple of extra miles to Lydiate.

A bit of History

A  world war two blockhouse guards railway bridge 11A.

A few of these still remain along the canal, along with pill-boxes in some of the fields. They were built because the canal was a strategic part of transport links with the river Mersey.

It is said that they were built as lookout posts for U-boats coming up the canal!

Groovy, Man!

Many bridges have these grooves worn into the lower stones.They were made by the ropes attached to the horses which pulled the barges.

Some bridges still have the metal rollers which prevented this wear on the stones, but we haven't seen any yet.

Expedition Number 2 begins.

Captain's log.    Wed. 27th July.

It was a roundabout way to Old Roan, via Euxton, Preston and Ormskirk, but we want to use public transport where possible, as we are a couple of 'oldies' with bus passes and railcards!

The house below is on Ormskirk Station. It may once have been the station-master's home.

We're back at bridge 7D for today's start.  Destination------bridge17.

This side of the bridge is not very pretty but the scenery improves as we continue on our way.

The canal bank is home to a great variety of wild flowers.

Here are a few we saw today.

Yellow water-lilies.

Bulrushes.

Hedge parsley.

Common poppies and brambles.

Rosebay Willowherb (and me!)