Lancaster Canal finale

How does it feel to be on the last leg of a lengthy project, and then completing?

Well I have never seen my Lancaster Canal trip as a demanding goal like the LEJOG and others where ability, or intervention of circumstances may put the outcome in doubt, thereby heightening anticipation. To have walked the whole length in one go would have been more notable, but then it is only 57 miles (as the walk was in sections, returning each time by minor roads and footpaths the total distance covered will be more than twice 57 miles). It wouldn’t have been a huge disappointment if we had not been able to finish, but it is good to be able to add it to the list of achievements - I think we all like to boast a little.

The Lancaster Canal has been a pleasant diversion to give focus to a regular arrangement to walk on Thursdays with my friend Pete with a structure kind to my recovering knee surgery. It is satisfying to have finished now rather than leaving the last leg in abeyance because of planned holidays in the coming weeks. What I can say is that the walks have been full of interest, and beyond expectation, but part of that arises from taking notice of features along the way and having the pleasure of researching further on the Internet.

What are we going to do on Thursdays now? I do have some ideas and these will unfold in future posts, but I am off with the caravan next week heading south for a change to do some Marilyns.

Today we had Pete H. along who also lives in Arnside - another member of our group from West Yorkshire who climbed, walked and drank together back in the fifties and sixties.

A very posh garden hut - looks a bit like an old railway station we thought

I couldn't find any history about this prominent house on the Internet

Tulketh Mill - a splendid bit of industrial architecture left over from Preston's cotton producing era. It has been used more recently as a Vodafone call centre

Make of this what you will. I had visions of late night parties and loud music long into the morning hours

Church of St Walburge - tallest spire in England. Interesting history and stuff about threatened closure by Catholic church - CLICK HERE

The two Petes - the end of the canal just north of Aqueduct Street.
 The canal originally continued over a now demolished aqueduct to link with a tramway crossing the River Ribble and running to somewhere near Chorley to link up with the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Boats were unloaded at Preston onto that tramway, and then goods reloaded at the other end to continue on the canal - all sounds a bit  laborious, and the cost of construction eventually exceeded what it  would have cost just to extend the canal to Chorley.

Pete and yours-truly celebrating with an uncharacteristic high five