Whitbarrow north

 Saturday 13th July 2024

Much has happened over the last ten days or so.

After waiting over three years my son W at last had his bariatric operation on Tuesday, 9th July. That involved some drama before, during, and after the operation. Not least that the private hospital used by NHS is in Cheadle, and on the day of the op. we had to be there for 7:00am. That is around a two hour drive taking into account the nightmare traffic congestion around Preston and even more so around Manchester. I have done that journey twice now.

After the op. W. was moved to Manchester Infirmary for some after op needs and on Friday I had another dreadful trip with bad traffic holdups culminating in the section through Manchester centre with  horror complex traffic light junctions, multi lane switching and aggressive drivers, whilst trying to heed the sat-nav's instructions. Even when I arrived at the vast Manchester hospital it took me about fifteen minutes to track W. down. To cap all this, as I was setting off from home I had a call from the ombudsman regarding my British Gas complaint and pulled over to hear not so good news. Having set off at about midday to include a shop at Aldi,  and then fighting the traffic on the way home, it was 7:00pm when I eventually landed. 

I am still being monitored by the Respiratory department at Lancaster for my breathlessness and have two appointments pending. 

So, Saturday (yesterday) time for a walk.

I have walked all over Whitbarrow, a large limestone plateau only twenty minutes drive from home. There is a path on the map skirting the northern rump that I haven't walked before. The whole circuit was less than three miles. From the start a rocky sunken path eventually lead out onto the limestone parkland-like flanks of Whitbarrow. A friendly springer came to greet me followed by its owner. I had my own springer, and then my daughter's and have great affection for them, reminding me of watching the RNLI Saving Lives t Sea the other night:

Springer taken 4 miles down coast, rescued. Got in boat. Just wanted to jump out and chase some more seagulls.

The green cropped grass of this limestone country with the white grey rock protruding everywhere makes an environment that always gives me cheer. The faint path climbed all the way for a kilometre. I was pleasantly surprised to go all the way at a steady plod with only the occasional brief rest - at last a noticeable slight improvement, I hope it was not just a one-off.  Although the British Gas thing is not satisfactory I can see this will be finalised within the next few days. That combined with Son at last having  had his op, after the years of waiting has lifted some of the pressure I have been under for far too long. Perhaps that partial release has reflected itself in my walking ability?

As I type this in the peace and tranquility at home I feel more relaxed than for many a month.

The track lead over the northern shoulder of Whitbarrow and then descended steeply through thick coppice woods clutching from one tree trunk to another to prevent a fall. Not what I had planned for, and a good illustration of not always getting the full picture from the OS map. At the bottom, the skirting path proved to be bounded by a wall on the left, and on the right, the encroaching coppice wood and more than head high bracken,. That persisted for another half kilometre of jungle bashing until  a proper track lead back to the car.

Just a quick snap of my Hydrangea before I set off

A friendly spaniel as I started to ascend the Whitbarrow parkland

Looking back down the long ascent that I managed more or less without stops

Whitbarrow cure-all  scenery,

Distant Lakeland hills. Better to be here than there in my opinion

The skirting path.Tthere was a good half kilometre of this. Not what I'd planned for. I always say that I can make a walk to the bottom of my garden into an epic