Health Walk - Tuesday 24th January 2017
Photos by Michael - Please click on photos to see a larger one
A lovely crisp morning
Thirty-four walkers today. Lawrence was leading, Carmel was back marker and Suzie leading the Elite walk, six today. Lawrence explained that we were going into the Dark Side of the Park.
The 'Dark Side' was a phrase coined by Michael because of passing under the M65 and walking along the A49. Probably there are shades of bitterness because before the M65 we could cross a bridge over the M6 into the 'Dark Side'. The M65 went straight through the old bridge and the protesters were more concerned, rightly so, about the trees that had to come down. A stronger trust might have fought for a replacement bridge.
Photo 1
Lawrence led off towards Sue Ryder Drive
As we reached the drive the Elite walkers, who were following behind, walked round the front of the Hall and down into the Pinetum turning down Cardiac Hill.
We then proceeded to the Cinder Path turning right over the M6 and down to Wigan Lane (A49). We walked along the A49 under the M65 and reentered the Park.
Photo 2
Lawrence is pausing the leaders to allow the rest of us to catch up. We went down the path you can just see in the left of the photo.
This leads down to a dark part of the Park with a dark reputation
Photo 3 Photo 4
We've left the Stag Lodge car park and are walking along the bottom
Photo 5 Swampy, probably not in Cuerden
In the good old days we would walk around the right-hand side of the pylon and over the M6 until they stopped us because of the demonstration taking place. Swampy was one of the protesters.
We actually watched the pylons being constructed, very impressive.
Photo 6 Photo 7
Michael strayed from the path to get these and the next three photos.
Photo 8 Photo 9 Photo 10
We've climbed up the hill and are heading for the A49 again
We walked along the A49 and joined the Park again at the Wigan Road car park and walked back over the bridge passing the entrance to the Cinder Path
Photo 11 Photo 12
Hello, hello it's the Elite walkers coming to meet us! they had walked along the river then up to the Lake, walking anticlockwise round the Lake, along the bottom of the Dam, over the Stone Bridge and up into Walkers Wood. When then passed us they walked down the Cinder Path back to the Barn
Photo 13
We went along the Cycle Track, climbed up Snake Hill, a few hesitated as we almost reached the top, the Gregsons' seat was beckoning, but everyone carried on back to the Barn at the same time as the Elite walkers.
Today's walks
Today's walkers:
Main Walk - Alison, Anneke, Barbara, Bernadette, Carmel, Carol W, Christine D, Christine S, Clare, Colin D, Elizabeth M, Frankie, Graham, Helen G, Ilene, James, John W, Lawrence, Linda E, Margaret W, Marilyn, Margaret A, Maureen W, Michael G, Michael S, Paul, Susan, Zandra and Maureen's dog Theo.
Short Walk - Ann, Colin, Irene T, Karin, Pat and Suzie
The Chorley Walk - Find Your Feet scheme.
Michael Swarbrick
