Health Walk - Tuesday 7th March 2017
Photos by Michael S - Please click on photos to see a larger one
Promising weather but the sun disappeared as we started, 37 walkers took part. Another good turnout but lower than the previous two Tuesdays.
James was leading, Michael S was back marker and Susan S leading the Elite walk, nine today.
James took us round the south side of the Hall and we joined the main path and headed down towards the Stone Bridge.
Sue led the Elite walkers into the Pinetum taking a short cut to Cardiac Hill and walked down to cross the Wooden Bridge turning left and walking along the river, over the Stone Bridge and into Walkers Wood.
Before reaching the Stone Bridge James turned left and led us up Bikers Hill and into Cock Cabin Wood walking clockwise round the Pond.
Photo 1
As we were leaving Cock Cabin Wood some of us had to be careful to avoid this cut-off bough.
We carried on and turned into Walkers Wood where we met the Elite walkers coming up the other way. They were going on to go through Cock Cabin in our tracks but on emerging from Cock Cabin Wood they went the opposite way down Bikers Hill and turned up Snake Hill to return to the Barn.
We carried on over the Stone Bridge and up the slope between the Lake and Dog Kennel Wood into the Field where we walked to Hawks Clough.
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From Hawks Clough James took us up past the Ponderosa and walking down Cam Lane turning right, where we usually drop down into Green Wood, for a change of scenery and round to the Viewing Area as highlighted on the model in the foyer. James had previously recced the Cow field and found it dry enough to walk down.
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Looking towards Preston and moving round to the left
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Queuing up to climb over the stile into the Cow Field. There are two stiles to negotiate one at the top and one at the bottom, they are quite high. The top one is even more difficult to climb over because the ground has worn away making the last step very high for most people. James and some of the gallant gentlemen helped everyone to climb over.
Photo 8 Photo 9 Photo 10
Photo 8 is looking in the same direction as photo 5. Photos 9 & 10 are enlarged version of Photo 8. Last year we could see the new building but this year it's not visible - I can't identify the buildings in Photo 9 but Photo 10 is clearly the Hall.
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Crossing the Cow Field. You can see the path quite clearly suggesting that this path is used often, must be younger or more agile walkers!
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The lower stile. This was renovated a couple of years ago but already the last step supports are moving up and down as you step on it. Most walkers had difficulty climbing over it.
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We crossed the Wooden Bridge looking at our very promising new 'Living Building'.
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This puddle is the largest I've ever seen it and both sides are churned into mud, you can just pick it out in Photo 17.
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We all arrived back at the Barn for our refreshments where the classroom wasn't available so the Elite walkers had taken over the boardroom which we filled to overflowing, fortunately some had left straight after the walk.
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Today's walks
Today's walkers:
Main Walk - Anneke, Barbara, Bernadette, Brian C, Carmel, Clare, Colin D, Colin C, Elizabeth H, Frankie, Graham, James, Joe Mc, John W, Judy, Karin, Lawrence, Linda E, Margaret W, Marilyn, Maureen Mc, Michael G, Michael S, Vic, Vivien, Yvonne, Zandra and first time walker Jennifer K.
Short Walk - Ann, Carol R, Elizabeth H, Irene T, Mary, Norman, Pat, Peter W, and Suzie.
The Chorley Walk - Find Your Feet scheme.
Compiled by Michael Swarbrick
