Health Walk 20180308

Health Walk - Thursday 8th March 2018

Photos by Michael S, Sheila T & Margaret W - Please click on photos to see a larger one

Today we only had nine walkers who were rewarded with an interesting walk, a bit slushy underfoot but plenty of snowscapes.

Michael led the main walk with Margaret back marking. We didn't have a short option group, only Colin C turned up again so he braved the main walk.

Over to Keith:

Where to start? I think it’s fair to say this morning’s weather took everyone by surprise when they pulled back their curtains, and even more alarmed by the situation on all roads leading to the park, both in terms of driving conditions and the extraordinary traffic congestion. A 5 minute drive for me took almost 40 minutes today, and I only managed to get out of first gear for the last mile. So arriving at the Barn just before 10:15am I was fearing the worst, but was pleasantly surprised to see people only just emerging as I passed, and meant I was able to join

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the now famous ‘Magnificent Seven’. All clever literary references must be credited to Margaret, for circumstances required a number of revisions. I only learnt when back at the Barn that Jimmy was meant to lead today – one of the many victims of the weather and for whom there was a personal ironic twist, so Michael kindly donned the leaders jacket and guided us an improvised route that was to be entirely dictated by the conditions we encountered along the way. Off we went across the car park, past the visitor centre,

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for a descent down Snake Hill. Following the significant snowfall, the views from the top really were spectacular today and revealed features that wouldn’t ordinarily stand out without the dusting they’d received. It also became immediately apparent that many schools had been closed due to the high number of accompanied children who were toting toboggans and heading for the hills. It was after witnessing the first test runs taking place at the bottom of Snake Hill that yours truly decided to go ‘doo-dah over whatnot’, and achieving a meagre 7.5 from the judges for style. Bulk is a double edged sword though, meaning once a wobble starts there’s an inevitability about the outcome (momentum plus gravity), but it’s the same bulk that provides protection from everything other than a loss of dignity and a soggy bottom. Fortunately that was the only mishap this morning and, happening so early on the walk, I’d like to think it at least heightened everyone’s sense of caution. From the bottom of Snake Hill

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we crossed the picnic area

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(watching Sarah drive the Land Rover through the Ford. She was collecting the refuse from the dog bins. Michael persuaded her to take a photograph of us - Michael) and climbed up to the lake,

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that was the first of many attractions which demanded a moment for appreciation,

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with two separate flotillas of ducks creating attractive patterns in the reconstituted slush puppy surface,

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a majestic heron swooping up to the heronry on the island but, for the first time in a while, not a goose to be seen (?). Michael then led us around the fringe of the lake until we reached the enforced climb up the stairway that arrives at the hill looking up to the Ponderosa.

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Today “the hills were alive with the sound children’s laughter” as I’ve never seen that hill so populated with people, young and older, enjoying the conditions on toboggans, building snowmen, generally having a whale of a time and it was an utterly enchanting scene to behold. After our latest photo opportunity, we turned left and followed the path passing the Hawksclough Farmhouse buildings and leading to Cam Lane, but by the time we were about to start a daunting looking snow laden climb into Green Wood, the Magnificent Seven had become six.

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Today wasn’t a day for taking any chances, and so we said goodbye to one of our group who made it safely back to the Barn; although we were left wondering if it was just an excuse to have a sneaky go on one of the many toboggans. Having just past some shivering giant pink flamingos, we then became the ‘Famous Five’ (thanks again Margaret) for the reasons explained in Sheila’s post (see below - Michael). So after some deliberation, it was with great personal excitement that we decided to turn off Cam Lane and into Cam Wood, for my first walk along the path that links Cam Wood with Gravel Hole Wood, by

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crossing a field with a

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style at either end. The winter wonderland that appeared before us was beautiful, and even on a day like today the views of Preston,

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Sue Ryder, the rear of numerous buildings I’ve only ever seen from the front, such as The Ponderosa, has me desperate to experience in the spring and summer months.

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As they stand at the moment, the styles aren’t exactly easy to negotiate and so, without any remedial work or replacement with kissing gates, taking a larger group through that particular field would be problematic. It’s to be hoped that may happen once the visitor centre is up and running and the required resources become available. Once into Gravel Hole Wood, we took the path that leads down to the tarmac path that runs parallel to the river, where we turned right to follow that path for our ascent back up the easier (on the day) Snake Hill

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and on to the Barn. Very many thanks must go to Suzi for kindly arranging a much needed hot drink for everyone today, and whilst refreshments after a walk is always the icing on the cake for that total experience, the intimacy of the smaller group meant everyone was part of every conversation, and that was an absolutely delightful experience. It was when back at the Barn that we met up with an understandably frustrated Jimmy, who only the day before had gone to the trouble of carrying out a reconnoitre of the very field we crossed today and, finding it in a suitable condition at last, was excited at the prospect of being able to lead everyone across that field for the first time in ages. I now know what Jimmy has been trying to convey for the last year, when identifying the field crossings as being one of the more attractive aspects of any walk in the park, and I can’t wait for him to be leading a group across one very soon. The snow once again provided some wonderful acoustics today, amplifying the birdsong throughout the walk, and producing picture postcard scenes at every turn. Two more thoroughly rewarding walks this week, each so very different from the other which, along with the dependably enjoyable company of my fellow health walkers, has left me with the broadest smile – and a soggy bottom! Very many thanks to everyone.

Back to Michael:

Sheila, on observing the snow decided not to come to the Barn but just go outside for a little walk in the snow. Not particularly noticing where she was going she arrived at Town Brow and decided to walk along

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the Cycle Track towards the Barn and low and behold she arrived at the Barn in time for the walk to start! She stayed with us until we reached the point where we left Cam Lane to go through Cam Wood and enter the Cow Field. Here Sheila was close to home so she continued on home