Can I have another mug of tea, please?, asked Allen.
"Sure pal", replied Shaun, "Pass your mug over."
"You certainly take after Dad, Allen", remarked Grizzly. "A real tea belly."
"And a cake stuffer too", laughed Tetley.
"I know, but I have to keep my strength up and keep warm in this bitterly cold weather", said Allen.
Little Eric said, "I see that there is a day down for a walk with Uncle Eric, tomorrow. Do you think we will get to go, bearing in mind the weather affecting the country.
"I am sure we will", replied Shaun. "Yes large parts of the country are under snow, but there is none here, and the forecast is for a sunny day, but cold in the biting east wind. As to where, we will jut have to wait and see when Dad and Uncle Eric chat tonight. I imagine we will be staying low."
Dad came to see us later, saying, "the walk is on for tomorrow. The plan is to walk from Glasson Dock to Cockerham then return along the Lancaster Canal. I have done it before in March 2002, but I am happy to repeat, as it is new to Uncle Eric. He will also get another section of the Lancaster Canal walked."
"And all of us too", said Tetley, "as that was just a few months before Shaun and I started walking regularly."
Allen was looking at the walk details. "7 miles", he said.
"Actually that is wrong, as happened a few times with walks published in the Lancaster Guardian. I have measured it on the map and in fact the distance is 11 miles. That would account for why I felt a bit despondent at times on the day in 2002."
"Well a nice sunny day and Uncle Eric's good company, will make for a good time tomorrow", cheered Little Eric.
The Walk
Meeting at the main car park, we called out a cheery, "good morning Uncle Eric. Nice to see you."
"Good to see you too lads."
While they got ready, we snuggled down in the rucksack. Then about 10:30 we strolled
through the village and over Tithe Barn Hill.
At the junction, Shaun said, "we go right down Marsh Lane."
Surfaced as far as the caravan park, it then became a rough track to a gate, then an at times muddy path, across the fields to the coast at Crook Farm.
Here we paused to take in the view across
the Lune estuary. "That's the tiny community of Sunderland Point", said Grizzly. "It is cut off twice a day at high tide,
as the only road to nearby Overton floods."
"I presume the large building in
the background is Heysham Nuclear Power Station", commented Little Eric.
"Yes pal", replied Allen.
We now walked along the coastal path. At an
information board, we learnt some interesting things.
Grizzly pointed saying, "that building is Abbey Lighthouse Cottage. The lighthouse was a square wooden tower but was replaced later by a metal one. Originally the accommodation for the keepers was incorporated into the base of the lighthouse structure, but later replaced by the cottage we see here today."
A little further along
was Plover Point, beyond which, centuries ago there had been a
wattle fence that was used to trap and catch fish.
Next we came
to the remains of Cockersands Abbey. Grizzly said, "apart from a few bits of wall, all that remains intact is the vaulted chapter house which was built in 1230 and used as a family mausoleum by the Daltons of Thurnham Hall during the 18th and 19th centuries. Dissolved in 1539 the abbey lands were acquired by a John Kitchen. In 1556 the Daltons then acquired the land when Robert Dalton married Ann Kitchen. The chapter house is a Grade I listed building."
The path continued along the coast to Bank
End, where we joined a road, going left at the junction to Hillam.
Suddenly Tetley called out, "what is
that running across the field".
"A hare", replied Dad.
"Just look how fast it can go",
said Grizzly.
After the farm at Hillam we took a path
right over the fields to Cockerham. Passing a remote house we saw
some alpacas. "Aww they are such lovely animals", said Allen.
Uncle Eric and Dad had
planned to have lunch at the Manor Inn in Cockerham, but it was closed so
they had to make do with a chocolate bar. There was a seat nearby
and we sat to have our picture taken.
Settled back in the rucksack, Shaun then said, "we should walk south along Main Street through the village, and then turn left along Cockerham Road and join the towpath of the Lancaster Canal"
After about half a mile we passed near to the village of Potters Brook. Approaching Potters Brook Bridge, Little Eric called out, "that will make a nice picture of the bridge framing the narrow boats beyond."
Further on we came to this bridge with fancy
balustrades.
"I wonder what this was all about", mused Little Eric.
Later Grizzly did some research, and was able to tell us, "this bridge carries the
drive to Ellel Grange, a large mansion. When the canal was built
the owner of the Grange agreed to allow it through his land, on
the proviso that the bridge was in a manner befitting the
driveway to his house."
Strolling on, after about another half mile, we arrived at the
Glasson Branch of the canal. Looking at the sign, Tetley sighed, "I thought surely we must be almost back to the start, but I didn't realise there is nearly another 3
miles to go."
Grizzly said, "the Lancaster Canal itself has no locks on its entire navigable length. However there are a number on the Glasson Branch."
Here is the first with the main canal behind beyond the bridge.
So Uncle Eric and Dad now strode out and finally after about another hour and a half, we
arrived back at Glasson Dock.
The clouds were just beginning to
obscure the sun and the temperature dropped significantly.
"Brr", said Shaun. "We have timed our return just right."
"A lovely walk", said Allen. "I can say on behalf of us all we have had a great time."
"Thank you for your company Uncle Eric", said Little Eric. "I hope you have enjoyed the walk too."
