We were safely tucked up inside with steaming mugs of Ramblears tea in paw.
Meanwhile outside Storm Eowyn raged. "Phew", said Little Eric, "that was a big gust."
Allen replied, "For our area the forecast is for gusts up to 75 mph. Certainly glad to be inside today."
Tetley mused, "we have been out on some very windy days. I recall climbing Ingleborough. It blew and blew. We were determined to sit at the trig point for our picture, while everyone else was in at the shelter."
Turning to food, Grizzly said, "Southey has given Little Eric and I a day off, which is kind."
"I have made some scones. Sultana and cherry and ginger. There is butter and jam too."
"Ooh super", cheered Tetley. "You are ace at scones."
"Thanks." Then he produced another tin. "Long time ago I made oat cookies. I had forgotten, but seemed to remember they went down well."
"Oh yes!", exclaimed Allen. "They were absolutely scrumptious."
"I recall too", said Shaun, and taking a bite went on, "they just melt in the mouth. Deeelicious."
We could not resist and soon the tin was almost empty there being just one left. "Oh dear", said Little Eric. "Who's going to have the last one."
Southey saved us having to decide as he produced another tin full of the cookies.
"You're a life saver", said Allen, who unsurprisingly was still hungry, being the arch cake stuffer.
"Just want to say the scones are delicious too", went on Shaun.
"The storm will be gone by tomorrow and the forecast is for a calm sunny day. Dad has mentioned we can go for a walk, but as he has been out nearly every day this week, he would rather we walk from home", advised Shaun. "I wonder if we can come up with a different route."
There was quiet while we sat thinking. "It will be impossible to find a completely new route, but I have an idea in my mind", mused Allen. "I do not think we have ever walked all the way to Lancaster. There we could cross the Millennium Bridge which again I reckon we have not done. Then join the Lune Valley path as far as the Lune Aqueduct, there joining the canal and follow it to the Bay Gateway Bridge and along the roads home."
"As you said we have walked most of the route before, but I agree it is a good suggestion", replied Shaun.
There were murmurs of agreement from the rest of us.
"Dad's back from the River Bela Cafe, so I'll see what he thinks", said Allen trotting out of the room. He called out, "Can you refill my mug please, and save me a cookie."
Tetley laughed. "He for sure has hollow legs that will be his fifth mug, and heaven knows how many cookies he has eaten."
It was not long before Allen returned. "Thanks, Shaun", he said taking the steaming mug. "Dad likes the suggestion. He says we can look for railway relics along the cycleway to Lancaster, to add to the story."
"Roll on tomorrow", cheered Little Eric.
As Allen had said, we awoke to blue skies and calm after Storm Eowyn yesterday.
We settled in the rucksack while Dad got ready and then calling, "goodbye", to our pals, off we went.
"Take care Dad", called back Gladly.
"I will."
We headed to the access path at the end of Altham Road.
"I know I have bagged it but there's the post box. A colourful picture to start our account", pointed Little Eric.
We joined Peter's Path, Shaun saying, "turn right."
This is indicated by the legend on the seat, passing which, Allen said, "let's sit there for our usual picture."
"I am sure that I have asked this before, as we have walked this path many times, but why is it called Peter's Path?", said Southey.
We all looked to Grizzly, our researcher. "The Internet is completely silent about who Peter was. Sorry pals."
Us snugged again in the rucksack, Dad strode on reaching the junction at Duckpond Corner.
Tetley commented, "no pond, just deep dikes beside the path."
Grizzly told us, "we are joining the track where the railway from Lancaster Green Ayre to Morecambe once ran. It closed in 1966, but had overhead electrification, being the test route of the now common electrification on British railways. Where we have walked long was the spur for direct trains from Lancaster to Heysham. It formed part of a triangular junction. One section still remains for trains to and from Heysham."
"The line we cross when walking into Morecambe", said Shaun.
"That's right pal. Now it is perhaps possible that after the track was lifted and before it was converted into the cycleway and footpath, there was a duck pond here."
"Sounds logical", replied Allen.
So we strode out right along the pretty arrow straight track fairly soon passing under the bridge carrying Westgate.
Shaun pointed, "we can see that at some time the bridge was extended to accommodate the widening of the road. The original bridge was that with the stone and brick arch. The steel girder construction being used for the extension. Reflecting changing times and increased traffic."
"There's a group of horses grazing", pointed Tetley. "Picture please Dad."
There are exits off the track to various streets one having these stone pillars.
"Tetley remarked, "they look like they are perhaps relics of the railway. Maybe there was a crossing here."
"I reckon you are right", agreed Shaun. "Cannot see why the would have been placed here when converting the original track bed."
"We are being watched", said Southey pointing to the CCTV camera, one of a number along the track.
Passing under Ovangle Road bridge we soon came to the Asda superstore to our right.
"Ah, Uncle Brian used to come here on his mobility scooter", reminisced Allen. "The basket at the front, bag at the back loaded with shopping, as well as items on the floor between his feet. I miss him every single day and wish he was still here doing that."
Reaching the area known as Scale Hall, Grizzly said, "there was a station here from 1957 until 1966. It was demolished, but there still might be some remains."
We peered into the undergrowth, Tetley saying, "although hard to see there seems to be the remains of some stone work."
This is seen to the right of the the picture. Whether we are right we can only actually speculate.
Later Grizzly told us, "I searched the Internet and found a picture of the station after it closed. I found it on Facebook shared by David Hodgson in May 2021. I hope he does not mind us using it in our story."
Passing under Carlisle Bridge that carries the West Coast Mainline the track crossed the River Lune via the Millennium Bridge.
"I have notes", said Grizzly. "The bridge was designed by Whitby Bird and Partners and built at a cost of £1.8m to commemorate the millennium of 2000. The bridge forms a 'Y'-shape in plan to connect one bank both to a viaduct and adjacent quay. Its double pylon seeks to act as a reminder of the masted ships which previously used the quay. It features a main gangway of just over 30 metres and masts around 40 metres tall."
As we had crossed Dad took this of the River Lune.
Grizzly went on, "The buildings along St George's Quay were once warehouses associated with the Port of Lancaster. They are now all residential properties. There is also the old Customs House which is now a museum."
On the far side were numerous signs for the cycle routes. "We want City Loop (E) to the left", instructed Shaun.
This hugged the river passing behind Sainsburys supermarket.
"As we are going along the Lune Valley Ramble we will need to cross the main road over Greyhound Bridge", said Little Eric. "It maybe a bit difficult as the road is very busy."
As Dad was about to do this, Shaun called out, "look there is an underpass."
"Brilliant" cheered Little Eric. "Problem solved."
Just ahead stands Skerton Bridge, now one way, carrying the road over the River Lune for the traffic into Lancaster.
Grizzly said, "thanks to Wikipedia I can tell you that the first stone was laid in June 1783 and the bridge was completed in September 1787 to a design by Thomas Harrison. The semi-elliptical arches allow it to have a flat road deck the first of its kind in England. Each arch spans 64 feet (19.5m) and the deck between the parapets is 33 feet (10.1m) wide.
Our way was under the arch, added in about 1849 to accommodate the railway, to walk the old trackbed, now part of the Lune Valley Ramble.
A little way on, by the car park we saw this sign.
Tetley said, "in 2016 Storm Desmond caused a huge amount of damage and flooding in Lancashire and Cumbria. Here the River Lune broke its banks and flooded properties in the industrial estates, including the electricity station that caused widespread power cuts. Hopefully this wall will prevent such flooding in the future."
Strolling on we came to the majestic Lune Aqueduct that carries the Lancaster Canal over the River Lune.
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Grizzly said, "I researched this and thanks to Wikipedia, I have these notes for you all to read. -
The Lune Aqueduct is often referred to as one of the 'wonders of the waterways' and is a masterpiece of civil engineering. Designed by civil engineer John Rennie and constructed by architect Alexander Stevens (died 1796, aged 66), it was completed in 1797 at a total cost of £48,320.18s.10d. It carries the canal 664 feet across the River Lune at a height of 61 feet (53 feet above the normal water level in the river) and is a traditional structure of that time, consisting of five stone arches supporting the stone trough. Within the piers, special volcanic pozzolana powder was imported to be mixed with cement, which allowed the concrete to set under water. Because of the rush to finish the initial stages, before the winter floods, the construction was carried out around the clock and the final bill for the project was over £30,000 over budget (2.6 times the original estimate). This vast overspend was the reason that the Lancaster canal was never joined to the main canal network, as there was not enough money for the planned aqueduct over the River Ribble at the southern end of the canal. The aqueduct was restored between 2011 and 2012 at a cost of £2.4m. It is a Grade I listed building.
On its South side, is the following inscription: 'QUAE DEERANT ADEUNT: SOCIANTUR DISSITA: MERCES FLUMINA CONVENIUNT ARTE DATURA NOVAS. A.D. MDCCXCVII. ING. I. RENNIE EXTRUX. A. STEVENS. P. ET F.', which can be translated as: 'Things that are wanting are brought together / Things remote are connected / Rivers themselves meet by the assistance of art / To afford new objects of commerce. AD 1797. Engineer J Rennie. Built A Stevens father and son'.
"Thanks for that Grizzly, we have been truly educated about this magnificent structure", said Southey.
"Where now?", asked Little Eric.
Pointing right Shaun replied, "up the steep steps to the canal."
"Oh they do indeed look steep", he replied. "I feel for Dad with his injured leg."
As it was Dad made short work of the climb stating, "glad that's done."
Southey said, "we go north over the aqueduct."
"There are some nice reflections commented Allen."
We passed under a few bridges and at this one, Tetley said, "it has been widened in 1912 according to the inscribed stone."
Striding on Little Eric halted us by remarking, "more lovely reflections."
Onwards this brought us to the bridge carrying the Bay Gateway.
Shaun said, "this is where we leave the canal and walk along the Bay Gateway to Morecambe Road.
Opened in 2016 this dual carriageway completed the link from Morecambe and Heysham to the M6 motorway. "It is an absolute blessing", said Dad. "No longer having to trail through Lancaster to get to the M6. And despite critics saying it would do nothing to alleviate traffic in Lancaster, there are certainly not the long queues there used to be."
Along Morecambe Road, we turned left onto Westgate. Little Eric piped up, "can we stay on this side today. There's the postbox in the wall by Home Bargains. We are usually on the opposite side of the road, so I have not bagged a picture. Can we get one today."
"Sure lad", said Dad.
"It's an old one too, dating from the reign of King George V."
Eventually crossing Westgate we headed long the parade of shops that to Little Eric's delight meant he also bagged a picture of the pillar box outside the post office.
So home where checking the stats, we saw that Little Eric had reached 5000 miles.
"Congratulations pal", cheered Allen. "Quite the milestone."
"Aye", he agreed. "What a great life I have had, thanks to being made by dear Wendy Sue and given to Dad for his birthday in 2008. I remember well my first walk, just the day after on 2nd March 2008. Climbing to the top of Whernside the highest mountain in Yorkshire. It was a very very windy day but nevertheless I hung in to stand by the trig point."
"Here's to many more walks together", said Tetley, giving him a hug.
"A good day had by all", we then all cheered. "Thank you Dad."
