Allen, Southey and Tetley were huddled over the laptop, when Shaun, Grizzly and Little Eric arrived.
Looking up Allen said, "ooh great tea and cakes."
"I know you're gasping for a cuppa", said Tetley letting out a bellow of laughter.
"For sure", called out Southey. "Us tea bellies and cake stuffers are always thirsty and hungry."
"Of course it is Ramblears tea", stated Shaun, who with Southey's help filled the mugs.
Grizzly opened the cake tins, saying, "Little Eric has made blueberry slice, and my contribution is chocolate caramel shortbread."
"Lovely", cheered Tetley as we dug in.
A little while later, Allen said, "both are quite scrumptious. Thanks pals as always."
"So I see" laughed Little Eric. "Both you and Southey have has four pieces already."
"Just living up to our reputation", replied Southey.
"What was it you were looking at as we came in" asked Shaun.
"All the many pictures Dad took on our holiday to Saltmoore at Whitby", replied Tetley. "It was a super holiday and we and all our pals got to to have a day out."
"Yes our walk in Rosedale was quite wonderful", said Grizzly.
"The good thing too is that Dad has booked for us to go again at the beginning of September", cheered Allen. "We have already got the walk planned, and the our railway pals will be on the NYMR and there is another day out also planned."
"Yes all we need is for the weather to treat us kindly again", said Shaun.
Little Eric had the iPad in paw. "There is a day down to walk with Uncle Eric on Thursday. But the forecast is for rain after midday. So just a morning outing and quite local perhaps?"
"Aye pal", agreed Tetley. "How about we suggest a circular from Halton to Crook o'Lune. We've walked the paths before a few times, but maybe we could do it in the opposite direction, crossing Denny Beck Bridge at the start to the other side of the river?"
This was suggested to Uncle Eric who agreed.
Just one comment about the weather forecast. It changed over night and during the day, such that in the end there was no rain at all! Hey ho.
We met Uncle Eric at Denny Beck parking by the building that was once Halton railway station, now for some years the headquarters of Lancaster University Rowing Club.
We arrived a few minutes before Uncle Eric. Now our pals Barnaby and Lee always go to see him. This stems from when Uncle Eric and Dad were working on the commercial computer system at Provincial Insurance. Barnaby always went to work with Dad and he was liked very much by Uncle Eric. Lee in the blue jumper is Barnaby's special pal hence him coming too.
Lee said, "Let's sit on the platform for a picture."
"Good idea", cried Tetley, as we dashed across and got settled.
"Hello Uncle Eric", called out Barnaby. "Nice to see you.
"And you all lads."
We were soon ready and doing the reverse route, made to cross the narrow Denny Beck Bridge. The day was warm but quite windy at times.
This fine view of the River Lune from the bridge is looking down stream towards Lancaster.
"Turn right", said Shaun, immediately after we had crossed the bridge.
Walked the road past the houses coming to Halton Mill.
This is a thriving business and community centre with lots of different work spaces. There are workshops, exhibitions and music events etc.
Now the path became rough entering woodland by the river. There were some bricks by the path, Uncle Eric, stopping to see the name set in them. "Claughton", said Tetley. "Made at the brickworks in that village on the other side of the river. The clay used to be brought down by an aerial ropeway that operated by gravity. However for a while now it is no longer in operation. Sad as it was the only one of its kind in the country."
Strolling on, Little Eric pointed, "there's that standing stone that we reckon was once a gatepost. The hole at the bottom can be see and there is a depression in the top. It seems likely that the top of the stone has broken off."
Part way a footbridge gets walkers across Monkley Gill Beck.
The path became narrower still and at times very close to the river with a steep drop. It was tricky for Uncle Eric, and Dad held his arm at times to help, for which he was grateful.
Coming to the road, Southey said, "go right, then cross and walk the path to the car park at Crook o'Lune.
"Uncle Eric, would you like to see the tree that Dad has planted in memory of Uncle Brian at the Memorial Forest", asked Allen.
"Yes of course."
We are pleased to see that it is growing well.
Reading the memorial plaque, Uncle Eric said, "that's very nice.
Like Dad we miss Uncle Brian every single day. 50 years as friends. Dad has said many times how blessed he was for all those years of friendship.
Grizzly, reminded us, "the railway line through Halton ran from Lancaster Green Ayre station to join the line from Carnforth at Wennington. There were intermediate stations at Caton, Claughton and Hornby. At the Crook o'Lune where the river does a horseshoe two bridges were necessary to carry the line. That is one", he pointed.
Needing to cross the river, we walked along the road over the bridge.
Eagle eyed, Grizzly noted the plaque about its construction, reading it our for our education. "This bridge was erected under the provisions of the Lancashire County Justices' Act 1881 at the expense of the hundreds of North and South Lonsdale and opened for public traffic the 6th day of August 1883."
"That's something new we have learnt" commented Tetley.
"What was a hundred?", asked Little Eric.
Researching later, Grizzly told us, "a hundred is an administrative division geographically part of a larger region. In the case in question regarding the bridge, North Lonsdale and South Lonsdale parts of the county of Lancashire. The origin of such divisions is apparently exceedingly obscure. It may once have referred to an area of a hundred hides; in early Anglo-Saxon England a hide was the amount of lands farmed by and required to support a peasant family, but by the eleventh century in many areas it supported four families. Alternatively the hundred may have been an area originally settled by one 'hundred men at arms' or the area liable to provide one 'hundred' men under arms. In this early medieval use, the number term 'hundred' can itself be unclear, meaning the 'short' hundred (100) or in some contexts the long hundred of 120."
"Hmm", said Little Eric. "Fascinating. I will have to sit and think more on this. Thank you though pal."
"If we are going back the usual route, we take this gate and walk across by the Memorial Forest", said Shaun.
"What a beautiful view of the river" called out Allen.
Here we must apologise to Uncle Eric. He had thought we were returning along the track bed, and indeed we eventually did. However we were following the the usual route that meant having to ascend and descend steep flights of steps.
This was hard for Uncle Eric and he and us were relieved when we finally got back on the old track bed. Sorry Uncle Eric!
Passing an old tree, Tetley pointed, "just look at that large fungi."
Now on the level track bed we strolled on Allen remarking, "I am sure we have never walked this section before, so some new path."
It took us under this bridge.
Uncle Eric said, "that has been put in after the railway closed. You could never get a train through it."
Quite soon we arrived at the start where this sculpture, depicts the scene at Halton station in the days when the trains were running.
"That was nice", said Uncle Eric. "I have enjoyed the walk."
"We are glad, it is always good to have your company," said Shaun. "Sorry again about the steep up and down steps."
Arrangements were made for a future date to walk with Uncle Eric, and goodbyes said, Dad drove us home.
Allen said, "we saw no sheep." Then he cheered, "at last a sheep picture free story. Hooray!"
