12 members of the walking group took on the challenge of “the beast from the East” and tackled a 7 mile walk from Maghull to Aughton today.Using the canal paths and byways, the first part of the walk was actually quite pleasant, walking alongside the Leeds Liverpool Canal, watching skating ducks and enjoying the brief glimpses of weak sunlight. Leaving the canal we headed across open farmland in Lydiate when the wind really started to blow. Undaunted we continued on, catching our breath in the shelter of some trees and hedges, and trekked across what looked like a lunar landscape of frozen mud ruts. Heading up Clieves Hill we had a brief (very brief) stop at the top for a quick coffee break ( plus a little warming snifter!) much to the amazement of the people in the parked cars who were wrapped up to the gills in their cosy little vehicles! Moving swiftly on, (well as quickly as we could given the wind) we walked through the Gorse Hill Nature reserve onwards towards Gorse Hill reservoir and down to the Royal Oak pub for a welcome warm and a well deserved lunch. Some people may think we were foolhardy going out, but all the group were well equipped for the weather in appropriate clothing. As Alfred Wainwright said….”there’s no such thing as bad weather…just unsuitable clothing!”. Next months walk (hopefully in better weather) will be on Thursday 5th April, when we will be visiting 3 Liverpool parks.
Maghull and Lydiate U3A
U3A third age learning social
I think you are all very brave and deserve a ‘Cold Medal’ each. It was interesting to hear that you got to the pub again and did not want to leave or walk any further. Is there a theme starting here?