Fifteen stramblers met at Burscough Bridge Station and caught the train to Appley Bridge last Thursday (27th). We made our way to the canal bank and took the towpath back towards Burscough. This was the anniversary of the original Canal Walking Group reaching Leeds in 2018, with ten of that group present today. We passed Appley Lock and Hand Lane Bridge and saw some swans fishing. Soon we reached the Grade II listed Gillibrand Bridge where we had a group photo. The arch stones are painted white (now faded) to help boat owners judge their approach through the bridge and, because the bridge straddles the tow path on one side of the canal, the keystone is not in the middle of the canal. A vertical white line painted on the parapet indicates the centre of the canal itself to aid navigation. A number of canal boats brightened the scene, both moored and chugging along, with a fine array of bluebells adorning the far bank. We crossed the Windmill Bridge at Parbold as the towpath changed to the other side of the canal, and we took a break here. Refreshed, we carried on along the towpath and came across a sculpture of two stone whales forming a circle near Bridge 36. We used the whales as seats for a short while before resuming the walk. The Ring O’Bells pub came into view and was seen to be undergoing major improvements. “Lawnmower Man” was resolutely sticking to his task in a canalside garden and we reached Junction Bridge over the Lathom Junction with the Rufford Branch of the canal. Here we had good views along the branch with three locks in sight. At the edge of Burscough, on the opposite side of the canal, was a mill – now converted into apartments. A family of fluffy ducklings swam past us before we came to the end of our walk at Burscough Wharf. We went separate ways for lunch, glad that although we’d had no sunshine, we’d avoided any rain.
Thanks to Anne and Bob for organising. See you all next time.