I had an upset stomach all night probably due to the change in food. It was also a very early start this morning as Poppy had us up at 5 am. Poor Bev took her out and then got back in bed. However, Poppy was relentless with the barking so I eventually got up and all she wanted was some company. I managed to tape up my feet in the dark before Bev got back up. Then it was breakfast and I started to walk just before dawn.
A bit of road walking before turning off down a track, I couldn’t find the route onto the embankment and had to do a lap around a graveyard and through a boat yard before I finally found it.
This area along the banks of the River Douglas was all marshland and very agricultural with lots of crops growing. The embankments are the flood defences and occasionally there were flood gates. The marsh land is so extensive around here. Later on I saw the farmers harvesting some cabbages from the sodden fields
I could see the BAE systems plant directly across the estuary which was pretty much where I had started out from yesterday! You can only just see the sea. In fact, you can see Blackpool Tower more clearly than you can see the sea.
Poppy had been off the lead most of the morning but right at the end of the walk she decided to go into a field and wouldn’t come back for a while so goodness knows what she’s been eating! I guess time will tell.
This morning‘s walk was a little bit longer than expected, almost 12 miles taking four hours. The last hour was quite tiring I think because I had a disturbed night sleep.
When I got back to the van, I had to lie down for about 20 minutes to rest because I was so shattered. So my lunch break was slightly extended.
The sky‘s been amazing today with the sun shining through the clouds and the ray of light spreading out. The light shining through the clouds is like the scene from the film ‘Ghost’. Is Angela looking down on me?
I left Poppy in the van for the afternoon with Bev.
This whole area of marsh and wetland is a magnet for birds and there are lots of RSPB sanctuaries along this route. I’ve seen geese, swans, and many other birds that I didn’t recognise.
The Esplanade was very busy another coastal road. The noise of the traffic rather spoils the atmosphere of the scenery around me.
In the distance I could see an oil rig or platform of some kind out on the horizon. Then I could just start to make out what I think is the Welsh Hills in the distance. And I got my the first sight of Southport Pier.
I was listening to 80s music today. Whitney Houston’s ‘I wanna dance with someone’ came on and reminded me so much of Angela. When we first met she used to play it on repeat in her room in the nurses home!
Dire Straits, Walk of life was one of the first CDs I ever bought. How appropriate it is now!
Later in the afternoon I had an urge to call my Gran. She died 22 years ago so that was a bit weird and emotional.
Southport pier looked very sad and lacked atmosphere. Only two buildings on it. I was surprised by how long it is though.
When we lived in Liverpool in late 80’s, Angela and I cycled to Southport from Bootle (only once) when we were training for a cycling holiday with Heather and Carol (a story for another day). It was a scorching hot summer day and we got sunburned just on one side. It must have been a Sunday as we struggled to find an ice lolly to help cool us down.
The road noise became so intense that I decided to come off the Esplanade and onto the sand dunes away from the noise of the traffic, which to be quite honest I am fed up with hearing. Anyway I’m walking through the sand dunes and the paths kept crossing. It’s quite disorientated at times just as well I’ve got my OS map. Although I was rather hoping that I didn’t miss Ainsdale! where I was meeting Bev.
The sand dunes reminded me of our trip to New Zealand when the boys, Angela and I body boarded down the massive dunes there. fun times.
Then Sarah from Fitsteps joined us. We had a cuppa and a blether in Priscilla reminiscing already about Blackpool.
I had organised to meet with Di who many years ago I did my MSc with at Liverpool University. Over the years our paths have crossed and they’re crossing once more. She had planned to walk with me some of the way today but unfortunately her washing machine had broken and so she had to wait in for the repair man.
Di kindly put us up for the night giving us plenty of chat, a meal, drink, beds, a bath and washed, dried and folded my clothes. What a superstar. What a fabulous evening we had.
Best bits: catching up with Di
Worst bits: Road noise
Distance: 19.33 miles
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