After a rest day caused by the need to return the red van to Glossop, day 49 of the End to End began again at Wigan Pier on the Leeds to Liverpool Canal. This is called the Liverpool to Leeds canal by some people. A series of white markers set at intervals of a mile inform a walker how much closer to Leeds we are getting. Obviously the canal goes the long way round.
I’m not using the canal to get to Leeds. Rather I’m heading towards Preston, to eventually pick up the Lancaster canal.
But I’m rushing ahead here in the narrative. ‘Take one step’ at a time is the only legitimate motto for an End to Ender. It’s also important to savour each step. This is probably a once in a life time journey: I’m unlikely to be doing this again.
The first part of the canal after Wigan is a long series of locks. I recognised it from a previous journey when I was supporting some friends who were doing a sponsored canoe trip. Because of the requirement to take canoes out of the water at locks there was a significant amount of portage to do on this section. This time round I’m a bit early in the year for the blackberries that sustained us last time.
I met Bob at bridge 60 where we had a picnic. Then we walked back to bridge 63 where I exchanged the canal tow path for a disused railway path numbered 55. It was a very quite route mostly through a fern lined cutting. All the more disappointing to see ugly fly tipping at one point. Papers in the rubbish suggest it dates to 2006. I do see quite a bit of litter in the canals and along some paths and fly tipping from time to time. It’s a real shame that tippers don’t think about the environmental impact of their actions.
I get back on the canal path and soon meet Bob again. He has positive news of the Boatyard Bus Cafe near Adlington. We ended the walk there for the day with cake. And by the way, it’s just 84 and a quarter miles from Leeds.
From Psalm 139
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
All knowing God, who sees what we do in public and in secret,
Help us to face up to our responsibilities as residents of this planet.
It matters what we do with its resources and the rubbish we generate.
Hold us to account.
Lord have Mercy
And tonight, grant us a quiet night and a peaceful end.
JAL 25.05.2019
Day 49 of the End to End from Wigan Pier to the Boatyard Bus Cafe.