Day 47 of the End to End was another example of the green corridor that seems to run even through industrial areas.
I started on the Bridgewater Canal at Moore Bridge. The local post office did some lovely little fresh sandwiches which came in handy later. I walked along to Walton and made a brief stop at St John’s Church. A few members of the congregation were there and I was introduced to the vicar, who turned out to be Revd Anita Raggett a former colleague of Bob’s in Huddersfield, whose husband was a former colleague of mine and taught Hannah A Level Maths at Silcoates.
I walked on the the Walton Hall Car Park and my friend Kate soon arrived. We were off up the canal but distracted by our conversation we missed our turning. A chance stop at a Chandlers for a toilet put us back on the right route which included a bridge over the Manchester Ship Canal. Luckily Bob was coming towards us by this point, on what was part of the Transpennine Trail. We crossed over the river Mersey, through a small memorial woodland and onto the St Helens canal.
Kate and I had been talking about Wilding Worship, something I hope to follow up when my walk is completed.
Bob gave Kate a lift back to her car and I ate my little sandwiches in the park. The Sankey canal is the oldest in England, and it has been turned into a walking and cycle route and leisure area. The old canal route is now much wilder with more mature trees, wetland areas and havens for all kinds of wildlife. What industry no longer uses has gone back to nature. After Bewsey Lock the canal is silted up forming a reed bed. Through Dallam and up to Vulcan Village there are signs of the course of the old waterway and it comes back again just where we took the footpath into Vulcan Village for the end of today’s walk.
It was a good route past Warrington: a green corridor bursting with life.
From Psalm 139
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; all that you have made is wonderful, as I know full well.
Today I give thanks:
For the diversity of creation from the smallest plant to the largest tree,
From scarlet pimpernel, such a tiny flowers, to the oak, sycamore and beech,
From the Ladybird to the Grey Heron:
All is wonderful.
For the support of friends and colleagues,
For shared visions and a shared journey,
For companions on the way:
All is wonderful.
Tonight I pray,
God grant us a quiet night and a peaceful end.
JAL 22.05.2019
Day 47 of the End to End, Moore bridge to Vulcan Close in Vulcan Village.