The other half of Bleasdale.
I felt more and more anxious as I drove a few miles this morning. I was shocked by the interview I heard on the radio the other night with an A and E specialist from Manchester. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0877mb2?fbclid=IwAR3vAf2InWHLrkSV5t5vMWedzZYA0VR5ykZKvzz7IWmrp5po4hUqJQhZTx8 His message was simple and fairly to be vigilant with social distancing, stay inside if possible and avoid unnecessary journeys. Yet here am I driving ‘unnecessarily’. I won’t be doing it again.
My attempts to exercise whilst socially distancing in the vicinity of my house have proved mixed – busy roads, too many people walking and flooded fields. I was, therefore, prepared to drive a short distance today to reach unfrequented lanes for a circular walk. I was having second thoughts and drove extra carefully to avoid any accidents, as it was there were few cars on the road and all appeared to be driving slowly.
I park up near the access road to Bleasdale Tower and Estate. I had an enjoyable walk around part of the estate last week, so will complete the other half today. The morning is superb – blue skies and bright sun. My mood improves a little as I walk along the empty road. As I gain height I convince myself the exercise is doing me some good. A cyclist passes me zigzagging up the steep hill. The walk continues along deserted estate roads, passing a couple of cottages and going by Bleasdale Tower which is well secluded behind walls and hedges. The house was built in the early C19th by the Garnett family from Salford who greatly improved the estate land. It was a descendant who established the North Lancaster Remormatory School on the estate which I described in that previous post. The surrounding modest hills looked majestic in the sunshine, I wonder when I’ll be on them again.
Today’s photos don’t do the area justice and somehow seem incidental to my general mood.
I was soon on the road by the gatehouse, having successfully met no-one and I’m now back home in lockdown mode. I’m expecting a letter from Boris telling me to stay in for at least 12 weeks. Not sure if I’ll still be able to walk for exercise without risk to myself or the public. None of us has experienced anything like this situation before and we certainly don’t know how it will pan out in the next few weeks and months. I fear the worst.
My neighbour has just brought me some homemade leek and potato soup, left on the doorstep. It will go well with my practice loaf of bread that I made a couple of days ago.
Since I wrote this I’ve accepted that I shouldn’t be doing any unnecessary driving to go for a walk so from now on will be walking from home only. 23/03/2020.
*****
Thank you for your post. I enjoyed seeing your photos. My best, Jules Forth
I’m very fortunate to live in the Bowland Area, very different to the Pennines you walked through. Anyhow this is where I’ll be for the foreseeable future.
Hope you are staying safe in Sydney.
Very beautiful country side though. I still walk everyday, and just sit outside for awhile to get fresh air and sun on the skin. The vitamin D is very important, that is what helps out immune systems. Have a good week.
Thanks.
Yes, I’m going to need plenty of vitamin D. Luckily I have a garden to potter in, by the end of this virus affair there won’t be a weed in sight. Wish I’d planted vegetables last year.
There has been panic buying over here and fresh vegetables and fruit are getting hard to buy.
I garden every year also, but I am not very good at it. My yard is not the best for sunlight, to many trees. But, I always plant stuff anyway, it is fun to try. Last time I went to the store there were still plenty of fresh vegetables. But they don’t last long, all the frozen vegetables shelves were empty though. I have not been to the store in awhile, so I am not sure what is going on now. Don’t stop getting sunshine though, it is good for us. 🙂
I did a series of monthly posts in 2017 on my garden. https://bowlandclimber.com/2017/02/01/the-garden-in-january/
Just back from the shop and have plenty of food for now.
One curiosity in England at the moment is that people are panic buying toilet rolls +++, there were none instore today. I’m not quite sure what is the psychology behind this.
I will definitely go check out your post on your garden. It is the same thing here in the states. I believe it is a psychological thing about the TP. I think because of social media, that is what is driving this buying tp, When I was younger, I lived in a area that blizzards were a common thing. 6 to 12 feet of snow. And before a blizzard, the shelves in the stores would go empty. Mostly the milk though, because back then a lot of people did more of their own gardening and canning. This to will pass, just don’t know when.
Keep on walking. There is something heroic or maybe symbolic about thart lonely cyclist wbbiling the zig zags up the hill – I know how he feels.
I was catching that cyclist up and worrying about social distance if she decided to get off and push, she didn’t and rode on over the summit. A good effort.
If you can’t go out, maybe you could do a top ten post of all your favourite walks that you’ve done. And another recording the various visitors you get to your garden. The butterflies and bees are slowly appearing. Looking forward to your posts!
Brilliant, you have put me on the spot there. Hope that was not a criticism of my recent walks.
I’ll take up your challenge in the coming barren weeks. I’ll probably start with my garden. My favourite walks top ten could be a problem, I always say my favourite walk is the one I’ve just completed.
Haha, well maybe your ten most unusual walks then. Have you bird feeders for your garden? I love watching my bird visitors.
Yes, I’ve lots of bird feeders and more importantly nest boxes, but my neighbour has three times as much food out so my birds just come to my garden for the crumbs. Let’s see what turns up.
Good luck!
On a more serious note I am now self-isolating [except my dementia caring responsibilities] and am only going out for short walks away from everybody, but now I have the dilemma of not taking any unnecessary travel. That rules Bleasdale out and even Salthill Quarry, what should I do?
A quick walk around the block before anybody is up – that won’t work because I’m a night owl and not up in the early morning. The parks are busy in the day. Maybe a walk after dark around the village, could scare people. Any ideas?
We are all allowed to exercise once a day so yes I would keep it very local. The parks probably won’t be as busy now ( especially in the week) and local footpaths from the village should be ok. I’m lucky that we have a dog, I will still be taking him out once a day and my partner can take him out once a day too.
I agree – for now.
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