Friday 29th July 2022
We have had a break from motor-homing owng to our time in France and subsequent ill-health after returning, due to Covid. This caused us to cancel a planned trip with Jeeves and Michelle, to Otley a couple of weeks ago, but now feeling much better, we returned to Crooklands, having visited on the same weekend last year. You can read about this last trip by clicking on the following link:
https://see-u-later.co.uk/2021/08/01/crooklands-near-milnthorpe-cumbria-not-great-budworth/
After a warm welcome again from our stewards Tony and Margaret and setting-up (just parking really), next to the canal, we went for a short walk to look at St Patrick’s Church, a grade 2 listed building, built in the early 19th century on the site of a much earlier building. The earliest gravestone I could find was dated 1795, but of course there may be many earlier unmarked graves.
The church is set in a commanding position overlooking the surrounding countryside. Unfortunately we were unable to look inside, but there are many stone heads apparently peering out from the sides of many of the windows. This type of decoration is more usually found on medieval churches, so I wonder if they have been rescued from the earlier church.
They are clearly the work of an accomplished mason; I wonder if they are portraits of real people (possibly royalty or the local Lord of the Manor) and how true to life they are.
Our walk then took us back along the canal, to the site. We joined the canal, just near to where it disappears under the motorway. Not much chance of linking this section up to the rest of the Lancaster canal without substantial investment.
Later we enjoyed the company of some of our neighbours who are members of the Royale Caravan Owners Club. Chris explained that Royale Caravans has been out of business for some time, but Chris and Phil have lovingly restored two fine examples, which they use regularly.
Saturday 30th July
As is always a risk when planning a trip in this area, the weather on Saturday proved to be awful. Not cold, but driving, horizontal rain with barely a let-up all day. In the late afternoon, we decided to risk a walk, even though it continued to rain. We followed a path alongside the river, which was challenging in that each field boundary had a difficult stile to climb over.
It was clear that local children had made the most of the river near a weir.
The path came out on a narrow country road which we followed back to to the village. Along the way, a speeding cyclist going as fast possible, shouted at us for getting out of his way, by going either side of the road. His preference was for us to both be on the same side. Bloody arrogance; he had loads of room, and anyway feet were made before wheels. We had calmed down by the time we got back, returning soaking wet through.
Sunday 31st July
A much better day greeted us on the Sunday morning and we spent some time socialising with our neighbours before going for a walk along the canal in pleasant sunshine. What a change from a day earlier.
Wildlife was also in evidence:
Silverdale
On our way home, we visited Silverdale, a beautiful area of coastline, north of Lancaster.
We had parked near Silverdale Green at the top of the village, so after a good walk, we arrived at Jenny Brown’s Point where we witnessed many Oystercatchers waiting to make their way across to Grange Over Sands as the tide receded.
It is a wonderfully relaxing place to spend a few minutes on one of the conveniently placed benches, taking in the view.
"See-u-Later" 