Preston to Croston. 14.74 miles, 151 ft of elevation, 18,886 steps
A relatively slow and easy day today as I make my way out of Preston and towards Wigan and the industrial midlands.
Leaving Preston, I had to navigate over the Ribble alongside the major artery South out of the city on the A59. The Ribble did not look its finest at this point with some dodgy looking foam floating down river.
However the cars and houses were soon forgotten as I headed out to the Hutton Marshes. I was on my own other than one dog walker who had a beast of a Labrador (the opposite in build to Schooner), and tried to imagine him walking 20 miles a day….
The news on radio 4 and world at one kept me amused for quite a while with reports from parliament and lengthy clips of passionate speeches and blustering retorts. Great stuff.
I had a stand off with a cow on a ridge (the cow won and I moved around him), said hello to a horse and walked past a very muddy marina – I would love to show this to the chaps at Middle Harbour Marina in Sydney..
Despite all these distractions I got to my destination (a bridge on the River Douglas and the A581) too early for my pick up so took the opportunity for a quick afternoon nap
Eventually it was time, and Jim and Margaret came to pick me up. They are he parent of Stephen (my sisters husband) who are very kindly putting me up for the night and then dropping me off back at said bridge.
I told Margaret her B&B performance was worthy of 5 stars but she wont let me rate my stay until I have had her cooked breakfast in the morning!
They have been great, and have now heard the full history of Croston and their families involvement through the ages…..
