After yesterday's sad effort to include swans in the photo I thought that I should try again. Much better!
Seen in the gents at the Barton Grange Garden Centre. Please add your own captions!
The flags are out in Garstang to welcome the long distance walker. Or perhaps it is because of the fete tomorrow?I hope that the heading for today's blog didn't give the impression that it is about a lads night out. The car part is that our car has been making a strange noise for the last few days. Early in today's walk I saw a Jag garage and popped in to see if they could help. I explained the situation (ie on the walk and need assistance promptly) and they immediately looked at the car including taking it for a test drive. They concluded that there was no serious problem and did not charge us for their efforts. If you have a Jag and have problems in Lancashire I would highly recommend the Preston Jag Centre in Barton.
The football part is a reference to the amount of World Cup hype that is already going on - flags on cars, adverts in pubs etc. I imagine that this will be happening throughout the country but it is very noticeable when you spend a few hours each day walking along roads.
Yesterday I said that I would report on our unusual accommodation. It turned out to be somewhat of a Butlins throwback and was not really to our taste. The food was good but we had to wait the best part of an hour for our table despite having booked a table. Not as recommended as the Jag Centre!
Allowing for errors with the shoe lace that I use to measure the walk I have just about reached half way in the expedition. I reached Lancaster today and I calculate that I have now walked a total of 471.7 miles out of 945 miles. Today was again very hot in the afternoon - and the heat does make it more tiring to complete the daily walk. Luckily (for me ) they are predicting that tomorrow will be the last day of the current hot spell. I am off towards Kendal tomorrow, but will not reach it until Monday after a rest day on Sunday. The shins are again much improved and I hope not to have to mention them again - if I don't take it that they are no longer causing me a problem.
Thanks for the comments on the blog - please keep them coming. Does anyone have any questions about the walk?
I forgot to mention yesterday a slightly surreal event as I was leaving Preston along the A6. Coming along the road towards Preston was a National Express coach, number 583, with it's destination showing as "Coventry". Furthermore it looked full!
Today's KBW goes to the Preston Jag Centre for being so helpful to a needy traveller.
"If you pick 'em up, Lord, I'll put them down" - Prayer of the Tired Walker
Cheers
Keith
