MORECAMBE BAY WALK
Arnside Promenade (Grid ref. SD 456787) to
Kents Bank Station (Grid ref. 397757)
Total Distance 6.3 miles (approx)
This walk was in complete contrast to our usual ventures. Normally, we head for the mountains and peaks of the Lake District but today we were remaining on a flat surface raising funds for our pilgrimage to Lourdes. Having said that, we were all well aware that this adventure wasn’t going to be an easy “walk in the park”.
The day began with a Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Arnside. It was Vocations Sunday and so one of our group, John Moriarty who is training to be a priest, gave us a little talk about his faith journey. Fr Phil talked to us about our new bishop, Michael Campbell, as the new shepherd for the diocese and we reflected on how we would need to rely on our shepherd for the day, Cedric Robinson, to lead us to safety across the treacherous Bay.
After Mass we gathered on the Promenade at Arnside. The next day would be Fr Phil’s birthday and so we bought him a birthday card and cake and sang happy birthday in front of local passers by as we waited for our guide.
We walked to the end of the Promenade and headed across the bay towards Heysham Power Station. The skies were blue but there was a strong wind that maintained the chill factor but fortunately there was no rain. Although we were walking across flat sands the ripples made by the tides made it tough going under foot. At various points we came across mud-flats which looked like mini Grand Canyons. We zig-zagged our way across the sands and even waded across the River Kent with the water reaching over our knees.
We had to spread out as a group otherwise, had we stayed close together, we would have caused the sands to soften and become thinner turning it to quicksand and so we made sure that we remained far apart. Cedric gathered the group at various points by blowing his whistle to bring us together and negotiate mud flats.
After 3 hours we had Kent’s Bank station in our sights and we were greeted by a small herd of sheep grazing on the salty grasses. We were covered in mud with aching thighs but we carried a real sense of physical achievement in having successfully crossed the bay.
Arnside Promenade (Grid ref. SD 456787) to
Kents Bank Station (Grid ref. 397757)
Total Distance 6.3 miles (approx)
This walk was in complete contrast to our usual ventures. Normally, we head for the mountains and peaks of the Lake District but today we were remaining on a flat surface raising funds for our pilgrimage to Lourdes. Having said that, we were all well aware that this adventure wasn’t going to be an easy “walk in the park”.
The day began with a Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Arnside. It was Vocations Sunday and so one of our group, John Moriarty who is training to be a priest, gave us a little talk about his faith journey. Fr Phil talked to us about our new bishop, Michael Campbell, as the new shepherd for the diocese and we reflected on how we would need to rely on our shepherd for the day, Cedric Robinson, to lead us to safety across the treacherous Bay.
After Mass we gathered on the Promenade at Arnside. The next day would be Fr Phil’s birthday and so we bought him a birthday card and cake and sang happy birthday in front of local passers by as we waited for our guide.
We walked to the end of the Promenade and headed across the bay towards Heysham Power Station. The skies were blue but there was a strong wind that maintained the chill factor but fortunately there was no rain. Although we were walking across flat sands the ripples made by the tides made it tough going under foot. At various points we came across mud-flats which looked like mini Grand Canyons. We zig-zagged our way across the sands and even waded across the River Kent with the water reaching over our knees.
We had to spread out as a group otherwise, had we stayed close together, we would have caused the sands to soften and become thinner turning it to quicksand and so we made sure that we remained far apart. Cedric gathered the group at various points by blowing his whistle to bring us together and negotiate mud flats.
After 3 hours we had Kent’s Bank station in our sights and we were greeted by a small herd of sheep grazing on the salty grasses. We were covered in mud with aching thighs but we carried a real sense of physical achievement in having successfully crossed the bay.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOqgxat0_1c
1 comment:
A few more photos from the day can be found here.
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