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Leaving home again - walking blog part six
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| Reporter Dale Haslam greets Ian Orrell as he sets off from Bury |
THROUGHOUT May and June, kindhearted walker Ian Orrell (60) will take on the challenge of his life.
Ian Orrell, of Higher Lane, Whitefield, is walking 874 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats in a bid to raise £6,000 for the Emmaus homeslessness charity.
He has already reached the halway mark and was greeted by our reporter Dale Haslam as he left Bury for John O'Groats.
In this regular diary, the retired teacher tells of his adventure.
I walked to Bury in my new Meindl boots. How comfortable they were and no more blisters!
On my rest day, it was just so nice to read a paper and sit and have a coffee - real luxuries.
The next day, I walked to Holcombe and then onto Holcombe Moor going out via Crowthorn School. The views from the tops were impressive. It was lovely to see that spring on the moors is still well and truly here with the daffodills in full bloom.
The first signs of summer were also starting to be seen as skylarks sang their majestic song overhead.
What a song from such a small bird; how it lifts the soul.
I eventually reached the hamlet of Belthorn, which is on a ridge with spectacular views all around. You could even see Ingleborough.
The next day - Wednesday - I walked from Belthorn to Longridge.
On paper this looked a straightforward walk. Always beware the simple and straightforward it has a nasty habit of biting you in the backside. Blackburn was my next place to visit and comes bottom of the league for lack of signposts so I inevitably ended up on the wrong road out of the city.
Blackburn is also unique in having so many streets on hills that are one in five or steeper!
The views you can get, therefore, are quite spectacular.
Revidge is one such place and because I had gone wrong I decided to go via Lammack to get me back on course.
This route took me straight past QEGS - Blackburn's playing fields.
I wondered as it was Wednesday whether MGS might be playing there.
My shoulder was hurting so I stopped at the pub next to the ground.
Imagine my surprise when a coach with MGS boys on it turned past the pub.
I put my rucksack behind the bar and went to see what was happening.
Who should be playing cricket but my U14s team from the previous season and Lancashire champions. What a coincidence!
I picked up my rucksack and went on my way. At the top of Ramgreaves, another place with a pub and spectacular views, I got caught in a torrential downpour in what I believe was attractive countryside but I didn't really appreciate it.
The walk took me through Ribchester and then twp miles uphill to Knowle Green where my B&B was. My guide said it was next to the Halls Arms pub the only trouble being that this pub was being rebuilt. Left or right I chose left and came to Knowle Green no sign of B&B.
I rang up, no reply, I waited still no reply so I continued downhill until I met someone
Oh you need to go back to the crossroads where the pub is and its about the 3rd or 4th house on your left.
A good 45 minutes since I was last at the crossroads I found my B&B!
They were very nice and ran me up to the Newdrop Inn - another pub with a history of hanging in its past. Worthy of a second visit.
To sponsor Ian, visit the link below.
Read parts four and five by clicking the links below.
10:00am Tuesday 13th May 2008
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