![Plodders near Chapeltown 2014nrChapeltown2](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-52IJ_BQWWF4/VqKywefnzyI/AAAAAAABN1Y/m4dC9wH3hv0/2014nrChapeltown2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
My ears were burning as I drew up at Affetside for my first outing with The Plodders since last April. Times have changed since then. Norman has a Kindle Fire and can access the internet! He’d been extolling the virtues of my report on his Breath of Fresh Air walk around Lancaster.
Plodder Walks seem to be evolving back towards mainstream LDWA walks, today’s outing being the best part of twelve miles. My last ‘Plodder’ walk was a mere six miles. Numbers are up. The regulars (Don, John P, Neil, Phil, Barbara Peter and others) have been joined by some new faces, including Chris Langabeer, today’s leader. He delivered a ‘welcome address’ from a pedestal near Affetside’s medieval cross.
![Leader's lecture - Affetside 2001affetside](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kGWIMhJrDKo/VqKyzoiF7yI/AAAAAAABN1o/ex2Svn_7HTk/2001affetside_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Affetside is at the top of a hill, so the only barrier to quick progress down to Jumbles Country Park was the incidence of a number of stiles that paused the progress of the 21
Neil was full of beans (or whatever else he had for breakfast) at this point, but later he had extracted all available nutrients and needed a short cut to get back to the start.
![Neil is full of beans at Top o' th' Knotts 2002TopothKnotts](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nEdeDhBl8eg/VqKy29wU0yI/AAAAAAABN14/AUXKfU5gnJA/2002TopothKnotts_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Since I last saw him, JP has honed his body to a suitable shape for LS Lowry to copy onto his easel. (He’s dead, John!)
![JP - Matchstick Man 2004JP](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WNTTP2LgA4k/VqKy6ZMKnGI/AAAAAAABN2I/_UyO8URq_ko/2004JP_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
It was another ‘Blue Sky’ day, perfectly clear, with the low sun casting long shadows as we progressed along surprisingly mud free paths to Jumbles Country Park.
![Heading towards Jumbles Country Park 2005woods](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p-iGF8WOsxI/VqKy-K1TK3I/AAAAAAABN2Y/urtlN8eFehU/2005woods_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
The grass on the dam at Jumbles Reservoir was a vivid green in the bright sunshine.
![Below Jumbles Reservoir 2006Jumbles](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Go3OeDBlCwU/VqKzB_8UlzI/AAAAAAABN2o/kMTc77KAOhA/2006Jumbles_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Norman has been seen here before. Note the piping system has been changed since this visit in November 2011.
![Jumbles with Norman 2006zJumbles](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K920UymtRgg/VqKzFcqIYJI/AAAAAAABN24/3meSbeOuS1E/2006zJumbles_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
After pulling Norman out of the mire (again) we soon found ourselves strolling down a pleasant lane strewn with No Parking signs.
![Near Jumbles 2008road](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dE39-R7lzIU/VqKzJt-XOSI/AAAAAAABN3I/-Ct2A1dJTVo/2008road_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Chris seemed to spend much of the day leading from the rear. “I know the way” cried the four-eyed monster out in front.
![Near Turton 2009nearTurton](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oSNGb59sCc8/VqKzNeOuGvI/AAAAAAABN3Y/O9JRJAhlM_E/2009nearTurton_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
This ornate foot-tunnel is of great benefit to the residents of Horobin Fold, if they want to visit their friends at Torra Barn (or vice-versa). Don and Norman just enjoyed playing hide and seek in it.
![Railway tunnel 2010tunnel](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ItkyNpudrLM/VqKzQm7QqtI/AAAAAAABN3o/4WPYK5KEN6k/2010tunnel_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Our route joined the Witton Weavers Way for a while. The section below was boarded, so as to avoid a deep bog. There were however numerous complaints about the slippery nature of the boards, perhaps because the plumber at the head of the line was emitting a viscous fluid.
![On the Witton Weavers Way near Chapeltown 2011WWWay](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nxKYWPIFMb4/VqKzUf1_11I/AAAAAAABN34/asdnKvuWck4/2011WWWay_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![On the Witton Weavers Way near Chapeltown 2012slipperywood](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JqTYC2K_d04/VqKzXbcnN6I/AAAAAAABN4I/4Oy8cdpJRM0/2012slipperywood_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
“Sorry about the snot on the boards” announced Norman, “watch me dive into this pool of slime.”
“Take your sunspecs off” advised Don “- it’s grass, not a pool, and the path isn’t that way.” (“You Stupid Man!”)
![Norman gets ready to dive 2013nrChapeltown1](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zXbtk7FwzW4/VqKzagAE30I/AAAAAAABN4Y/Xc4-Jjv7NO0/2013nrChapeltown1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Norman did eventually park his bottom on the top step (see picture at the head of this posting) and make an important announcement – something to do with the ongoing conception of his great grandchildren, in an attempt by his family to outnumber any other in
Turton and Entwistle Reservoir was serene in the sunshine. A small group of cormorants was drying out on the white landing stage.
![Turton and Entwistle Reservoir 2016turtonRes1](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-prosaNWTAwY/VqKzdmRAXPI/AAAAAAABN4o/hMSc07Xm6Wo/2016turtonRes1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
![Turton and Entwistle Reservoir 2018TurtonRes3](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JLskUNjnpvA/VqKzghJwLPI/AAAAAAABN44/Bk8BLlOVgTA/2018TurtonRes3_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
By and by we came upon the Strawbury Duck. It used to be a fine walkers’ pub. Not any more.
![Outside the Strawbury Duck 2020StrawburyDuck2](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gMhpR6462JM/VqKzjoOMbkI/AAAAAAABN5I/vCspikuWN_A/2020StrawburyDuck2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Soon afterwards Chris spotted that we were passing The Wellbeing Farm. It was past 1 pm, and he wisely decided that for the wellbeing of his Plodders, two of whom had already been burnt off by the blistering pace, a break for lunch was in order.
Norman nuzzled up to me and grabbed the last piece of cake, whilst three reprobates posed next to the sign. And what an advertisement they are for said farm!
![Lunch by the Wellbeing Farm 2021lunchsign](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v4LH5wL36es/VqKzm6NTxaI/AAAAAAABN5Y/ociVNJaAG8Y/2021lunchsign_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Up above Edgworth, one of the group was caught furtively examining the contents of a Post Box.
![A dodgy postman? 2022postbox1](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1vnnuFh2s-U/VqKzqW6wJDI/AAAAAAABN5o/Q7hD-npqdtI/2022postbox1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Descending through Hawkshaw, past John and Janet’s road, I couldn’t help reflecting on how sad it is that John’s health prevents him from joining us on outings such as this one.
![Hawkshaw 2025sun](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Oeb7BVAfXz0/VqKzuUA8dHI/AAAAAAABN54/e3aMfkwGoEQ/2025sun_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
The steep path back up to Affetside was, luckily for those who needed to catch their breath, punctuated by more stiles.
![The climb to Affetside 2027path1](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0kDWC5t-U10/VqKzx1qKxZI/AAAAAAABN6I/VsSZavPg6gE/2027path1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Looking back, there ‘s a fine view over Hawkshaw to Holcombe Moor.
![View to Holcombe Moor 2030view](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sTDsUeJsdYA/VqKz0-0noDI/AAAAAAABN6Y/tzyqvNFvk4w/2030view_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
By about 3 pm we were back at Affetside, outside the Pack Horse, still blinded by that pesky sun. Some of the group went in, claiming it was better to wait until after the rush hour to get home.
![The Pack Horse, Affetside 2032packhorse](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZhANXSBvurM/VqKz4AVdFqI/AAAAAAABN6o/cU9nlyBq2c8/2032packhorse_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
I joined the pack that were on cooking duty and had to get home before the rush hour. Phil and I paused to admire the medieval cross that apparently served as a waymarker for pilgrims travelling from Bolton (what were pilgrims doing in Bolton?) to Whalley Abbey.
![Affetside Cross 2036affetsidecross4](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QVk2mPZRO-o/VqKz7xVswmI/AAAAAAABN64/FuQUnM-0a9U/2036affetsidecross4_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Here’s our route – 18 km with 400 metres ascent, taking around 5 hours.
![Our route - 18 km, 400 metres ascent, taking 5 hours 2099route](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fIZxpFs-Pn8/VqKz_tFVscI/AAAAAAABN7I/Rr2JWsUsurY/2099route_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
An excellent day out in superb weather. Apologies to anyone who has been accidentally maligned in the above text. I’m afraid my fading memory sometimes results in minor unintentional insults and inaccuracies, or so I’m told.