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BB2103 : O,
The Things You'll Find By The Side Of The Road
Sunday
17th - Thursday 21st January 2021
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In
1636, Roger Williams,
a Reformed Baptist theologian
was exiled from the Massachusetts
Bay Colony and so founded "God's
Merciful Providence".
Today
Providence is the capital and
most populous city of the State
of Rhode Island, USA.
The Providence Streets Coalition is an alliance of community organisations, local businesses, schools, institutions
and civic leaders advocating for people-friendly streets.
Its
lead organiser is Liza Burkin,
an urban planner, mobility advocate,
writer, gardener and bicycle
poet. Her Magnum Opus
is entitled:
O, the things you’ll find by the side of the road
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By
one of life's coincidences that was more
or less the brief for this week's BOOTboys'
Lockdown adventure. Perhaps the main
difference was that I had envisaged permanent
things like milestones or boundary markers
as opposed the more transient items Lisa
odes about. Click on her picture and read
her poem then you'll know what I mean.
The
forecast for the week was poor. However
one of the few benefits of Lockdown is that
the boys can decide on which day they wish
to perform their contribution. They were
asked to provide pictures of a small number
of hopefully interesting things they found
by the side of the road (or path) plus a
scenic picture.
Sunday
17th January
Don
& Margaret:
Another
of the few benefits of Lockdown is being
able to undertake these missions with Margaret.
Her unexpected benefits, in addition
to spending more time with me(?), include
painting pictures on Zoom with the grandchildren,
making marmalade (I think I have proudly
mentioned previously that she won a Silver
Medal in the Word Championships two
years ago and had I designed a label for
her it would have been gold) and playing Bridge on-line, something
with which I can assist almost to the point
of annoyance by dredging up memories from
my University days of how to bid. Unfortunately
I cannot play as I can never remember what
cards have already been laid!
Having
checked our tightly packed social calendar
we decided to go out on Sunday. Actually,
it was the prediction of heavy rain through
the week that tempted us into a short walk
in decent weather that could do the job
should a later expedition prove unwelcome.
1.
The
Dallam Tower Deer Park Marker Cairn that points the ways to Beetham,
Haverbrack or back to Milnthorpe.
2.
Hollins Well, marked as such on the OS map
and presumably used as a human or animal
water source at some time past.
3.
Information plaque about the history of
bridges over the River Bela from Milnthorpe
to the Dallam Tower Deer Park.
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The
Confluence of Rivers Kent and
Bela
Don
Monday
18th January saw several others pre-empting
the approaching Storm Christophe. Is
that a deer crossing the track in the final
picture? What say you?
Robin
& Holly:
Christophe
threatens so we get out Monday.
1.
In Upper Settle a weathered Milestone (1)
reads London 236 miles; Kirkby Lonsdale
17; Hawes 28; Skipton 16; Lancaster 26.
2.
The water troughs beneath Well Steps
are known locally as ‘Slippy Slops’ (photo
2) where water was drawn, washing done and
horses brought to drink!
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3.
A 1697 Act of Parliament
required posts be erected to
point to the nearest market
towns. This one near Runley
Mill has directions on 3 sides
–Settle; Clitheroe and Skipton.
The building is Toll Bar Cottage
marking the turnpike. A cast
iron milepost from 1892 in the
roadside at Anley Hall shows
Kendal 30M. Quarry trucks
thundering past made it too
risky to photograph (Holly agreed).
4.
The parish boundary stone
on Highway is of local blue
slate. One piece reads Settle;
the other, weathered away, should
read Langcliffe.
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Over
the Settle / Carlisle railroad and home
along Watery Lane for an energising 5.7
miles.
Robin
Another
couple out on Monday had a different interpretation
of the brief as will become clear. Unfortunately
they chose Weather Vanes which is on the
list for future events. Maybe they
can do Side of the Road for that!
Terry
& Beverley:
"You
don't need a weatherman, to know which way the wind blows” however it was a
good job we had a weatherman to tell us Monday was the day for striding out!
Beverley
and I decided to do our Levens village & valley circuit in reverse (but not
backwards) for a change. It’s amazing that just by walking in a different
direction how you can notice things previously unnoticed.
Of
course I misread this week's instructions, or did I? Should it have
been ‘at the side of the road’ and not ‘by the side of the road’?? But
of course these are just semantics which all the other BOOTboys correctly
interpreted.
Looking
down on the site of the original Levens
Women’s Institute.
The
important thing is that we had a good outing and covered exactly 6 miles.
Terry
Glad
you both enjoyed your outing and I stand
corrected regarding using the word "by".
Terry is of course right and I shall
inform Liza Burkin accordingly. John
B will appreciated the song reference.
Along
with his "official" entries, one
participant submitted what perhaps should now be known as
"Lurkin' Burkins"!
Mike
B:
Interesting things by the side of
the road are hard to come by on the Howe in the Lyth Valley. There’s a lot of
rubbish though. Next time, I’m coming out with the litter picker, and a plastic
sack, then there will be even less to write about. I guess my favourite thing
were the croci. No mile markers on my route. Many BT poles of course. It’s a
shame about the outdoor veg shop. Instead we have Tim smiling from the adjacent
notice board. Would have included a post box but that was last week’s
excitement.
Lurkin'
Burkins:
A
Crock of Gold?
Mike
Tuesday
19th and Wednesday 20th January were
write offs. Prolonged heavy rain
flooded the Lyth Valley as Mike B's photo
of a footpath across a field demonstrates.
Thursday
20th January was a better day. Christophe
had said farewell but the boys were saving
themselves for the ZOOMbar!
The
last word must go to Liza and her Lurkin'
Burkins:
You
may not find treasure of silver or gold,
But
O, the things you'll find by the side of
the road!
Liza is also on the organising team for Providence Bike Jam, a social
group ride / mobile dance party that happens on the last Friday evening of every month.
If, once Lockdown is over, you fancy
participating then Get in touch with Liza.
Don't forget to make sure your Passport
still has at least six months to run.
Don,
Thursday 21st January 2021
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