River Ribble channel markers

These fascinating ironworks
have been marking the
River Ribble deep-water channel
since the 1880s

Channel marker – 11.5 metres

Channel marker 8-11.5m

Channel marker – 11m

Barnacle-clad,
wrapped in fishing nets and floats
they are a live art installation
along the River Ribble

A barnacled 4 metres

Fishing nets, barnacles, mussels, and buoys

Fishing nets and buoys

The training walls are visible at low water

Channel marker

It’s hard to believe
that the channel markers
are completely submerged
during violent high tides

These days
we don’t see paddle steamers
or commercial boats
chugging down the river
Just a fisherman or two and
Lytham’s RNLI out on exercise

Coming in with the tide – and a friendly wave for the snapshot taker!

RNLI D-class on exercise – River Ribble to the Irish Sea

I love this amazing river,
that starts as a little trickle
at the Ribble Viaduct in Yorkshire
and eventually gathers force
and gushes into the Irish Sea

There’s heaps
of fascinating historical
and general information
about the River Ribble
and Preston Docks

Snapshots from a morning’s walk

Start of the walk
through a clump
of twisty white poplar trees

Heading for the beach

View from beach
of distant snow-capped hills

North – snowy Lake District

East – Wolf Fell and Parlick with dusting of snow

Cormorant’s view
from deep channel marker
Southport across the river

River Ribble

River Ribble
Lytham windmill ahead

River Ribble – tide coming in

Sea defence at Granny’s Bay

Patterns in the sun

Curlew takes flight from a frosty saltmarsh

Frosty saltmarsh

Sea-buckthorn berries and stonechat

Female stonechat in her larder

Stonechat

End of the walk
along dunes and scrubland –
clump of white poplars ahead

Last day of the year

Chasing the tide

Invigorating walk
on the last day of 2020

Reflections

Icy puddles on the beach

Wintry scene

Rain heading this way

Squally showers

Burst of sunlight

Flight

Murmuration

Bird whirlies
our name for a murmuration!

Top bird of 2020

Oystercatchers

Just another day
chasing the tide

Lines …

Vertical/Horizontal/Curvy

Train lines

Fishing line

Rusty lines

Lined up

Infinity

Straight and curvy

Outline

Avenham Park – Preston

Drizzle didn’t spoil her
quiet contemplation
in the serene grounds
of Preston’s beautiful Avenham Park

Quiet contemplation

Whatever the weather,
nothing stops
the urgency of collecting food
for a nestful of hungry chicks

Female blackbird

Fragile daisies
growing out of the cracks in the wall
of the railway bridge

Wildflowers along the River Ribble

 

Always something uplifting
to see on one’s travels

Corrie Fisticuffs at Fairhaven

After a morning’s filming at the Beach Café, the whole kit and kaboodle shifted to the beach by Fairhaven Lake for the afternoon stint.

There’s definitely trouble afoot between Peter, Steve and Nick.

I’m after you!

 

Ooof!

Shove!

Take that look off your face!

 

The local Fairhaven Lake residents
are far too busy
for the antics of Coronation Street

Canada Geese goslings

 

While the chicks have a rest, I’ve time for a shower

Mrs Mallard and ducklings

Steve McDonald in St Annes

I love this man’s face
It paints a thousand pictures
even when not acting

Steve McDonald – worried he’s not learned his lines

Late night last night Steve?

Bored?

Tired!

Just happened to be out and about
when the Corrie cast
were filming on location
in St Annes on the Sea

Steve McDonald
with his game face on!

 

Corrie on location in St Annes

Nice enough for a picnic on the beach today. What’s going on? Camera crew, catering unit, caravans in the car park by the Beach Café. Better investigate.

Oh!  There’s Peter and Simon playing football on the beach.  This is acting!

Take 1 – Playing football

The cast and crew move to the promenade, and do a few dry runs – wrapped up for warmth in their ITV issue down jackets.  A small crowd gathers to watch the action.  (Not that there’s much of it!)

Dry run on St Annes promenade

 

Another wait. Another take

Down jackets removed, Leanne, Nick, Steve, Toyah, and Simon go through several takes until the Director is finally happy.

Corrie cast – St Annes

Peter Barlow and Steve McDonald

It’s a wrap

 

Poor luvvies have to queue for a cuppa

Not watched Corrie for ages, but all the old suspects are evidently still going strong.

It was nice seeing them enjoying a day trip to St Annes.

This episode is scheduled for the end of May.  Must remember to check the telly.

 

 

Penny Arcade – St Annes Pier

 

St Annes Pier

Ooh the excitement of finding escaped pennies and threepenny bits in the pay-out chute.  The guilty naughtiness of claiming the coins. Then feeding them to ever-demanding mechanical machines hoping for a big win!

Bagatelle, Win-a-Chew, Wheel ’em in, Greyhound Derby, one armed bandits, replaced by electro, press a button, flashing, noisy, sparkling beauties.

2ps

I get that same thrill finding the odd 2p or 10p today.  I’m 10 years old!

Monkey

Minions

Surfer dude

Snakes and ladders

Win me!

St Annes Pier

St Annes Pier, completed in 1885,
originally intended as a sedate promenading venue
for visitors to the town.

That’s all changed.

Amusements rule!