Urbane and countrified walks along the canal towards Bootle

No country for old codgers. By cult walker.

Account by John Owen of the psycho-geography walking group's trip up the Leeds Liverpool Canal on September 13th 2013

Starting off from the Eldonians, I got there early on my bike, then doubled back to find a group on the corner, off the road, talking the talk. It was Rickers H spouting the 1911 blarney in wordspeak. We sashayed over to the the canal and minced off in a general forward motion to the land of OZ or Bootle Strand, as its known locally.

As an old user of the cycle path it was unusual to actually walk sedately and hear the ducks quack and geese gaggle and the warblers argue. Coming from the tradition of, if you stop in the journey you may lose your bike, kidneys or scalp, it felt great to walk and feel safe to ponder the old industrial architecture of a once booming port city.

Some works of art and frescoes were to be seen, as well a couple of beehives, part of Sefton in bloom. The whole process of talking along the way - a sort of on the road experience - was quite therapeutic, as we discussed the madness of the week before that was the week that was. The chillaxation climaxed in the North Perks café, a charity funded affair off the Strand, found by tutor John D.

The staff was great, that worked as part of the team from Ykids, that helped local kids find work and gain experience. Tanya and the rest gave time out to walkers with sore feet to explain the purpose of their organisation. As well as serving tea, cheese on toast, soup and delicious cakes to the dads army reserves babbling away contentedly.

The walks alternate with writing reviews, and are a good contrast to the cerebral air of the discussions in the FACT Centre, but plenty of fresh air and exercise wins the day hands down.

The wooden spoon for best comment goes to Joe C, for the knowledge of knowing that some abandoned ledges were in fact night soil jetties for removing crap from the city.

Phew what a stinker.!

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Comment left by Debbie Gayle on 25th September, 2013 at 0:02
Hi John It's good to see and read that WEA students are getting out of the classroom into the great outdoors, even if it is only a bus ride away. It's great that the group is learning about local communities, seeing things with fresh eyes and busting a few myths on the way. I really enjoyed reading your article. Thanks for that and I hope you continue to enjoy the course.