Clarke Chronicler's Resurrection

 Not the most successful of our trips to be honest. Simon needed some new walking shoes as his others had split. We decided to combine this necessity with a trip to the Owl & Bird of Prey sanctuary on  the  rural outskirts. We  went by train to Preston. . We  found  our  way  to  Trespass in Preston where  despite some  pretty poor customer service, Simon was  able  to find some good  shoes. We  then went to Pizza Express for  a good  lunch, taking advantage of  a  January special offer.  We then caught  a  bus  to the  sanctuary but  I had not  checked the  times carefully and it  had  just  closed when we arrived,. Simon took some solace from the fact that this bush was already flowering We  had quite a long wait for  the  bus  back to  Preston. We  then went home.

 On  this very cold day, I decided we'd go to Wakefield to walk  the very last bit  of  the  Calder and Hebble Canal in Wakefield and possibly move on to Huddersfield  to  Greenhead Park miniature railway.  We drove to Todmorden and caught the train to Halifax. There we changed for the train to Wakefield Kirkgate which was a Grand Central express. When we arrived in Wakefield, it was nearly lunchtime so we went to the pub, a  Wetherspoon's, first. After lunch we headed for the canal but passed by the famous bridge chapel on the way Unfortunately, it wasn't open to explore inside We  then found the canal. There was a pub on the opposite side The  canal was partially frozen over. So was the towpath We were soon approaching the final lock on the Calder and Hebble Navigation And here it is : Here's our completion selfie From there a  path led to the old packhorse bridge now  stranded by silting. We  then went across ...

 Simon had wanted to visit this for some time but it had been closed for renovation. He  remembered a ride on a simulator we did when he was very little and wanted to do it again. We took the train to Manchester and, after an errand, we went for lunch at Sixes Cricket Bar. The video we filmed there will appear here in due course. We  then took a tram to Castlefield and walked to the Museum. This monster powered a mill in Burnley. This one came from a mill in Littleborough. We noted that, inevitably, many of the display boards had woke-y references to slavery and exploitation. This engine powered a light bulb in a chip shop in Bolton. This is the engine that powers the museum's heating system through use of an aquifier, This was the largest wheel in  the  exhibition. Simon poses by a machine bearing the name of his friend.   The  trains were at the far end of  the  hall. This steam engine was from South Africa. I didn't note where this diesel ...

 It  was my choice for the last trip of the year and I opted for  completing  the  Calder  and  Hebble  Navigation towpath. We  drove to Todmorden and caught the train to Dewsbury. We walked down to what passes for a  bus station  at the moment. We  took a bus back to the junction of the Dewsbury branch with the main canal  at  Double Lock. The  canal resumed a more rural flavour. Simon missed this spooky doll. This  bridge  carried an old colliery railway. We  touched  civilisation again at  Horbury  Bridge . I  admired  this  willow  tree We soon passed under another old railway bridge The  next  one was still in  use, with Waller Bridge  just beyond. We  stopped at  The Navigation Inn  for an excellent lunch then continued to the  railway  bridge over the Calder. These ponies were just before it. The footpath under t...