Chapeltown Pub Sign

A parting shot from a visit to Turton (Bolton/Blackburn) last summer.

Just shows that enchantment can be found in a beautiful pub sign as well as in old churches, other historical buildings, stunning countryside etc.

Walking Round Wayoh Reservoir

Really enjoyed a midday Sunday stroll round Wayoh Reservoir, a great way of working off a bit of a hangover.

Some of the beautiful woodland surrounding Wayoh Reservoir:
'

Loved Armsgrove Viaduct, it looked stunning in the distance:

Nice spot for a rest and a bit of lunch:

Think we may've gone round Turton and Entwistle Reservoir too, but I'm not 100% sure:

Nice to get a shot through the leaves:

Leprous, Klone and Maraton - Warsaw Progresja 21st February 2020

Hadn't been to a gig for over two months, so this was just what the doctor ordered.

Was really happy Leprous did 'The Valley', my favourite Leprous tune (really like Leprous for the dramatic changes of tempo).

Like the direction the band is taking in developing a more and more avant-garde sound, it really allows Einar Solberg's vocals to shine (think he's one of the best singers around at the moment). 'Distant Bells' is a wonderful track, especially live.
 

Must admit that I was equally interested in seeing Klone, the opening tune of their set, 'Yonder', is hauntingly beautiful with riveting guitar work and incredibly strong melodic vocals.

There's some really interesting bands coming out of France now (really like Alcest too). Liked how the music, backdrop, and light show fused together for Klone (reminded me of concerts that I went to with big light shows at Manchester Apollo in the early 1980s).

 Had to get a closer shot of the wonderful backdrop after the Klone set:

 Thankfully, got up to the Progresja in time to catch Maraton too.

Quite liked them and now have 'Almost Human' humming in my head.

Passing Armsgrove Viaduct

While walking round Wayoh Reservoir up Edgeworth/Entwistle (Bolton/Blackburn) way, we passed the hugely impressive Armsgrove Viaduct:

Have just read that the viaduct was built in 1848 by the Blackburn, Darwin & Bolton Railway Company to bridge the valley containing Bradshaw Brook.

Grateful that my old friend, John, showed me this wonderful place.

Passing through Chapeltown, Turton

Passed through Chapeltown, Turton again last summer. St. Anne's church above is a grade II listed building and is said to be known as "the cathedral on the hill".

Of course, the old schoolhouse caught my eye too, and a plaque revealed how this beautiful building had come to be a schoolhouse for local children in the early 18th century:

Dinner Beside the Canal

After the barge had been parked up, we had dinner and a few beers.

My friend Simon made dinner, Lincolnshire sausage, smoky bacon and salad sandwiches, on one of his homemade mini-cookers.

We were parked up somewhere just outside the small Lancashire town of Brierfield.

On the Canal

Didn't take long to find my old friend Simon and his barge.

Think that may be Turf Moor faintly visible in the background below:

We were heading for Colne.

The barge chugged along at a nice slow speed, just right for taking things in.

We passed some kind of official barge site:

And horses grazing in a field:

It was good to see the world gently floating by.

Arriving at Burnley Canal

After a one-hour or so bus ride from Bury, I found myself in Burnley, and without too much trouble, I found the canal (part of the Leeds-Liverpool canal, I believe).

Think that the building below may once have been a bar (nice place to have had a pint, I think):

Now, it was time to track down my old friend Simon who had phoned to say that he'd already gone a bit beyond Burnley on his barge.

Taking Shelter in St. Peter's Stonyhurst

Wasn't far off finishing The Lord of the Rings over summer, so when I was in my native Lancashire, I had to visit Stonyhurst College where Tolkien is known to have written his wonderful trilogy.

Unfortunately, we picked one of the wettest days of the year to visit Stonyhurst, and going inside St. Peter's church provided much needed relief from the awful weather as well as a chance to see the interior:

The church looked fantastic inside. One of my companions on the trip, Michael, explained that it had been refurbished in 2011.

Outside, the weather refused to buck up.

Michael, very much our guide on this expedition, pointed out Pendle Hill in the distance:

Due to the inclement weather, we couldn't complete our walk, so rambling alongside the river; seeing where Gerard Manley Hopkins lived etc. will have to wait till next summer when I'm back in Lancashire for a few days.