Monday 21st March 2016 – 652.88 miles
Early start today – left at 6.45 heading towards Lancaster.

Overcast but dry and a cool breeze. The canal continued to weave along – level walking again with no locks all the way to Lancaster and beyond. The canal made its way across small rivers by way of aqueducts. Our journey was broken every now and then when we stopped for a break. We always looked for a bench – sometimes we made do with the ground and used our rucksacks as back support. One such time was when we met Maddie who was painting her narrowboat – she gave us cups of hot coffee which were very welcome and we sat chatting for a while. Thanks for the coffee Maddie, it was good to meet you.

We passed by a branch of the canal leading to Glasson Basin and saw our first lock!

It wasn’t long before we reached Galgate where we went into the Canalside Craft Centre cafe and ordered our usual pot of tea for two – and very good it was too. We met Elizabeth and Erica who were on their way down to Plymouth from Edinburgh. They wished us well and we gave them our details. Safe journey and bon voyage to you both. Another couple asked us about our walk – we forgot to get your names sorry but it was good to meet you both and hope you enjoy your trip to
Whitley.
We continued on along the canal towpath – still a bit muddy in places and met Richard and Sylvia and their dog Scarlet, keen walkers themselves. Nice to meet you both.
It took about an hour to reach Lancaster which we believe to be our half-way point.

We left the canal and walked up to the castle where we had an amazing view across the town to the east and then the coast to the north west and beyond to the hills and fells of the Lake District.

We would like to have lingered to take a more leisurely walk around the town but we needed to get on and find somewhere to camp for the night.

Walked across the Millennium Bridge which spans the River Lune and then out of town along the A6 and back onto the canal towpath. We met Colin and Pauline. Colin joked that he would go and get his rucksack to join us! Good to meet you both – keep well.

We found a place to camp – not ideal but to the side of the towpath – so we are here for the night at Slyne not far from Morecambe.

We have just received a message from Virgin Money Giving about a donation of £50 from John and Anne-Marie, friends of David and his dog Bonnie who we met on Saturday. Their message reads :- “Hi Dave and Dot – we haven’t met but David and Bonnie told me about your walk. Here’s another donation for you in memory of our very close friend Peter Tegg.”
Thank you both – that brings the running total for Macmillan Cancer Support so far to £1,549.40.