Tour of Middleton

It is a sunny day. probably the sunniest day of the year. I finish work at mid day and cycle home. It is a leisurely 3.7 miles from door to door, and by this time, it is considerably warmer than the ride in. This lifts my mood. "what to do today?" I think to myself en route. I actually have a small list of things to do that have carried on from the day before, but today was too good to waste. and besides, I could kill 2 birds with one stone. Not that I condone the reckless killing of innocent animals. that's not what we are here for. I get home, pack a bag, grab a bottle of water, and back on the bicycle. I have decided to do a tour of Middleton, as it were. with my trusty camera by my side, perhaps I will finally get a photo in the local paper! I have a few places I want to hit up, but really, I am just going with it. for those who might know the area, see the map at the bottom for the route. Firstly, I headed up the road, and down another road, and then turned right onto a different road again. I saw some horses. I tried to get a photo, but it seems security was at its highest, and I couldn't get near them. I carried on down this road (not a road I often use, and certainly never by means of foot/cycle), and I came across an opening. a sign branding "Bowlee car boot". now obviously I am intrigued. it turns out there is not a great deal there, other than a large car park. however, there was some wetlands ton the far side, with high reeds. this became my focal point of this site:

 

As the ducks were not playing ball however, I decided to leave, amidst the promise of better things. I headed up a dirt track, and back onto the roads. Now I was lost. which was good. because it gave me the opportunity to explore. I knew roughly where I was, but I didn't know how to get out of there. I took some more turns, here and there. I saw a lot of sofas in a lot of front gardens. I was going to take a photo, but I thought this might give off the wrong impression. However, just so you don't feel like you are missing something, here is another discarded sofa I found not so long ago:

 

 Onwards and upwards, I carry on forwards, and come across a park. Truffet park to be precise. I cycle around, and exactly 3 minutes later, I exit the park. there was not a lot to do, and even less to see. But it was clean and well presented, and if nothing else, gives the locals somewhere to go on a nice day, and creates a handful of jobs. Now I am starting to get my bearings, I pass some shops I recognise from another lifetime. I go in search of my Grandfathers old house. or the site of the old house I should say as the old house has been long demolished. It seems that too much time has passed and I couldn't locate it. but like I said, now I know where I am. so I set myself a new location. the old faithful Parish Church!

 

A few nice photos here then off to the old school house. those who know Middleton, know the significance of this building. or, have heard of it. I fall somewhere in between:



Pretty standard stuff really. we all went there with school. I get back to the road, and take a hard left. head down, and enter boarshaw clough. now, I have only been here once or twice before, and as such, i was very interested in some of the sites. for example, who knew Middleton had an amphitheatre? or shetland ponies or even a tall ass staircase! oh, go look for yourself:

 

My favourite photo of the day is probably the stairs or the waterfall. the waterfall purely because it is my first attempt at such a shot, and the stairs because... well look at it!