On Wednesday we had decided on Thursday we would go to Barton Grange, to what is supposed to be a fabulous garden centre & local food hall. We've never been ourselves but have heard only praise about it.
Thursday started sunny. But by the time we were ready to set off, the skies had clouded over. Even the odd spot of rain fell. We decided to abandon Barton Grange & head over to Carnforth instead. The Fox was hoping to do a sausage in red wine meal this week, as I mentioned in my last blog. Unfortunately the recipe called for Italian sausages & we hadn't been able to locate any Italian style sausages. We were contemplating just using pork sausages but PD had mentioned he'd seen Italian sausages in Tescos in Carnforth, their usual weekly shopping destination.
So off we went. First we stopped at Tescos. We found the sausages (& last night the Fox duly cooked them ready for today's dinner), along with some tinned kippers (Morrisons seem to have stopped selling them for some reason). It was still early so we thought we'd stop for a drink somewhere.
On the outskirts of Carnforth is a pub I've mentioned before. It sits beside the canal. It has a conservatory you can sit in & watch all the activity on the canal, always an entertaining spot to sit.
To start with there's all the colourful boats to look at, often with imaginative names & amusing bits of decor. One boat chugged out of its mooring as we sat there. We were given a cheery wave as it left.
The sight that really bemused us was a swan. This magnificent great white bird was given its feet some attention. It floated on the water, one webbed foot out of the water. It stretched its strong sinewy neck round to nibble at something on the foot. As it did, it span in the water. Round & round it went. From time to time it straightened up before it returned to its job & span yet once more. I think it must have been getting giddy.
Suddenly there was a kerfuffle elsewhere on the canal. A female duck was scuttling across the canal, closely pursued by four drakes. The latter soon caught up with her. Despite her protests, the drakes mounted her. I thought for a moment they were going to accidentally drown her. It's clearly that time of year again Sex is in the air. I would say love, but I'm not sure if this isn't more akin to gang rape.
Next a big dogs bounds along. It looks like a wolf with pale greenish eyes. It's owner quickly calls it back before it comes into the pub.
It was a delightful stop, spoiled only by the poor quality of the beer. The Fox struggled to down one pint & couldn't face another. Pity really. The pub is so perfectly located we would come more often if the beer was that bit better. Maybe next time we think about it the pub will have changed hands to someone who cares more about their beer.
We headed home, having had a pleasant afternoon.
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