Newburgh to Preston 19.8 miles

I was on the road early this morning and the  sunshine was glorious. As I headed out through the village, parents were just dropping their children off to school and chatting in the playground . I crossed under the Leeds and Liverpool canal and fought my way along a unmaintained footpath where Balsam seeds exploded into my face and brambles tugged at my shirt sleeves . Climbing a fence I eventually reach what seemed like civilisation . I then rejoined the canal again for many miles passing lots of houseboats on the way. Stopping for lunch at a small street side cafe I heard a young girl offering to carry an elderly lady's bag as she met her husband at the hairdressers. "What have you got in your bag, bricks" she said as they both laughed. My journey then took me along the Ribble Way to Preston on a large bank which acted as a barrier to prevent the sea flooding the farmland . The river was full of geese and other seabirds looking for lunch! As the sun set I had lunch at the marina . In all a very good day.