Shunning the expensive carparks we eventually find a spot on the seafront, in front of a row of billboards – one of which is very familiar. My father loved Morecambe and Wise and so did I, although sometimes I suspect it was his laughter that made me giggle rather than what was happening on the screen.

Road walking and more road walking, but sometimes coast walking is like that. In this instance it is about keeping to the route closest to the coastline, so having walked for 15 minutes down the A588 we must ignore the sign to the quieter roads of the Lancashire Coastal Way and carry on down the road.

We start on the south bank of another river today – the river Lune, which has its source in Cumbria and then flows west and south to enter the Irish Sea south of Lancaster. It will be on our right hand side from where we start to where we finish. It is a lovely day.

Returning to the Dolphin Inn we leave the car and follow signs for the Ribble Way which starts here and follows the River Ribble through Preston and right up to its source in the Yorkshire Dales.

It is not often I am taken aback by a supermarket but Booths in Hesketh Bank is up there with the greats. This is not my photo as I am hurrying in to buy a couple of sandwiches and the sky is grey, promising rain – not ideal for photos. The building is well designed and apart from the cleanliness and abundance of products, I am most impressed by the staff who actually look they enjoy working there.

On our way back from Gretna Green – now Mr. and Mrs. – we decide we have time for a short walk before continuing to Damian’s sister in the Midlands.

There is no other way to get to the toilets on the pier at Lytham St. Annes than straight through the mayhem of the amusement arcade. I brace myself for the noise and bright lights but at this time in the morning it’s not too bad – I even find myself lingering at the penny drop machine (which is now a 2 pence coin).

Having laid Damian’s mother to rest in the Highlands of Scotland we head south to Lancashire to visit my sister and family. On the way we have just enough time to fit in a short walk starting in Carnforth railway station, famous for David Lean’s romantic drama Brief Encounter, a British film set in the 40’s and based on Noel Coward’s play Still Life.