thank god for Furness road diversion
It's not often you will find a motorist praising a road closure which results in 20-minute road diversion over narrow moorland roads. But that's exactly what I did this weekend after a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
We may have been cursing the A595 road closure for the last seven days with the Barrow to Millom road closed north of Askam causing diversions around back lanes near Dalton, Ulverston and all points in between.
But late last night driving over the moor road between St Peter's School at Ireleth and Marton what ran out straight in front of the car clear as day in the headlights - an otter!
At least I think it was an otter - you might tell me different!
Only this week we'd been reading about how prevalent otters now are in the UK after previous years of decline.
But I didn't expect one of the notoriously elusive creatures to run straight out in front of my car! It got safely across the road I'm glad to say.
Despite previously living in Shetland where such renowned wildlife experts as Simon King have set up base to see these beautiful creatures up close I have never seen one before - except the new impressive giant otter (which is almost mini Loch Ness monster style in its scale) at nearby South Lakes Wild Animal Park at Dalton.
Yesterday's specimen was certainly smaller than that, but way bigger than the weasel type encounters we've had just the other side of Ireleth.
In fact it was a day of animal encounters yesterday - because on a nearby road - again on the diversion - this time on the other side of Marton I came face to face with a bull on the road, standing facing me, looking every bit as if it was about to charge.
I was a stone's throw from Paradise (the Ireleth one!) - not Pamplona - and in my wife's car at the time I was wondering how on earth I was going to explain to her that her beloved car had been rammed by a bull when it turned and walked away. Spain 0-Italy (or at least Fiat) 1.
Unfortunately by the time I had alerted our head of photography (my camera having been in my own car, damn!) - the bull was back in its field sidling up to some Friesians - or I think that's what they were. I'm no Johnny Morris, let alone Simon King, so if any animal experts in the Askam area want to put me right about any of the above, or tell me what other wildlife I might expect to see during the current diversion, please feel free!
Published: October 24, 2010
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Blog history
More Ulverston news
- New mayor promises to work hard for Ulverston
- South Lakes MP calls for talks on tidal electricity
- Lack of detail sees Ulverston homes plan put back
- It’s happy hour again when Paul Heaton appears in Ulverston
- Fans in Ulverston get up close and personal with Beautiful South star
- Ulverston Sainsbury's plan set to go on show
- Drink and drug service’s donations drop by £200k
- Crackdown on Furness pub thugs is launched (5 comments)
- Sisters set for Walk to Remember
- Ulverston councillor “very concerned” by potential loss of police station
- Bomb team swoops to remove grenades in Ulverston
- Coroner raises concern over 999 coding system (1 comment)
- Ulverston cottages proposal sparks objections
- Hero cancer victim Jane inspires Lakeland walks
- Lift for Alice’s charity
- Printfest attracts 1,500 art lovers
- Soldiers take on triple marathon
- Furness duo hope to discover talent at fundraiser (1 comment)
- Ulverston woman speaks of disgust at scam
- Collection for Ulverston hostage family (3 comments)
- Walking back to happiness
- Greater variety of styles at this year’s Printfest
- Budget cuts may delay Millom bridge work
- Jobs risk as Ulverston firm eyes move
- Greenodd fair visitors give Ulverston hospice a cash boost
Vote
Evening Mail homepage
ENERGY FOR LIFE 5.1k WALNEY FAMILY FUN RUN
Did you enjoy the Energy For Life 5.1k Walney Family Fun Run?
• Click here to pledge to take part in next year's event on September 2, 2012
Follow
us on Facebook
Quick links
- No title
- South Lakes MP calls for talks on tidal electricity
- Lack of detail sees Ulverston homes plan put back
- It’s happy hour again when Paul Heaton appears in Ulverston
- Tributes paid to Barrow man who died in Thailand (15 comments)
- Carlisle man arrested in porn probe hours after baseball bat attack
- Ulverston Outsiders' production of Nude With Violin, Coronation Hall
- Ulverston cottages proposal sparks objections
- Bomb team swoops to remove grenades in Ulverston
- Race for life roll of honour
- Ulverston Sainsbury's plan set to go on show
- Sainsbury's plan for town (27 comments)
- Crackdown on Furness pub thugs is launched (5 comments)
- Misconduct case Ulverston GP says ‘I’m not rude’
- Sisters set for Walk to Remember
- Collection for Ulverston hostage family (3 comments)
- Ulverston woman speaks of disgust at scam
 | ||||||
|
Have your say
Be the first to comment on this article!
Make your comment