Sculpture in the Sea, Swimming Dog and Industrial Heritage

We left Southport at midday and headed down the coast to Crosby beach, which affords a view of a big offshore wind farm.

Also visible were quite a few of the 100 figures that make up Anthony Gormley's Another Place.

The explanatory poster. 

Bella didn't care about statues, but loved diving in the sea to fetch her ball. She's doing very well for immersions on this holiday!

A panoramic sweep looking out to sea (with Bella in the bottom right hand corner). 

One thing on her mind… 

She is so fixated that she sat looking at her ball even as the incoming tide swirled around her. 

The incoming tide also meant that almost all of the figures became submerged, and this remaining one was well on its way…

Panoramic sweep with Merseyside and North Wales on the horizon. 

After this, we headed inland to our next camp site - came up a road called Scholes in the Wigan area which had its name in stone for some reason.

After a long urban slog to get to our campsite at Burrs Country Park outside Bury, Bella (& Su!) cooled off with a can of lager :-) 

 Went for a short wander around the old industrial remains, including works of art such as this stone cycle which is made from recycled stone from Bury Market with original masons' marks on (and artist's additions)

I used to look at the River Irwell every day when I was working for my PhD at Salford University - it was a lot dirtier then!

Grand old chimney still standing. 

A giant mousetrap sculpture - what else would you put here?!

Old machinery lovingly restored and painted up. Tomorrow we head South and West towards Oswestry to see old friends Nikki and Elaine.

This day a year ago, we continued to enjoy our camping pitch overlooking Padstow and Rock and our exclusive use of the pub swimming pool.