16:45. Castletown, Isle of Man. Two final GBG ticks to put Man to bed on my Epic Quest for Guide Completion. Having said “Hello fairies” I was confident my luck would be in; BRAPA will be off with the fairies on his trip and find himself thwarted as he was a few years back. Castletown… Continue reading CASTLETOWN STANDS, BUT MAN HAS FALLEN
Author: retiredmartin
Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.
“Hello fairies”
Two down, three to go on the Isle of Man. I was only staying the one night, but wasn’t keen to hang around just in case Man has adopted the early closure trend. So I caught the next bus south to Port Erin. I was tempted to name this post Erin Tickovich but I’ll leave… Continue reading “Hello fairies”
THIRSTY PIGEON (CHA CHA CHA)
Andreas treated me to the joys of Sixpence None The Richer’s “Kiss Me”, a sure sign Mann is entering the 1990s. I’m happy if it stays there with its £3 pints and cheery bus drivers. I’d been contemplating the walk back to Ramsey with no buses till schools ended, but then by chance re-reading the… Continue reading THIRSTY PIGEON (CHA CHA CHA)
“I’ve never given birth, but I can’t imagine it can be worse than the 08:40 school bus to Andreas”
£7 your Manx Go Saver ticket; you could spend the whole day with Bus Vannin, wondering where your next loo stop is. I was heading to Andreas (pop. 1,428) in the flat agricultural plain that makes up the north of Man. I’d assumed my visit would be the most exciting thing to happen in Andreas,… Continue reading “I’ve never given birth, but I can’t imagine it can be worse than the 08:40 school bus to Andreas”
ON RAMSEY STREET(S)
Five (5) ticks needed to complete the Isle of Man for GBG22, one of them the most northern and hard to get to on the island, the Manx Applecross. I had an hour to waste in Ramsey before the 08:30 school bus (yes !) to Andreas, OK, it’s only 07:23, with nothing open till the… Continue reading ON RAMSEY STREET(S)
DAWN OVER DOUGLAS
Having wheeled the lady with the sprained ankle and two (2) dogs onto the Ben Ma Chree with dedicated pet room I actually managed a couple of hours sleep myself; the perfect preparation for 32 hours frantic travel on the Isle of Man. Baa Baa’s raised eyebrow says it all. No time for sleep for… Continue reading DAWN OVER DOUGLAS
SITTING ON THE DOCK OF THE (MORECAMBE) BAY
I was rather taken with these photos from Heysham on the longest day, but with seven (7) hours to kill till the ferry I had plenty of time to get the shots set up along Morecambe Bay. What a bay it is, almost as good as, well, anywhere. Only marginally spoilt by the sight of… Continue reading SITTING ON THE DOCK OF THE (MORECAMBE) BAY
DUSK FALLS ON ST PATRICK’S CHAPEL, HEYSHAM
You left me at Lancaster’s main bus station, dreading the 46 minute journey with weak bladder over speed bumps to Heysham via marvellous Morecambe. I nearly got off at the Royal for a wee and walked the rest. I survived, with only the minor issue of how to pass seven (7) hours before the 02:15… Continue reading DUSK FALLS ON ST PATRICK’S CHAPEL, HEYSHAM
A CUNNING STUNT AT THE BOBBIN
I’d decided to take the bus from Lancaster to Heysham for my ferry, so it was important, nay IMPERATIVE I didn’t go to another pub before boarding the bus. Any of you over the age of 30 will know the significance of buses and bladders. So I just walked through town, did the tourist shot,… Continue reading A CUNNING STUNT AT THE BOBBIN
“The Lancaster station pub we all needed”
I have posts on well over 200 pubs, curries, and Duncan knees to bring you before I start a countdown of The Final 22, so let’s get back to mid June. Back in 1985 I’d attended The Longest Day festival at Milton Keynes Bowl; Now I find it WASN’T on the longest day anyway and… Continue reading “The Lancaster station pub we all needed”
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