Day 146 Lancaster to Blackpool

 

Date: Thursday 19^th September 2013   Distance: 34.75Miles

 

We caught the 9.29 train from Manchester Airport after riding there from home in the dry despite the weather forecast saying how awful the weather was going to be. The guards on the train looked after us well, interested in the tandem. We arrived in Lancaster just after 11 and decided to have an early lunch as it was being deluged with rain. It was still awful when we left through Sainsbury’s car park and then onto a cycleway that eventually took us along the river Lune by St Georges Quay and out towards Glasson. On this 6 mile stretch we passed a rejuvenation project of Redrow houses. Dog walkers were in abundance even in the wet and wind. Blackberries hadn’t ripened yet and either side of what we think is ex railway line are bulrushes and sedge.

 

When we turned off for Glasson on another cycleway the tide was very high covering the grass on the banks and swans and ducks were feasting here. Glasson has working docks, a barge lined canal and a marina for yachts. We could see their masts from way back. It was tricky finding our way to the coast road. In the end we went through a work yard and out through a pub car-park, turning right to a concrete path into works and then left to meet the road. Hurrah- sea on our right again!

 

We could see the 2 power stations at Heysham across open sea now. We had to cycle on a not too busy A road and then back onto lanes into Pilling. There was a strong wood burning smell and then we passed a building being pulled down, obviously from fire damage. A sign on the front wall said Northern Kilns. A small shop close by had lovely pottery in the window and signs saying they gave lessons in throwing pots.

 

Noisy flocks of geese flew North with the wind and a work of art in the children’s playground seemed to portray geese or swans. We must have seen thousands of geese between here and Southport and I believe them to be the pink footed variety because of location and flight patterns.

 

Bob took off my toe clips here as my knees were aching and we thought I was peddling with the top part of my foot too much. Without them I could vary which part I pushed with and it certainly helped. The wind made it so hard especially with great expanses of exposed flat fields of the Ribble valley. Pilling is a pretty village with some thatch and a spired church. Next we were in lanes with no view of the sea because of a high dyke. Towards the sea the weather looked promising but landward had heavy cloud.

 

 It was no more than a mile alongside the sea at Knott End till we reached the ferry for Fleetwood. Knott End is quiet with trim bungalows and a wide beach of sand and stretches of mud. As we reached the quay where 2 other people waited we saw the ferry coming across. The tandem easily went on and we paid £1 each and 50p for the bike. There were lovely views out to sea while landward, survival training for the people who work on ships and boats was taking place in inflatables, like inshore rescue craft. One came up really close then did something like a handbrake turn to draw up immediately beside the ferry as we docked. I was sure he would hit us.

 

 It had taken 5 minutes to cross and we were soon riding away from Fleetwood passing the North Euston hotel with its Victorian grandeur. Along -side the beach there were strict rules for dog owners which is good. Dog walkers could only have a maximum of 4 dogs! No dog mess here. There is plenty of sandy beach though some not suitable for swimming. Fleetwood boasts 3 lighthouses, one, Pharos, is well inland. Fleetwood is the terminal for Blackpool trams and we could see the Blackpool Tower in the distance.

 

Cleveleys has amusement arcades and jubilee gardens behind the promenade but is more sedate than Blackpool. We liked the metal ship funnel lights. The street furniture was very modern with people stretched out across stone (or maybe concrete) seating taking the afternoon sun.

Just before Blackpool we passed a cream and mauve hotel that we could see from Fleetwood and from the distance it looked like an impressive castle. Up close it looked less so and we learnt it was owned by Pontins- Norbrek Castle Hotel.

 

About a mile from the Tower we were riding behind the tableaux light display. We could see the complex wiring. We went by 2 piers but we were told there are 3. We stayed at the Premier Inn here not too far from the Pleasure Beach. The bike went behind the reception desk and we had a Brewers Fayre meal. After we walked to the Pleasure Beach across the car park behind, then down a road with cheap hotels (saw one at £12 per night) and beside the ghost train to the heritage tram stop in a rather odd unlit spot. Children were insisting on riding their favourite, the train, but the next one, still with quite a wait was the boat. It came, well lit in fairy lights and it cost the same for all ages £5. We were surprised that they stopped the special trams at 9 o’clock as it only got dark just before 8. Ours was full to capacity and it was a late night for the small children on board particularly as we were held up by an ordinary tram blocking the way for their tea break-not good coordination. We did enjoy the lights and it was nice to do a communal “thing”. We got back to our room at 10pm quite stiff from sitting so long on the tram.

 

 

 

We liked Blackpool for its razzmatazz and colour. Maybe things would be different in the winter. It is said there are 3500 places for tourists to stay of all shapes, sizes and prices. We saw a lot of Vacancies signs. The tower was having maintenance across its middle but the lights on it looked impressive in the dark. There seems plenty to do and some of the beaches looked inviting.