I was a bit worried if I drove off I wouldn't get back on the pitch! And anyway, there was no visibility for sightseeing, so I walked down to the station and got a day return to Morecombe for £14.
Hellifield Station caff:
Morecombe was a real mixed bag - some lovely sights, but the poverty was obvious - I stuck out like a sore thumb amid the charity shops, betting shops, chip chops, broken pavements and boarded up buildings. Quite dispiriting on first sight, but someone is trying very hard to turn it around as the place was FULL of artworks! Bird sculptures on every roundabout, murals, stone carvings and poetry.
Above right: One of the local fat birds, and below - the Stone Jetty area, with the snooty Midland Hotel in the background (strictly residents only - move along, you hoi polloi)
Poetry and biblical verses about the flood (see the dove on the column to the right).
Further on, a touching memorial to the Chinese cockle pickers from Fujian, who were drowned in the bay in 2004 - a rose planted for each of the 23 of them, and a poem - you can read the words here. All arranged by the rescue services.
Near the The Welcome Cafe where I had beans on toast - wall art:
And the statue of Eric Morecombe of course - the main reason for going. Even in the rain there wasn't a minute when there weren't people hanging off it or taking its photo. It's not exactly subtle, but everyone was laughing at all the catchphrases carved in to the pavements around.
Phew! What a day.
On the Sunday, down to Gargrave for the walk. But the weather was so bad, it was cut short to 3.5m (thank goodness!). Nice group, but very wet and muddy by the end so I came straight home.
