Bring Me Sunshine - Please!

As I was going on a walk in Gargrave on Sunday, I thought I would go up for the weekend and booked in to a CL in Hellifield called Littledale Croft. The rain poured down all day and it was a bit hairy getting up in to the field, two goes and a bit of wheel spin and I was on. Rabbits and birds, but a very windy and rainy night kept me awake.

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. 

Left: sculptures of the hills you should be able to see on a good day.

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.

Cold in Coniston

Arranged a meet up with Angela, and set off Friday afternoon for Coniston. Sadly, I made the mistake of following my insane sat nav, who took me down tiny lanes and up steep hills, then deposited me at the side of a lake. So.... I took the ferry across.

By the time I got there I was feeling a bit poorly, and by the next day I wasn't at all well so we abandoned any plans and I spent the weekend just lying in the van eating my emergency rations. I managed a short walk down to the lake and back, but really it was a washout.

The site was massive, it must be a nightmare in the summer. Slightly too far from the town to walk I would say, so not sure I would stay there again.

Hull - UK City of Culture 2017

A fantastic trip to Hull to see the Made in Hull son et lumiere kicking off their year as City of Culture.

I stayed at Tudor Springs CL, Cottingham, an unlovely site but the owner was very welcoming and brought cake and info brochures, so I was able to plan my train trip to town.

First stop was the Maritime Museum, where I learnt that they used to have boats with holes in to keep the fish in fresh water in the hold. Who would have thought? Somehow I managed to miss a show called Bowhead - must try again on my next visit.

I then started following the fish trail around the old town. The trail is small art works set in to pavements and walls, of 40 species of fish.

It went round the fruit market area, past the museums, through the marina, out to the seafront and via the cathedral (?) and a great covered market with vinyl and vintage stalls.



I stopped off for fish and chips in the Sailmakers arms, and chatted away to other tourists.

On the pier is the twin statue to the one I saw in Iceland, this one is called Voyage. Details here .

The Wilberforce museum has exhibitions on slavery past and present, but wasn't as interesting as the Hull & East Riding museum which had excellent mosaics, and the Hasholme Boat which is OVER 3000 YEARS OLD!

The evening show, in a packed Victoria Square was very moving and spectacular. See a video here.

Other shows on the trail were the spoof Hollywood movie stills, posed by locals and very clever, plus a show beamed on to the side of the Deep showing all the waves of migrants coming through the port.

Finally, crushed on to a train with lots of happy people, then taxi back to the van. A brilliant day!

Next visit I need to cover: Ferens Art Gallery, Brynmore Library, have another go at Bowhead, the final museum - Streetlife Museum of Transport, the Arctic Corsair and the Deep. Plus maybe on to the the Napoleonic Fort Paull.