Southport

One of the consequences of having either enforced (like with floods) or semi-enforced (as with limited tidal crossings) is that we get to explore parts of the country that we would otherwise be unlikely to visit. Southport, as a seaside resort, would not be high on our agenda (a bit like Whitley Bay but with a less interesting coastline!).

The day started wet, at least a gentle drizzle, but quite warm - despite weather forecasts to the contrary. However, by the end of the day it had turned cloudless and warm in the sunshine, although the wind continued to be quite frisky.

Bridge over Marine Park

We drove into Southport along the main road and then followed round to the sea front and through the town centre, just to get our bearings. We parked for an hour close to the pier entrance and the striking short suspension bridge acros Marine Park which we had been able to see in the distance on our beach walk.

At this stage the weather was entirely consistent with the notice on the carousel that indicated that they were operating a Winter Schedule!

It was only a short distance to Lord Street, the main shopping drag in town. On the sea front the eating places were classic resort facilities - we were amazed to see tea an d coffee advertised at just 50p each! Steak and Kidney, pudding or pie, along with chips and occasionally plus bread and butter, seemed to be a staple diet here.

We opted for a Weatherspoons - a little pricier at £1.25 upwards for coffee but it was pleasant coffee. We were intrigued by a leaflet produced by the founder and boss of Weatherspoons, campaigning for a substantial reduction in VAT on food sold by pubs. After all, supermarkets are allowed to sell it VAT-free and "that's unfair competition". As part of his argument he claimed that his pubs pay an average of £630,000 taxes each year - some turnover!

We thought about what to do when our hour's parking ticket expired and opted for the Park and Ride scheme at just £1.50 per car, including the bus into and around the town centre.

Still a bank (HSBC)

Several imposing buildings can be found on Lord Street amongst the shops, which were designed to make the local citizens have confidence in their owner's banking credentials. This one still is a bank (HSBC) but others now have different uses. Somewhat ironic that the man standing in front and to the left was selling the Big Issue (or its local equivalent).

The Old Bank (now an eating place)

Former Convalescent Hospital

This Convalsecent Hospital AD 1806 is a reminder of the days in which sea side resorts had a very different purpose.

Wayfarers Arcade

Time to wander the shops - licorice sweets and a new waterproof hat for Mike from Rohan. These came from a couple of shops in Wayfarers, one of the preserved Victorian arcades. This one was quite splendid.

The shops on Lord Street are also famous for their ironwork canopies.

We eventually returned to Weatherspoons for their Deli Special snack. Very reasonable.

Over half way

After lunch we strolled down to the pier, said to be the oldest and second longest in the country. However, it starts well inland and the halfway point is just on the edge of the beach! The pier has had a chequered history from its early Victorian origins and has had to be restored several times as a result of serious damage by storms and fires. The last time this was needed, just over a decade ago, a proposal by the local council to knock it down was only defeated by a single vote.

Come back Hi Di Hi!

Oh yes, and now the entertainers we out - even we thought that the repertoire soundly a bit ancient!

Nearly there

There are few facilities on the pier - doughnuts at the half way point and a bar at the end. There was a lareg display of historic slot machines which needed real old pennies to operate - on offer at 10 for a pound. We sat for a while at the end - by now the sun had emerged but it was not easy to find a seat sufficiently sheltered from the wind that we could sit and read.

That's it - The End

The other feature of the pier is its tram. We walked rather than ride so that we could experience the fresh air (LTRU!) but the modern tram (looking rather like a coach) passed us several times.

The gardens on the sea front next to the pier are undergoing extensive renovation - this classic design shelter is just outside.

Back in the town centre we looked for Southport Market. This was a bit of a disappointment as it had been well trailed and we expected to find rather special bread and pork pies but alas we did not.

The Park and Ride took us back to the car park and we stopped off at the nearby Morrisons for a few items - alas no newspaper. Nevertheless, a Co-Op appeared shortly afterwards and we relieved them of their last copy.

Mike also wanted to buy a couple of metal drill bits to make a modification to the rear doors on the boat and had identified a specialist tool shop on Google - in Shakespeare Street. There seems a reasonable chance that this shop was around back then - a really old fashioned traditional little shop where you have to ask the man behind the counter for each item that you are looking for! he had an amazing range of stock, crammed in on shelves all around as well as overhead. Even sickles or reaping hooks as well as small boat anchors!

That was it - back to the boat and the sat nav took us around the minor roads as a change from the A roads on which we arrived.