Our Week In Skeggy

 14/05/23

Up at 06:30 for an early start to Skegness for our holiday, at Richmond Caravan Park. We were supposed to be there yesterday but I couldn't move my duty off Saturday. I would have taken the day off anyway, but we would only have to wait around till about 4pm for the caravan to be ready, so we might as well set off this morning, then get straight into it. 

I've been awake most of the night, coughing my guts up. I've had a cough for a few days now. I suppose Our Lass will be getting it next. 

We set off for Skegness (Skeggy) at 07:25, calling in at the Killingbeck ASDA to top the car up. It was quiet a foggy drive, but at least the roads were quiet. We arrived at the Haven Caravan Park just before 10:00 and got settled in our caravan before our day out. 

                                                  Skeggy Pleasure Beach from the pier.

We walked into Skeggy, visited the pier, and discovered a sea-front path we didn't know was there, north from the pier. We saw a pub that we might give a try later in the week, the Seaview. After looking round the shops we had a drink in the Marine Boat House and got a shock at the prices. £4.70 for a pint of John Smiths Nitrokeg. With half of Carling for Our Lass, the round came to £7.10. This has quite put us off trying any new pubs this week. We're really going to have to stick to the Wetherspoon's and Craft Union pubs from now on. 

We had our evening meal in the Red Lion, Wetherspoon's pub, which was unsurprisingly unappetising. We had intended to nip across the road to the Lumley, but decided to stay in the Red Lion, our experience in the Marine Boat House still fresh in our minds, to finish the evening off.

                                                     Skeggy Pier from the north path. 

15/05/23

Up before 8am this morning. We spent most of the day at Gibraltar Point NNR. The beach, south to the Wash, was closed off to protect the breeding birds (mainly Little Terns). We heard our first Cuckoo of the year, but didn't manage to see one (though I may have done). A Temminck's Stint was on Tennyson Marsh, along with a Common Sandpiper. Not a bad day weather-wise, though a bit too warm at times.

We had Fish & Chips from the Cod & Cockerel for our evening meal, not brilliant but better than the fare at Wetherspoon’s, then got settled in the Waterhole till closing time, then finished off the night in the Red Lion.

18/05/23

Not written anything for the past couple of days, so here’s a catch-up. On the 16^th we had a walk at RSPB Freiston Shore where we walked to the River Welland. We were told, after we arrived there, that a Blue-winged Teal and Garganey were in the area, but we didn’t manage to see them. We did see a couple of Whimbrel on the shore of the river, which was a Year Bird. We also heard a Cuckoo, but failed to see it. Three Hares were seen in the fields as we walked back along the metalled road toward the car park. The weather was dry throughout the walk, and we were a bit too warm during most of it, despite the minimal clothing.

Our evening meal was acquired from the De Bao Chinese Takeaway, a very reasonably priced establishment, and very decent food. Our night, as last night, was spent in the Waterhole, and finished in the Red Lion.

On the 17^th we had a walk at Snipe Dales NNR. Another day a bit too warm for our liking, but there are plenty of benches here to rest regularly. We got into an open area just in time to see a Lancaster Bomber, with an escort of two Spitfires (or maybe Hurricanes) fly over the valley. Probably heading back to RAF Scampton after the Dambuster’s 80th anniversary flight over Ladybower Reservoir yesterday.

Fish & Chips again for our evening meal. Then out the Waterhole and Red Lion for the night.

Today, 18^th, was a visit to the Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve. A new visitor centre has been built since our last visit, just less than a year ago. Another warm day. Nesting Black-winged Stilts were a surprise, and a welcome addition to the Year List. Another addition was a Spoonbill seen from East Hide. Plenty of Little Egrets seen, but only one Grey heron. A few Brent Geese are still here, along with a couple of Pink-footed Geese. Surely these should have moved north by now. We heard a Cuckoo again, but again failed to see it.

A Chinese Takeaway provided our evening meal before our night in the Waterhole and Red Lion.

                                             Horse Chestnut Trees in the Tower Gardens.

19/05/23

Our last day saw us returning to Gibraltar Point NNR. We started the walk in rain, so visited the hides first hoping the rain would stop; it didn’t, till late in the walk. We did our usual walk the wrong way round and finally added Cuckoo to our Year List; two flying south near Mill Hill. We also had brilliant views of a Short-eared Owl hunting over Old Marsh, another brilliant addition to the Year List. The sun came out as we were finishing our walk and it turned into a very sunny evening.

Our third dose of Fish & Chips for our evening meal. Then we visited the Lumley to start our short evening, we’re up at 5am in the morning for our journey home. We intended just one drink in this pub, then finish in the Red Lion. But, we got change from £4.00 for a pint & a half, very unexpected after the Marine boat House at the start of the week, and the pub had a very decent atmosphere so we stayed for four drinks before heading back to the caravan, and bed.

20/05/23

The drive back home today. We set off from Skeggy at 05:40 and arrived back home, after quite a foggy drive, just after 8am. Our lass went into Leeds to do some shopping, but I just stayed in all day.

The last Day Of Our Blackpool Weekend

 08/05/23

Back home today. We’ve been told to be at the hotel for 13:00 to board the coach. It was raining as we took our pre-breakfast walk, so we didn’t go far. After Breakfast we walked into Blackpool and had a quick look round the shops. Then a last drink, in the Albert and The Lion, Wetherspoon’s pub. The walk back to the hotel took 25 minutes. Approaching the hotel we noticed the coach was already there, twenty minutes early. Our Lass was panicking, thinking it was going to leave without us. As it happened it had to double back to pick another couple who had got back to the hotel at the correct time. We were back home at 4pm.

Day Three Of Our Blackpool Weekend

 07/05/23

Up at 8 am this morning. The pigeons have been in full coo since first Light, and the residents above us have been doing a sponsored walk round their room all night. 

A Herring Gull and Magpie were the only birds seen, apart from the ubiquitous feral Pigeons, during our pre-breakfast walk. 

After breakfast I bought today's tickets for the Blackpool Travel system. We caught the tram to Little Bispham. From here we walked the coast path, past Cleveleys and on to Fleetwood; just over four mile according to Google Maps. 

We got off the tram and started walking at 10:20. More or less as soon as we started walking we saw a few Sanderling on the shoreline; our first for the year. The tide was almost fully in so it was pushing the birds toward us. Dunlin and Ringed Plover were seen as we were passing through Rossall. Our first Grey Plover of the year was seen, amongst a mixed flock of Dunlin, Sanderling, and Ringed Plover, at Rossall Point. A Couple of male Eider were seen, with females, flying South (another Year Bird) over the sea; and a couple of Sandwich Tern were flying north.

About three and a half hours after starting the walk we got settled in the Thomas Drummond, Fleetwood’s Wetherspoon’s pub, and got one of the tall tables that we favour. The pub was pretty quiet as we entered, but rapidly filled up as a local football match had just finished: Fleetwood Town v Ipswich (I didn’t know Fleetwood had a football team). The result was a two-all draw.

After a couple of drinks we caught the tram back to the Savoy hotel to get ready for our evening meal. It was slightly better than the previous two nights. Then we caught the tram to Cleveleys and spent the evening in the Jolly Tars, catching the 00:24 tram back to the hotel. Back home tomorrow after a very enjoyable weekend.

Day Two Of Our Blackpool Weekend

 06/05/23

Up just before 8am, though we had been awake since first Light, serenaded by Pigeons outside the window. We had our usual walk outside, to get some air, before going in to breakfast. We saw Herring Gull, Pied Wagtail, and Dunnock during our morning constitutional. Breakfast was buffet style, and better than last night's dinner. 

After breakfast I bought two Day Tickets for the transport system so we could catch the tram and bus to Lytham St Annes. We had wanted to buy two twenty four hour tickets but they don't do them anymore. 

We walked to the Fairhaven lake where we found a new seafront path to explore at a later date. The tide was rapidly coming in as we set off on the walk, bringing in a few waders, of which we identified Dunlin, Ringed Plover, and Oystercatcher. We also thought we saw a few Grey Plover, but they were too far off to be sure. Returning to St Annes we had a couple of drinks in the Trawl Boat Inn, the local Wetherspoon's pub, where we managed to get our favourite tall table. Then we caught the bus and tram back to the Savoy Hotel, with a couple of hours to rest before dinner. 

I didn't enjoy my dinner again. The food at this hotel leaves a lot to be desired. 

We caught the tram to Cleveleys at 20:20 and got settled in the Jolly Tars for the evening. We had to wait to get one of our favourite tall tables, but not too long. 

For the past 24 hours I've had an ear-worm; Divine's You Think You're A Man, where the fuck has that come from? 

 

Some Dasies captured during a sit down while walking to Fairhaven lake.