Mon, 18 Nov 2002

author Tim	location Elswick, Lancashire, England
posted 21:18 GMT	section Europe2002/Europe/UK/England/South England/South England 1 ( all photos )

A few more familiar faces ( 25 photos )
Awaking in the Cotswolds once again, we breakfasted, then headed off to nearby Broadway, where we had dinner last time we were in the area. This time, we took in some touristy shops which were even more outrageously priced than the rest of England.
Most of the day was spent covering lots of miles on the motorways. Lunch was at a services at Stafford. This wasn't far from Stoke-on-trent, where apparently my Grandmother's father was born and raised before coming out to Australia. I wanted to go in and take a photo or three of the house, so needed to find my way around. How else would a poor Aussie do this? Why, by taking a photo of the map in a newsagent for later reference, of course!
Unfortunately, my plan fell apart when the street name I had actually occured three times, with no further information. Perhaps we can find out a bit more and try it again later.
Going once again with what we knew, we are staying at Thornton House, where we have been before. We remembered it as expensive, but were quite happy to find our memory had failed us.
We passed the afternoon wandering around Blackpool. Happily, now out of the tourist season, it wasn't all that bad. The "illuminations" (lots of flashy light things all along the promenade) are now finished, and most of the endless amusement arcades are closed for the winter.
What we did do was spend a few pounds playing various strange amusement games - shooting, driving, playing air hockey and of course in the end loosing lots of our hard-earned.
Weather has been fantastic today - we took some pictures of one of the most amazing sunsets we have seen for a long time, bought some "rock" candy and then drove back to the B&B.
A little later we attempted to find some dinner. First pub (the one just across the road) said "we have just taken over and will serve food in December". OK, back in the car and on to the next - "we have just taken over and will serve food soon". Third time lucky, we ate at a suprisingly reasonable chain pub where we ate more than we really should have, given the huge breakfast we have ordered in the morning.

Tomorrow we head to visit another friend of Margaret's in Barrow-in-Furness, before arriving late in the day back at Carlisle at Peter's place. That's almost our "South England" leg of the trip over.

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