Crosby 26th May 2023
                
Up for it were-
 
Yup, Keithee, Sid, Nails, JayCee, Sean, Bill, Turk, Bolt, Goosey, Huge and not forgetting Zoe, Poppy, (Bec) and Barry.
 
 
The day began for JC, Yup and Granpop Bill with a bus ride to Stoke station starting before the free watershed time of 930 for oaps. Both Yup and Bill paid £1.60 whilst Jaycees paid £2 after forgetting to show his bus pass.
With tickets collected JC, Goosey, Bill, Yup, Nails, Turk, Bolt began the train journeys as planned
Sid, Keithee, Huge and Sean would meet up later.
 
Unbelievably we lost Bill on the first train as he’d wondered off to the next carriage to find his reserved seat. Bolt suggested lanyards to tie us all together like school kids.
 
Turk volunteered to sort next months do at Wolstanton. See it, say it, sort it. The realisation of what he’d volunteered for began to show. The latest trend of arranging and paying for snacks for everyone was just one hurdle to overcome. Not forgetting the notes.
 
As we arrived at LSP a few minutes late, we missed the connection by less than a minute. Thankfully the next train was only 20 minutes later.
 
We drifted off to the beach where Mr Whippy was waiting to serve us all a welcome 99.
 
Bolt spotted the Anthony Gormley information board. He was ecstatic when he realised he had a lookalike. The resemblance was uncanny. His nickname changed to Gormless for the rest of the day.
 
We strolled along the beach back towards Waterloo, passing many of Anthony Gormless’s statues. There’s a hundred in total but we probably only passed around 20.
Sid’s son-in-law, Little Baz, arrived and was introduced to Big Bill. I’ve still no idea what he said but so pleased to welcome him into our group.
 
A stack of Kipling cakes appeared which a local worker provided free gratis. Of course, JayCee nicked a box of Viennese whirls. Well he was in Liverpool.
 
The final bugle sounded and it was time to visit Saffron, tonight’s Indian.
 
The service and food was superb. According to JayCee it was an absolutely beautiful curry. Ditto’d by everyone else.
 
The only very small downfall was the lack of after eight mints. Thank goodness JayCee had pinched those cakes!!
 
With plenty of time left we sauntered back to the station. All we needed to do was to catch the right train. Sid doubted JayCees decision to catch the Hunts Cross train and even rang Baz to check. Ye of little faith.
 
Best weather we’ve had in a long time. It had to be. ….  One of the best ever dos. If not the best ever. Next year Southport.
 
Cheers
 
Yuppers
(enjoy yer days at the seaside, beside the sea)
 
 
The train travel guru also spotted an alternative train home from Crewe which we caught which would shave half an hour off the travel time.
 
It was all going well for JayCee until the taxi drove over his foot at Stoke station, before he’d even got in. 🙈
 
Goosey got home and immediately got a bag of frozen peas out of the freezer for his dodgy knee. Not surprising as we’d covered over 6 miles.
 
Thanks to the first 2 micropubs for opening up especially early for us and to everyone who attended.  Sorry, what was that again Barry?
 
 
 
 
At Waterloo we all met up at The Queens Picture House, (Wethers) where a round of 11 drinks came to just £20.50 with vouchers. There was a shout to stay there all day, but needs must.
 
The Balti bugle blasted for the first ever time providing a 5 minute warning of our intended move to The Old Tap.
Sitting in the sunshine we enjoyed the rays, the beer and the crack. Yup provided fresh pork pies and sausage rolls, supplied by a bakery in Crosby. What more could you want. Zoe arrived with Poppy and soon settled amongst us.
The landlord was most friendly.
 
Keithee asked how Mark's music business venture was coming along. ‘Has he drummed up any business yet?’, he asked. Boom boom.
 
It was a shame to leave but the bugle said otherwise.
This company had only recently taken over the previously named Liverpool Pigeon micropub which would add to their growing chain of pubs. Hence the slightly higher prices possibly.
 
Sids daughter, Bec had intended to join us but it proved too difficult having 2 children and a dog to look after. Her partner Barry was at work and joined us later.
 
The bugle called and Zoe then  led us along a shortcut through Coronation park to The Cornerpost (my favourote)
 
 
 
 
The bugle blasted again signalling time to move on to the next micropub, The Homebrew Tap.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Bus yard was our next toilet stop which were thankfully open.
 
Sid suggested a quick route back into Waterloo. Was he trying to emulate the 200 yard Butterheim walk? From our German trip?
 
We were all knackered when we arrived at the final micropub, the Trap and Hatch. No thanks to Sid.