Boats, Trains and Low Flying Planes.

[Thekingin64]

This is a big trip report of all the day trips me and my dad have been on during this past week and the canal boating holiday we'll be going on next week.

First up, The Liverpool On The Waterfront light show to celebrate 100 years of the Liver building. It was a very last minute decision to go see this. Me and my dad only made the decision at 6:15 when the show started at 9:30 the same evening. We left at about 8 o’clock and got around to Hooton train station around half past and got to the Liver building around 9:10. As this was free entry, There were loads of people there and the queues for drinks were huge. At 9:30 there was a free concert from the local band 6 toys. These were much better than expected and the keyboard player looked a lot like AJ. Their cover of Valerie (that they did in memory of Amy Winehouse) is my favourite version of that song I’ve heard. 6 toys stayed on stage longer than expected so the light show started a quarter of an hour late. When it finally started at 10:30, The light show was amazing. It perfectly put the history of the building into a short 10 minute show. Official photo’s can be found here: http://www.liverpoolonthewaterfront.co.uk

After the main bit on the Liver building the light show moved over to the Museum of Liverpool for another show showing that museum off. While the museum show was very good and very clever, it was nothing compared to the main one on the Liver building.

Ffestiniog/Welsh highland railways Trip Report coming whenever I can be bothered to write it up.

 

[Thekingin64]

Right then, The Ffestiniog/Welsh Highland Railway

On Tuesday 26th July, me and my dad headed over to the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. We got to Blaenau Ffestiniog for the 11:50 train but when we bought the tickets we were told that train was full so we stood around taking photos which I will post in a bit. We had plenty of time to waste until the next train came in so we went for lunch in a nearby cafe. Somehow, I managed to waste 50 minutes just by eating a BLT sandwich and chatting to my dad. After my sandwich and my dad’s Baguette we headed back down to the platform only to find this train was very full as well. Luckily we managed to find a seat by sharing a compartment with someone. They didn’t mind it though and actually ended up quite good to chat to. As usual the views were brilliant on this railway all the Porthmadog. While going over The Cob a Jet fighter came over very, very low. It can’t of been more than 100ft above us. So far, that was the highlight of the day as I had been on the Ffestiniog Railway before.

When we arrived at Porthmadog we went to check what time the open top bus to Pont Croesor. It wasn’t leaving for 20 minutes so me and my dad went for an ice-cream and a walk along the Cob. After that, we got on the bus only to find out about there being really heavy traffic due to the A497 being shut because of a scaffolding accident and the new bypass being built. The traffic nearly caused us to miss the train but luckily there was someone from the railway on the bus with us and he held up the train for us. Once we got to the railway, we easily found a seat and the train set off. At first, I wasn’t that impressed with the scenery but after the summit at Rhyd Ddu the scenery really did get very spectacular. I was expecting the engines of this railway to big but they were something else. While most narrow gauge locos are the same height or smaller than me, this managed to be much taller than me. When we made it to Caernarfon annoyingly for some unknown reason the toilets were locked so I had to wait until we got back to Porthmadog for toilets. To make up for lost time the train made a very quick turnaround and coupled back to the train for the evening run which went all the way to Porthmadog along the new extension. The Extension was very good with the Level crossing over the main line Railway and the road. Seeing the Huge Garratt Locomotive heading straight for you on the level crossings must be brilliant to see but I had an equally good view of it going along the level crossing.

When we got off the train we went for food at the cafe at Porthmadog station. I had the Pie they did there and it was really nice. Even though most of it was gravy, the bits that weren’t gravy and the chips were really nice. After that, we went for a walk around Porthmadog Harbour which wasted about 40 minutes. After that, we headed to the bus stop for my bus back to Blaenau Ffestiniog. I played a bit of Tetris on my phone, the bus arrived, got back to Blaenau Ffestiniog at around 10pm, Got in car, Drove back and went straight to sleep.

Overall, Brilliant day out which ended in a lot later night than I anticpated.( When planning it I didn’t count in the drive home from Blaenau)

Pictures from the Ffestiniog, Welsh highland, Cambrian and Fairbourne railways can be found here: http://s1228.photobucket.com/albums/ee456/Thekingin64/2 weeks with dad 2011/?start=all