During the day we went on a steam train and we were still full of energy when we got back and lets face it English televison on a Staurday night is much to be desired.  I thought it would be a good idea for us to visit my home land of Blackpool and see the illuminations for the last time.   We had our tea and then set off, bikes firmly secured to the back of the car and left the dog at home, warm and dry.

We got there before the light up and decided to cycle up to Squires Gate then look at the lights properly on the way back down, light up was 8pm and we arrive at 7:45pm.  It was better than waiting and we've been doing enough of that recently.

When I was younger we always used to play a game of which tram we would see all lit up, there's a rocket, cruise ship, and an old fashioned boat.  I only amanged to take a shot of the cruise ship and as you can see the lights made it a bit difficult anyway.

We cycled on and as we got more to Central Pier it started to get a bit busy, so we decided to cycle along the tram track.  Now you can see where this is going can't you.  As we cycled down I went over the track and my wheel wobbled.  I then informed Neil just to watch not to let your wheel get in the track.  Then only a few mins after me saying this what do I go and do!  Before I know it I was on the floor with a couple asking me if I was alright.  I got up and being more embarrassed about the situation I said I was fine and got back on my bike and cycled off, with my ankle clicking with every turn.  Neil didn't realise I had come off at first and was waiting for me a bit further up, I wanted to just cycle a bit further out of the way from anyone who had noticed I had come off.

A bit further up I got off my bike and took off my boot, which I was very glad I wore.  I think the boot supported my fall better than if I was wearing trainers.  Nothing looked broken, but it just kept clicking.  Not wanting it to put a downer on the night out we carried on.

Pleasure Beach

When we got to Squires Gate we headed back to Bispham. 

We got back to the car at 10:30pm and picked up some food before we headed back home, Fish and chips for Neil and chips in curry sauce for me.

I took off my left boot for the trip home and when we got back home and I got out of the car, I have no idea what I did but as I turned my foot to go into the entrance of our back garden my ankle clicked/ crunched and I had a shooting pain go all the way up my left leg.  I'm not sure if I had dislodged it afterall and now I had managed to click it back in its rightful place.  I couldn't move for a little bit but then after a while I limped into the house.

Today I woke up with some pain in my foot, when I looked at it the ankle on the left it looks twice the size of the one on the right.  We got a bandage from Tesco and I have been hobbling around must of the day. 

So I went to Blackpool last night and all I got was a swollen ankle

To continue my mission to do all the things that we kept saying that we would do one day whilst we were unaware that we were going to get the opportunity to emigrate, the trips continue.

I decided that we should have a day out over Burnley and whilst I was looking for some cycle routes the other week I noticed a picture of the Singing Ringing Tree.  We were quite intrigued to go and see it, but of course when we got there it wasn't windy.  The tree is made out of pipes and the idea is that the wind blows through it and creates some sort of noise or tune.

After we were disappointed that it wasn't so windy I started to look at the road map for some more inspiration of where to go next.  We decided that we weren't so far from Rawtenstall and we could pick up the East Lancashire Railway and go on a steam train.

We headed there and got a couple of tickets to go from this station to Bury Bolton Street and back again.

We arrived at Bury Bolton Street and had a little look around.

Harvey seemed to enjoy himself

The train stations along the route were very well kept, there were signs for the 1940's wartime weekends which are held in May which look good fun.  People get dressed in Military gear and really get the feel and atmosphere back. 

Then we came back to Rawtenstall again and I couldn't resist taking a photo of the iconic Red Phone Box.