Covid Capers: Day Eight – A Frolic to New Brighton and Hoylake
Morning Meanderings
Rise and shine! Well, maybe more rise and saunter. Today’s escapade takes us on a jaunt towards New Brighton and Hoylake, but not before a leisurely morning start.
The journey isn’t a marathon, just a breezy hour’s drive from home down the East Lancs Road (A580), passing through the subaquatic tunnels beneath the River Mersey, with a modest toll of £1.80 each way for the privilege of submerging. Then, it’s a hop, skip, and jump up the Wirral towards our first destination.
Parking woes? Not today! A pleasant surprise awaits as we discover free parking along the New Brighton seafront. A rarity indeed, considering the rapacious tendencies of some local authorities. But no complaints here, we’ll gladly take this gratis gift.
The weather gods, though not overly generous, do bless us with dry skies, albeit veiled behind a sombre overcast. Undeterred, we amble towards Fort Perch Rock, a bastion of history that has somehow eluded my previous perambulations. Perhaps childhood visits were made, but memory’s grip is slippery at best.
Ah, the joys of a ‘staycation’ in the company of our venerable elders. Some might jest that I’m already knocking on the door of that esteemed demographic!
Afternoon Antics
A delightful constitutional along the beach and promenade works up quite the appetite. Off we trot to the hallowed halls of ‘The Master Mariner’, a Wetherspoons establishment, where the mysteries of ordering via app are swiftly unravelled. Two burgers, fries, and a pint each, all for a paltry £10.50! Truly, a triumph of value over expenditure. Warren’s wisdom finally sinks in – why indeed pay more when such bargains beckon?
Sated and content, we amble along the promenade in the opposite direction, soaking in the bracing sea air before retracing our steps to the awaiting chariot.
Next stop: Hoylake, a further traverse along the Wirral coastline. Memories, if any, of parental excursions here remain murky, but for my companion, Michele, it’s a virgin voyage.
Upon arrival, we venture forth onto the sandy expanse towards Hilbre Island, though our quest is not for the distant isle. Another day, perhaps, for a more deliberate pilgrimage, mindful of the perils posed by these treacherous tides. But oh, the vastness of this shoreline! A veritable oceanic expanse that dwarfs even the famed sands of Southport.
Homeward bound, a swift hour’s drive via the Mersey Tunnel brings us back to the embrace of home, with dreams of tomorrow’s Lake District dalliance dancing in anticipation.
Heading Homeward with a Heart Full of Adventure
And so, another day of Covid holidays draws to a close, leaving us with memories to cherish and new horizons yet to explore. Join us next time as we traverse the verdant vistas of the Lake District, in search of yet more escapades amidst nature’s embrace.
