A much easier day today driving wise. Yesterday was the Dales and today is the Market, Mill and Train.
We once again depart at 09:00 and drive the short distance to Bury. I keep off the motorway which lands me in a traffic jam in Accrington but still arrive in Bury forty minutes later.
I haven’t been to Bury before and the main reason for this morning’s visit is to see the market with its 370 stalls.
The sat nav takes me in to Bury but brings me to the market on the wrong side of the road. Not many roundabouts in Bury! I drive around the block and drop the group off in a bus stop explaining where I will pick them up from later.
From here I again follow the sat nav the short distance to the railway station and once again I am on the wrong side of the road! I am directed into a car park next to the station that is exactly that, a car park. No room for coaches. I have to turn around and manage to do this in about twenty shunts backwards and forwards to face the right way. It is a relief to have managed it. By the time I have turned a guard appears and explains where I should stop and drop the group. At least I didn’t look silly with a coach load of passengers on!
It takes a couple of minutes to go back to the market where I park up and go for a walk. It is extremely hot now on a lovely sunny day.
I am not a market person but I am impressed with this market. It is both indoor and outdoor and there is plenty of room to move about even though it is very busy. The food stands are lovely with lots of enticing local produce. There are plenty of places to eat and drink and it also backs onto the main shopping centre.
We stay here until 12:30 when I take the passengers the correct way to the station! I walk them to the platform to wait for our steam train. It is due in at 12:48 and departs at 13:10. Once they are all sat down I disappear back to the coach and drive to the end of the line at Rawstenstall where I shall meet them.
I fill up with fuel here before waiting for the train to come in.
Once they are all back on the coach we then drive to the wonderfully named Oswaldtwistle Mill, a shopping centre located in an old mill. I have told them that the restaurant is excellent here (it is) with many fresh dishes on offer.
We arrive at 14:20 and are met by a coach parking man and a young lady handing out discount vouchers. Off they go until 16:30.
I drive to the coach park and then walk back to the mill for a look around and something to eat.
The restaurant is closed! Bum! There is a coffee shop that has a small selection of hot food but it is now very busy and there is obviously a bit of a wait for cooked or fresh food. I have a coffee and a scone as I can’t be arsed to wait!
I think the mill was a bit hit and miss with the group, some liking it and others not quite so keen.
From here it is about five minutes back to the hotel.
I am going to go out for dinner tonight and ask at reception where the best local Indian restaurant is. It is in Clayton le Moors and is about a ten minute walk (uphill) away. I know their ten minutes and expect it to take me closer to thirty.
It takes me thirteen and by the time I am at the top of the hill I am ready for a beer. It must be this northern air!
I locate the restaurant (Balti Stan) and then go to a rough looking pub called the Albion. It is as rough inside as outside but the beer is cheap - £2.30 for a pint of lager. It is £3.40 at home.
I then walk for one more beer at the Hare and Hounds and it is 10p dearer here but still very cheap.
When I go into the restaurant there is one other table occupied but they soon leave and I am on my own with half a dozen waiters. I receive good service!
The restaurant is very nice inside and the food excellent. I order a starter and main course but soon wish I hadn’t as the starter is a meal in itself.
My Madras appears in a dish twice the size we have at home and I struggle to eat it all. I make a decent attempt but have to give in eventually or I will go pop! And that would not be a pretty sight!
I enjoy the walk back to the hotel and am back in y room by 21:30 after a very enjoyable night out.
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