The first 'Grand Day Out' of 2013 - Chester and (not!) the Boat Museum

The Wilmslow (Horse & Jockey) contingent of glee seekers ventured west today to meet the Merseyside contingent at the Ellesmere Port Boat Museum. We Wilmslowites travelled by train to Crewe, thence to Chester, and onwards to Ellesmere Port via Hooton.

As ever, click on the pictures for full size images.

 

Malcolm, John, and Ivan watch our Merseyrail train to Hooton 

pull into Chester station this morning

As we left the train at Ellesmere Port John's phone rang. Sid, the organiser of our Grand Day Out, was with the other Merseysiders at the Museum cafe.... and had to report that Elfin Safety had scuppered the first part of our day. Because of slippery snow and ice covered surfaces, the museum management had just decided to close to visitors. So after a coffee we got a taxi back into Chester and visited the Cathedral instead.

Jim, John, John W, Sid, Ivan, and Malc outside Chester Cathedral.

After a bit of Anglican culture and admiration of Romanesque and Gothic architecture, including work by George and Giles Gilbert-Scott, we decided it was time for a pint and Sid led us to The Victoria in the town centre. But lunch was beckoning and we were booked into The Albion for that, so after our pint we headed outside to the city wall, where we climbed the slippery snowy steps onto the footpath on top of the wall (giving two fingers to Elfin Safety!) and made our way there.
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Team Picture on the city walls, on the way to The Albion for lunch

A short walk along the city wall towards the River Dee brought us close to The Albion. Braving the snowy and icy steps down to road level we were soon there.

Not for nothing is The Albion known as 'The Curmudgeon's Pub'. Click on the picture to read the board outside the pub.

The snow started to fall, so we arrived at The Albion just in time! Check out the notice in the doorway!

Here we met the remaining two of the 'Merseyside Contingent', Shaun and Bob. Pints of Adnams on the table, we are ready for lunch, or 'Trench Rations', as The Albion has it. Ivan, John, Shaun, Bob, Sid, Jim, Malc and John W.

Replete after lunch! Ivan took this one so I'm on the picture!

After lunch we visited a few pubs on the way to the station. Ivan centre in The Marlborough, our first port of call.

Later, in the back room of The Boot Inn

And our last port of call... The Ship Victory, which served Burscough Bitter. Brought back memories of being a parachute club pilot at the disused Burcsough aerodrome near Ormskirk many years ago!

John, Ivan, and Malc at the bar

Everyone deep in conversation before we head for the station and our train home

Sid, Malc, John, and Jim in a 'domestic huddle' (don't ask!) at Chester station as we head home

 Malc and John at Crewe station awaiting our onward train to Wilmslow (click to enlarge to read the announcement screen above Malc's head) at the end of a most enjoyable day!

Many thanks to Sid for organising this Great Day Out. Now us Wilmslowites will have to organise a return match in Manchester. I can see the Museum of Science & Industry (MoSI) and quite possibly a 'Chinese Hoovering' might be on the agenda!

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