GETTING THERE PART ONE
| FERRY INFORMATION | AIRLINE INFORMATION | EXTRA INFORMATION |
|---|
GOING UP TO CATCH THE FERRY
and making landfall
( hints appear in red )
FIRSTLY WITHOUT EXCEPTION
DO NOT FORGET YOUR TICKET,
MONEY AND CREDIT CARDS
ARE YOU BOOKED IN SOMEWHERE
We leave work on the Saturday evening, and head on out up the M40 and progressively relax as we ride/drive, letting it sink in that we do not have to get stuck in traffic jams on the M4 for a whole fortnight--Lovely feeling.
However we may get into a couple of minor holdups as we join the M42, and again at the M6 at Birminghan as the "nightclubbers" set out for the evening.
We stop for a meal in a motorway services and then we top up our petrol tanks.
We now become part of a group who are also heading out for the T.T., and even though we have never met them before, the enthusiasm shines through and we chat animately about the Isle of Man, and swear like bloodbrothers, to meet up at one drinking hole or another on the other side.
We are a night early, but we feel that to be on the dockside early morning is preferable to a mad thrash on a Bank Holiday Sunday with cars and caravans in huge queues, setting out for the Lake District.
We can now see the junction which leads to the run down into Liverpool and the DOCKS.
FOLLOW THE SIGNS FOR IOM FERRIES.
Those amongst us with a few extra quid to hand, disappear into one of the many travel-lodge style motels along the Liverpool access road, and the rest go in into Liverpool to see if they can find some nightlife.
Whatever happens, we all meet up again on the dockside the next morning, some with very red eyes, unshaven and with hair askew (and that's only the girls !!)
Even at this time in the morning, people are wandering around and greeting each other (and there's always one fellow among them, drinking Guinness out of a can for breakfast !).
The huge LYVER building stands over us and we think about the number of years we have stood in this very spot waiting to get on the ferry.
Some of us walk along to the Albert Dock to see the complex with includes the Beatles section, and all the shops and cafes.
This makes the waiting time fly by, and we head back to the docks to sign in....
It is essential to be there early, to make sure you are signed in and in the row of parked vehicles, ready to board when THEY tell you.
We are eventually allowed to board the ferry and make sure our vehicles are secure.
We again look for a source of food and a good seat.
The cafe on the slower boats was always our favourite so these newfangled powerboats could benefit from a similar set up.
There are always a few late arrivals and even a few waiting for spaces if someone does not turn up.
All aboard at last, even the stragglers, and we cast off and move sedately out of the Mersey towards the open sea.
<---SLOW MODE----FAST MODE--->
Someone is whistling the theme tune from Titanic and we giggle nervously in excitement and anticipation....Count the lifeboats !
We watch Liverpool disappear into the haze, and try to see Blackpool Tower as the ferry opens up the throttles, and we are on our way at last....
A number of Father Jack impersonators now find the bar
and are heard to cry "drenk,drenk"........
DRENK ! DRENK !!
DO NOT FORGET YOU WILL BE RIDING/DRIVING
WHEN YOU GET OFF THE FERRY
SO DO NOT DRINK AND RIDE OR DRIVE
(you could spill your beer)
Plenty of time to drink when you get to the Island
Some of us get on our mobile phones to let our wives/girlfriends/sons/daughters/fathers/mothers/friends/etc know that we are on our way, and the rest of us phone our friends/staff/officials/riders/mechanics/hotels/homestays/etc to let THEM know that we are on our way....
We now turn our eyes to the west, looking for "Our Island" and there is always a great accolade for the person who sees it coming out of the haze first
And there it is getting bigger every minute
As the day gets older, the dusk comes in and we see the lights on Douglas Promenade come on even from this distance
It is quite dark when we dock but we can pick out all the buildings on the Prom...
The Villa Marina, The Stakis/Hilton, Summerland, The PitStop, The Sefton, the Falcon Cliff and Manx Radio.
All quiet at this time but within days
they will be jumping up and down...
The Fans will have arrived
you must find time to go on a rideout down to see the calf of man
"part two"