Motorcycles, Water Wheels and Three Legs..
An island to expore this year..
Fact Panel
Details
Trip Date:
June 2016
Transport:
Nissan Estate
Accommodation:
Seaview, The Esplanade, Douglas
Duration:
Five Days
Cost of Trip Per Person:
£620
Video:
Panasonic SD Camera
Rating:
Very Good
Members Attending
Isle of Man Trivia
Status
British Crown Dependency
Population:
85,000
Known For:
Fast motorbikes, No Speed Limits, Trams
Where is the Isle of Man?
Day One: Saturday 11 June
It's island hopping for this trip and Le Groupe Flèche head to the Isle of Man, well it's something different.. The day began in the usual style ie breakfast at the house, then they walked to the Electric Railway which proved to be a most interesting entertainment. It was Douglas Derby Castle Station where they set off to Ramsay for a look about. At Laxey Station, the tram stops for 5 mins so Stuart announces that this will give him chance to get some feeling back into his buttocks. Chris looks at him and says "We are not doing that again!". When they arrived there was a Sub Main at the Gopher Café in Ramsay to be had. More wandering round Ramsay occurred which took a good part of the day before heading back via the railway to Douglas. They arrive back at the apartment for DSA to rest after the Ramsey excursions.
And so all parties are gathered together from the various departments and progress was made to Birmingham Airport from which the fight would commence. They arrived finally at the Isle of Man with a flight time of 1 hour then made their way to their rented house, called Seaview on the Esplanade in Douglas. It was all well appointed and so provisions were sought in the form of a visit to Tesco nearby to stock up. Naturally enough DSA followed, some watching a footy match between Wales and Slovakia.
Refreshed from thier rest, the Group headed out for Eats at Jaks Bar. Soon after they headed to Victoria Tavern, Rovers Return and finally the Thirsty Pigeon for last 'uns before then heading back to the house for a late night snack. On the walk back to the house, we are walking alongside a young girl who turns to Chris and says "Have you got a hair bobble". "I haven't got any hair" says Chris. "Oh, I just thought you'd have one for me" she replied dryly.
Stuart is astonished by this public humiliation. It’s the third hair joke of the day following his own 'Chris, you've dropped your comb' gag at the airport security check in desk (There was a dropped comb on the floor).
Day Two: Sunday 12 June
Then it was off to eat at 'The Italian Job', with drinks after at the furthest pub, The Railway, Rovers Return and The Victoria Tavern, with Sunday night closing at around 10:30 it was an early one, returning back for Red Wine and Cheese.
Regards drinking back at the house, it seems that the Arrowgroup had failed to buy a corkscrew, so all ways of obtaining one on a Sunday are considered, including purchase. When this fails, the plan to borrow one from the landlord of the Victoria Tavern is hatched. There is great trepidation about the methodology and how the approach should be made. Various scenarios are run through even down to managing the dialogue. Seems we don’t really want to go in the relatively sombre Vic Tavern, but the need for a corkscrew outweighs it. At the door of the pub Matt says "Can we have 6 pints of water please..oh, and do you know if Tescos is still open?" (to buy a corkscrew). The hoped response would then elicit an opening to ask for his. The plan proved successful..
Day Three: Monday 13 June
Monday and the start of a new week. The Arrowgroup set off with the intention of going to Laxey. However the inclement weather forced a change of plan and so a very circuitous route to Peel was taken instead via some of the TT roads. They walked round the harbour a bit and and looked at some castle battlements. Walked up a hill and back down again, though that did afford views of Peel and the harbour and environs therein. It was lunch at the Peverill which consisted of a cheese toastie and a coke. Better than nothing. Then they pushed on to Port Erin for an Ice Cream and brief look with the Calf of Man thrown in for some general millage in the Arrow finest tradition. There's not much rest though as Castleton was invaded for shopping and brief look at the Castle. Another one.
Home for DSA at last, and it was during that, that those intrepid explorers, Chris, Mark and Mic headed to the Camera Obscura on foot from the house. It was, predictably, shut when they arrived. Dejected, they then plodded back to join the others in DSA. Never mind, it was soon off for the usual evening meal at Jaks Bar. Then drinks at Victoria Tavern and to return the corkscrew, with Rovers Return and McConnells Irish Bar being the other ports of alcoholic call. There it seemed obvious that the pub was only open for us, so we left and headed back to the house for Wine & Biccies.
Day Four: Tuesday 14 June
Today the weather is very wet so it’s a change of plan, The Group decide to visit the Tynwald which is the place of the Isle of Man Parliament, one of the oldest. They set off and did another long winded way of getting there but eventually they found the Tynwald. It was the perfect attraction; cold, miserable and on wet grass. Exactly as described by Stuart who seemed to have prior knowledge of such things..
Not to worry though, there's a motor museum within reach, so off they went. Arrived at the Motor Museum. It's closed on Tuesdays. Of course it is. But, the Transport museum..that's open!! - Yay! Not quite yay. According to some, it was a dull Bus museum with an honesty box. Stuart puts in £10. Matt is a reluctant attendee. The museum promises some oldy worldy buses run by volunteer staff. A long moan from him culminates in the statement "I hope I don’t have to get caught up with an enthusiast". This author actually liked sitting in the various omnibuses on show and pretending to cart people around the streets.
The Group were determined to get to Laxey after which they achieved and after some milling, decided on the Laxey Station café for lunch. There was some very poor customer service there. At Laxey Station Café, the group are trying to piece together a meal from the meagre offering on show. It starts to get so complicated, that the order taker, Stuart, calls for a pencil & paper. He offers a written list to the woman behind the hatch. "Do you want me to write it down, it will be easier". "No" is the straight reply. Stuart, clearly taken aback then says, "Well I need to write it down for me!".
Well after that there were mountains to scale. Snaefell actually. But no hiking, oh no none of that nonsense. A mountain railway was hailed for that excusion. Naturally, some milling around at the top and cafe-ing needed doing before reurning back from the summit to Laxey. The group are waiting in the café for the next tram down. They are chatting about the Liverpool themed stuff around the place when after a period of silence, Mark suddenly comes out with "The thing about my motocycle accident, is that it means I cant whistle" Stuart just crashed face down on to the table at the left field nature of this statement. Lets face it, none of us had Mark down as the next Roger Whittaker..
So upon return it was a walk up to the Laxey wheel. They reach the ticket office and its Stuart again doing the ordering. He expresses disgust at the £12 price for a ride up the hill. He attempts to negotiate using humour, but the woman behind the ticket window is having none of it. "What discount can we get for a party of 6" he asks. "None" she says, "unless you can rattle up another 20 more..". In the end only Chris and Matt go through the paying turnstile and only Chris goes to the top of the wheel. It has 95 steps, for those interested.
All that excitement meant the Group needed to get back to the house for DSA / Tea & Biscuits before heading out to the Taste of India for a Meal. In the Indian, Mark is questioned about why he came out with the 'not being able to whistle statement' He confounds his audience further by announcing that he can now whistle! A general confusing conversation ensues to which Mark can't readily explain why he said it in the first place. Maybe, the group surmised, he just needs a system update reboot to advise his brain that he can now whistle. It's the last night so various pubs are frequented inlcuding The British, Jak's Bar, where theres a penalty shoot out game in the bogs, and finally Quids Inn - A pub with a turnstyle.
Day Five: Wednesday 15 June
Going home came all too quick. Breakfast was followed by tidying up and leaving the house for the last time and heading back to the airport, but not before a visit to the Manx Museum. All good. It was then back via Flybe (Stobart Air) to Birmingham.
So it was another trip over. Despite the inclement weather at times, a good time was had with some amusing ancedotes to tell. Next year would see the group in warmer climes, back to Spain.
