McDonalds 'Ride Through' Rigby Road

Just walking by Rigby Road behind the football stadium this afternoon. I almost could not believe my eyes when I saw the above. I remember very well McDonald's staff refusing to serve me on a motorcycle a few years ago, since when were horses exempt? These riders clearly are a law above the rest.

ReBlackpool

Walking around the town, I found this web address on the fringe of a construction site rather interesting. Reblackpool.com gives a great insight into the ongoing urban regeneration in Blackpool. Their blog is well worth a look at too, the town has come a long way in just a few short years and there is a lot more to come yet. Have a read for yourself.

I made a detour to the promenade this afternoon, I could not resist the lure of the ocean breeze as I caught wisps of it inland. The new promenade looks fantastic with it's sleek curves, dual elevated walkways, it's a seascape engineering marvel. There is seating which form part of the seawalls, therefore no woodrot and no need for painting benches, the railings are made from a shiny and sleek aluminium, which will not rust like cast iron railings would. Overall it looks uplifted and spacious and blends well with the ongoing regeneration in Blackpool.

I look forward to it's completion and being able to stroll the full length, making a few stops along the way... for the odd my whippy and a bag of chips laced in salt and vinegar. Mmm, I am making myself hungry already.

This Season's Crop

If you are a bit of a forager like myself you have every reason to be excited this year. A nice walk around Marton Mere today, I took the chance to see how the wild fruit crops are fairing. The apple trees, pear trees and scrambles of blackberry canes are absolutely teeming with developing buds. It is a sure sign there is going to be a bumper crop of massive proportions this year. Best get hold of a demijohn, apple cider on the house this year I think.

Keep checking the blog, I will let you know when the fruit is ripe!

Local Produce

If you pop to the ASDA or Tesco's in Blackpool, you will see some seasonal delicacies on the shelves at the moment, British strawberries for example grown somewhere down south of England. Believe it or not, Blackpool might be a seaside tourist town, but it has a few agricultural power houses of it's own.

Just outside Blackpool in Kirkham, a well known farm produces some of the best strawberries I have ever tasted. Little alpine strawberries packed with a juicy sweet flavour to rival those much larger tart and tasteless 'Elsanta' varieties typically found in the supermarket. For just £1.50 a punnet, they can be found stocked at the little greengrocers on Whitegate Drive next to the Saddle Inn.

If you happen to like raspberries too, then head over to Booths. Picked fresh from Barrow & Son's nurseries less than a mile away from their nearest store, the taste is out of this world. Picked today, in store tomorrow.

Feel free to share your favourite local produce by leaving a comment.

Travel Out to Wrea Green

I am truly amazed at the little gems of places which can be found around Blackpool's outskirts. If you ever find yourself getting a little bored of the same old same old, it is worth knowing what else there is on your doorstep. A spontaneous drive outside the seaside walls, led me to stumble upon this little village just a few miles away 'Wrea Green'. Fylde is not really known for it's geography as such and it can be difficult pointing that old integral compass of yours in any direction other than toward the tower or Fleetwood estuary. Fylde is to say the least a bit on the flat side.

Wrea Green is a little Lancashire village located just off the A583 towards Preston. It looks like something out of heartbeat with it's black and white painted cast iron signage, a traditional post office telephone box, mews houses adorned with long-fronted gardens and several thatched cottages, the odd pub, and the place sits on the fringe of farmland and wood. In the centre of the village is a large lake like pond with it's own ducks, surrounding it a large well kept lawn with the occasional bench to take it all in. This is a place where you can let your mind drift, for just a while.