Oulton Park Gold Cup 2020

 Bank holiday monday at the Oulton Park Gold Cup historic racing event.

Ainsdale Beach and Nature Reserve

 Ainsdale is an area of Southport in the borough of Sefton, Merseyside, situated three miles south of the centre of Southport.

On 16 March 1926, Sir Henry Segrave set his first land speed record of 152.33 miles per hour (245.15 km/h) using Ladybird, a 4-litre Sunbeam Tiger on Ainsdale beach.

The Ainsdale and Birkdale Sandhills Local Nature Reserve is one of the largest areas of wild dune land left in Britain. The reserve is rich in plant life. During the summer months damp slacks are carpeted with flowers including Early-marsh Orchid, Marsh Helleborine and Grass of Parnassus.

High tide at Southport

Southport lies on the Irish Sea coast and is fringed to the north by the Ribble estuary. The town is 16.7 miles (26.9 km) north of Liverpool in Merseyside.

Southport’s seafront is dominated by its seemingly never-ending pier. Completed in 1860, the pier measures at 1108 metres in length and stretches from the promenade, across the town’s marina before reaching out into the Irish sea. In the Victorian era, the pier was the stage for numerous performers including the legendary Charlie Chaplin.

Those who frequent Southport on a regular basis, even those who live there, won’t be able to recall many occasions when the sea was coaxed close to sea walls. Therefore, the town has had to live with an enduring myth that the sea tide never comes in. This isn’t entirely true, but its sparse appearances only add to this impression. As a result, it’s a seaside resort with plenty of beach to go around. The reason for Southport’s shy tide isn’t entirely clear, but the length and flatness of the beach is said to keep the tide at bay through most of the year.

Until today.......

Springtime at New Islington Marina / Cotton Field Wharf

Lockdown day 565767, and another bank holiday, so out for an early walk to meet some of the new residents (and some of their canal neighbours).