Day 11 Sunday 24th May 2009 We travel back to Carlisle and then back to Liverpool

Day 11. Sunday 24th May 2009. We travel back to Carlisle and back to Liverpool.
And spend all day doing it. Firstly at 10:35 John and fourteen of our 30 tour members left Liverpool on a slow train to Preston where we changed trains to travel towards Barrow on the North West coast. The other 15 were keeping busy with other sightseeing. We got off the train at Roose, one stop before Barrow where after a ten minute we boarded another train going south and travelled back to Preston again where after another ten minute wait we boarded a Virgin train (one of Richard Branson’s Trains) and headed north to Carlisle where we were yesterday. After passing through Lancaster (for the third time) we took a different route further inland as we headed north again. This virgin train is fast; it tilts on corners to maintain a faster speed; is electrically propelled and it has power for my computer, but no internet. We arrived in Carlisle at 4:05pm and at 4:10pm we board a southbound Virgin bound for Warrington. This time the train has wireless internet and thank you Richard Branson for letting me collect my e-mail free of charge. We alighted at Preston again at 5:20pm; the fourth time; this time at 5:34pm we boarded a train headed for Blackpool North arriving at 5:56pm. John led us directly to the beach front were we sighted all sorts of trams; Reg was keen for a ride down the esplanade in an open air tram; we all joined him. It was a quick way to see some of Vera Duckworth’s holiday town. Way out to sea more windmills were generating electricity; the tide was out and many people were strolling. I asked the tram conductor if the tide covered the beach when it was full and whether people bathed in its waters. His reply “yes the tide does come all the way in but only the daft swim” “is the water too cold I asked” No” was his reply and added “the water is polluted” We bought our evening meal and headed back to the station to catch the 7:50 train to back to Liverpool. I am updating this trip as we head back to Liverpool and guess what, we have just arrived at Preston again; the fifth time! The train was full of happy people; some were singing! At 9:15pm we saw the sun set; we arrived back at Liverpool Lime Street at 9:30pm. A great many people were waiting to catch the train on its return journey; I guess many would have to stand.
You may be wondering why we have been shuttling back and forth; well firstly it is to make good use of the last day of our Brit Rail passes, secondly to see new and different scenery and thirdly to fill in time so that we can have our evening meal at Blackpool.
Today was a warm sunny day with not a cloud to be seen; this is the first such day we have seen since we have been in England; on the way to Blackpool I did see some clouds at 5:45pm; they were ten straight lines of cloud; yes, you’ve guessed it, they were airplane vapour trails. Today was a good day; lovely scenery and comfortable trains.
Today we are commencing our fourth week of travel.