Blackpool Winter Gardens (A look behind the scenes) 5 miles. Walkers Anthony Vic Dave Mick and Danny.

We parked up near the Solarium at South Shore, where we met up with Mick, who had made his own way there. We battled our way north along the prom against a fierce and cold headwind. We hadn't intended stopping for a brew this morning but the lure of the Velvet Coaster had too great an attraction for us. "My shout" says Mick, "coffees all round". Cheers Mick.

As we reluctantly exited the Velvet Coaster, it had just started sleeting, and the wind had given up none of it's energy whilst we had been sheltering indoors.

The hostile weather conditions worsened as we trudged on. The sleet came down heavier and was being driven horizontally into our faces. Once passed the Pleasure Beach, Mick suggested that we might be able to escape the full force of the wind by continuing on our way, one street back from the Golden Mile. No one made any argument against this suggestion, and the strategy proved correct.

We had arranged to meet up with John W and Martin near the central pier. By the time we met up with them, the dark cloud had passed us by, but the onshore wind continued unabated as we made our way to The Albert and the Lion pub beneath Blackpool Tower for lunch.

Mike the bike had told us that following a refurbishment of the Winter Gardens, they were having an open day, so after lunch
off we tottered to The Winter Gardens to meet up with him and his wife Cath, as they had made their own way there.

We met them in the Spanish Hall which had been denuded of all the tables and chairs, as had some of the adjacent rooms. There were television screens in some of the rooms showing excerpts from some of the musicals that had been on there

This is the Opera House theatre within the Winter Gardens. What an enormous stage.

The Meanderthal stage debut.

The blue tint of the pics is caused by the footlights.

This is the changing room below the stage. There was no sign of any other changing room, so it must be communal.
This was the last pic before the battery in my camera died.
Suffice it to say that the journey back to the cars was far easier with the wind behind us.
DK