Day 5 Steam train to Port Erin

Today was Thursday and it was raining! This was Wednesday's walk originally and the one I had picked out to miss. Its always good to give yourself a day off to have a more relaxed look around. Anita and I decided to take a trip on the steam train to Port Erin and this was really like stepping back in time.

It was a wet walk to the station and the train was full but we found a few friends to join us in our compartment. I'm sure it must have been the noisiest place on the train as we discussed what would happen if someone was taken ill and how to stop the train. Thankfully we didn't need to stop the train and we duly arrived an hour later in Port Erin where it was still raining so we visited the railway shop. We spent some time watching a DVD of the various types of transport on the Isle of Man and by the time we came out the weather had improved so we headed for the sea front where we found some lovely courtyard gardens in front of the old fishermen's cottages.

Next stop the Cosy Nook cafe for a drink and a muffin.

What a great spot right on the beach and reasonable prices too. Of course after that we had to have a walk on the beach and one thing leads to another!

While we were playing on the beach, Jean and Ann had taken a walk onto Bradda Head where Jean took this photo of the Milners' tower and the Calf of Man in the distance.

Apparently a photograph taken from this spot in 1931 won a world photographic prize of £4000. I think it must have been better weather then.

 Anita and I looked around the shops for a while and then returned to the station to catch the train back to Douglas.

We had a carriage to ourselves this time so could fully appreciate the sounds and smell of a steam train.
Once back in Douglas we parted company to have a bit of retail therapy in the town. The weather was still poor here and had been all day.

Douglas Marina

A nice relaxing day and an ice cream on the way back to the hotel just finished it off nicely!