On the BLP

At last the details are available for the Goldwing Light Parade accommodation at Blackpool.

You are advised to book early if you intend to go to this event as by all accounts the accommodation is superior to Pontins by a good margin.

Please visit the website for the Goldwing Light Parade.

Dave T

My trike on its last event in my hands

Yet another Blackpool Light Parade passed off successfully.

Jan and I visited to 2009 Blackpool Light Parade and stayed for the weekend at Pontins again. We travelled up on the Friday with Dave and Elaine on their new 1800 on their first visit to the BLP. We have previously been to all bar one of the light parades so were quite seasoned campaigners.

We knew that numbers would be down somewhat as the whole event was down scaled compared to the BLP of 2008, but I was pleasantly surprised by the number that did turn up despite some nasty rumours put around by others that it had been cancelled.

Wet and Windy display

Pontins did their usual trump card by giving us a comedian who was very funny indeed and gave us all a good laugh.

The Saturday dawned as a wet and sodden morning, which would seriously affect the number of day visitors that could be expected at the event. Jan and I slipped over to Freeport at Fleetwood to see if shopping would brighten up the day. It actually worked and the rain stopped while we were there.

Returning to the prom at Blackpool we then parked up at the static display area which was better than expected from last year. We were nicely entertained by some nutcases – ooops I mean stunt riders – who were able to do daft things on their two adapted bikes, despite a wet surface liberally coated with fine drifted sand off the beach.

Dusk patrol

It was nice to see a big display of Honda bikes , including several 1800 s, by Knutsford Honda, who also had a large supply of chrome goodies on offer.  Knutsford Honda were the sponsors for the Federation event and certainly provided some worthwhile items for the organisers to utilise, as well as providing excellent prizes for the event.

The actual light parade itself was done yet again in a different manner to previous years. This year there was no Police escort through the traffic, so the organisers arranged for the Parade to start at Pontins and keeping loosely together, make up to Gynn Square roundabout then back along the prom to Pontins. It was timed so that we left Pontins before

Goldwing light display

dusk and came back in the dark. It worked a treat. Jan and I both think that this parade beat all previous parades. The speed was superb and it allowed the onlookers plenty of time for photos.  The timing was spot on with the illuminations being switched on just as we passed the Tower going to Gynn Square.

It also gave everyone in the parade the opportunity to see the rest of the parade as we all passed each other on this route.  To top it all the weather turned out quite nice in the evening.

Without a doubt, a very successful parade!

Papa Joe's BLP on its own

Sunday was a bit of a slow recovery day with a couple of planned rideouts set-up but the weather didn’t look too promising so we didn’t wander too far.

Monday saw us returning home and at the same time leading a ride-out to  the Knutsford Honda showroom at High Legh, where we saw even more  of the stock of chrome goodies that they now offer.

Many more pictures of the event are viewable in the gallery under Blackpool Light Parade.

Dave T

Papa Joe, last year's winner of the Best Lit Bike trophy

I am pleased to see that the Blackpool Light Parade organisers have just released plenty of information about this year’s event.

This is one of the best events of the year, and eagerly awaited by numerous Wingers – including me. In fact, I understand that the event’s website has been getting lots of messages lately from frustrated Wingers anxious to know the dates for this year so they can book their holidays!

Well, the dates are now announced – September 4th-7th – but Pontin’s are not quite geared up to take bookings yet. So keep an eye on the website for an announcement to say they are ready – probably in early February.

As many of you know, I have recently switched to a trike after a very nasty fall on my bike. However, I don’t think the 8 months remaining is enough time to load it with sufficient lights to beat Papa Joe to – what – his potential third Best Bike Award in a row?! I bet the bugger’s adding more lights as we speak!