Brian's 50th Birthday Extraveganza, together with ever-game life-partner and companion, Hilary If the “alps trip” was defined by the many dams we encountered in our trek through the alps, then the English Premiere Soccer League (EPL) trip was defined by the many sheep farms we traversed and stone walls we followed (more on that later). This web page is organized by a set of pictures I took with my cell phone, mostly of the soccer matches we watched on two weekends, punctuated by a 3-day hike along the Cumbria Way trail in Northern England during the mid-week. Our trip (after 30 hours of travel, including a 9 hour overlay in Minneapolis Pic 1) landed us in Blackpool England, the country's version of a minature “Las Vegas”. The town serves as the seaside getaway, for those who cannot afford a real seaside trip to southern Europe. We stayed at a British-Indian couple's B&B and learned the ropes of the British Bread and Breakfast (B&B) routine. We were pleased to notice the presence of bike transport Pic 2 As a passionate Arsenal fan, I had arranged an itinerary with two weekends of Arsenal matches, with a couple of additional matches thrown in that were within reach from our location. Blackpool vs. Arsenal. The Blackpool team made it into the EPL just this year, and are struggling to stay afloat (3 teams get relegated down to the next division of play, and 3 teams come up each year). They have an apparently brilliant manager/coach, a brash “tangerine” uniform, and play an all-out attacking brand of soccer. Before the match: Pic 3, Pic 4 Sami Nasri of Arsenal taking a corner kick: Pic 5 Robin Van Persie getting past the keeper at the top of the box: Pic 6 Arsenal wins 3-1. Liverpool vs. Manchester City Monday we travel to Liverpool to watch a mighty match at Anfield Stadium between Liverpool and Manchester City. Anfield is set right in the midst of an old neighborhood Pic 7, and the approach is almost a slum Pic 8 – see at the end of the alley). The stadium itself is an impressive venue for soccer Pic 9, Pic 10. The match proves to be a “soccer clinic” (3-0 to Liverpool) as the team continues to regain its form lost earlier in the season Pic 12, Pic 13. The next morning, in the drizzle, we set off on the Cumbria Way Pic 14, Pic 15, Pic 16, Pic 17. One of the fascinating things about a marked trail (wherever you are!) is learning how to read the markings. Here in the countryside of northern england, the trail is organized by a series of public footpaths that link farms and require navigating a myriad of ancient stone fences Pic 18, Pic 19, Pic 20, Pic 21. Here you can see just one type of “style” that permits walkers to cross over the fences designed (or at least now used) to hold sheep in (0043.jpg – note the yellow Cumbria Way marker on the post. We learned the cunning required to sniff out these markers along the way....). The days hike brought us to Conniston, a 15 mile walk Pic 22, Pic 23, Pic 24. Day 2 of Cumbria Way walk: Conniston to Elterwater (Great Langdale) Refreshed after an evening socializing at the local pub and a good nights sleep, we head off on what would be the shortest day of the three Pic 25, Pic 26, Pic 27, Pic 28 – that would be until we realized we took a wrong turn and had looped back to Conniston adding 3 miles to our days walk (oops). Nonetheless we encountered some beautiful sights Pic 29, Pic 30, Pic 31, Pic 32. We stayed in a B&B that is old stone (former) farmhouse that dates back 500 years(!) – very impressive. Day 3 of Cumbria Way walk: Elterwater to Kenwick The third and final day turned out to be very long (about 18 miles), presented a climb over a mountain pass, and nearly did us in. However, it was full of sights along the way Pic 33, Pic 34, Pic 35, Pic 36, Pic 37, Pic 38, Pic 39, Pic 40. Towards the end of the day's walk we stopped a “tea room” right on the trail (a converted farm building) for a badly needed caffeine boost Pic 41. Arsenal vs. Liverpool After 45 miles of walking we returned to Blackpool to catch another PSL match (Blackpool vs. Wigan) and then continued on to London to watch Arsenal take on Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium (home to “The” Arsenal, as I was told). It was a beautiful match Pic 42, Pic 43 although marred by a controversial penalty kick at conclusion, leading to a tied match 1-1. The next day, we get a tour of the Emirates stadium, and it turns out to be a highlight of our trip Pic 44, Hilary with coach Arsene Wenger – Pic 45, Brian sitting in Captain Cesc Fabregas' seat Pic 46, passing through “the tunnel” to the stadium to piped in crowd chants – Pic 47, taking questions from the press – Pic 48. A final day in London seeing the impressive architecture of the city wraps up a wonderful trip Pic 49, Pic 50, Pic 51, Pic 52, Pic 53, Pic 54.