Needing advice on attending the 2016 IOM TT races.

[San Antonio Mike]

My son (30) and I (58) are wanting to go and see the 2016 TT races next year. The event will run May 30th to June 10th.

The problem is due to work we cannot fly out of Texas until Saturday June 4th and if we rush, our arrival time at ferry dock for the Isle of Man is not guaranteed. Perhaps Monday morning (6/6) at the earliest.

Actually, just being there one or two days would be enough to check it off my bucket list, and we are not at all particular where we sleep.

I do have relatives in Blackpool where we will also be staying.

We do not need to bring a vehicle or motorcycle, all we really need is just room on the ferry and a place to sleep for a night or two. Camping out is no problem.

I am prepared to make reservations now as needed but cannot be sure when our exact arrival time will be.

Any and all suggestions as to the best way of going about this would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike
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"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744

[Suntan Sid]

Going by what happened this year, if you are going over to the TT as a foot passenger, with no vehicles, you wont have a problem pre-booking the ferry.
You also have the option of flying to the island, there were plenty of flights available throughout the two weeks this year, (it's not a lot dearer than the ferry, by the way)!

Quite a lot of people can't do the whole two weeks of practice and race week, during race week numbers start thinning out on the campsites, from the Tuesday of race week.

We stayed at one of the larger campsites, (Glen Lough), they had plenty of space available, so I don't think there would be any problems with you turning up on spec, especially if your not in a vehicle.

Public transport and taxis will get you around the island!
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[dodgydog]

https://www.stgeorgesafc.co.uk/


Campsite is on Glencrutchery Road adjacent the grandstand, contact details on the website.

I've turned up there a couple of years without booking and didn't have a problem.

Nice flat site, clean showers and toilets, bar, burger van on site for breakfast too.
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I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realise that what you heard is not exactly what I meant

[San Antonio Mike]

Thank you very much for this information. From this distance as we are it is very helpful.

I am a high school (AKA Secondary School) teacher who grew up in Blackpool until I was twelve, since that time I have been back only once, for two weeks, nearly forty years ago.

So for me I have a lot of catching up to do and will be travelling around the UK, Ireland and Northern France for as long as two months (the whole school holidays). I did the Google maps walk around the old neighborhood and it ain't changed all that much.

It was a surprise to see the Odeon Cinema on Dickson Rd, where I used to spend sixpence to get in every Saturday ("We come alooong, every Saturday mooorning..") is now a big club called "Funny Girls".

Maybe its a comedy club or something (ya, I know)

My son only has two weeks off of work, and it will be the first time over there for him. So just two or three days on Man will leave him time "to see castles and stuff" as he puts it.

While on Man, besides camping, fish and chips, hot tea and maybe porridge will do just fine.

My next question is, if you guys were going to Man for a couple of days during race week as we intend. Finding space on the ferry each way.

From getting on the ferry to getting off a couple of days later our expenses will be...

1) Ferry (or plane).

2) Campsite.

3) Food.

4) t-shirt.

About how much should we expect to spend?

It is understood these will only be estimates.

Thanks,

Mike
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"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744

[Suntan Sid]

1) Ferry (or plane) - £60 per person

2) Campsite - £10 per person per night.

3) Food. - for a decent, sit down, pub/indian/Chinese meal with a pint or two, £20 per person, a take away/fish'n'chips £8 to £10.

4) t-shirt. - £20 - £25

Program and race guide £20
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[San Antonio Mike]

Thank you Sir, (we say that in Texas)

Those prices you quoted are pretty much what one would expect to pay on a regular basis for similar things over here, only thing is we pay only about half of what you do for petrol.

I've been gone so long that in some respects I might as well be a total foreigner.

Last time I was there I was twenty, revisiting a place I had last seen at age twelve. Of course to someone who had been living in America everything looked much smaller than I remembered, add to that I was returning as a grownup.

So I had the unique experience of having a schoolboy's knowledge of all the shortcuts and back alleys to get around Blackpool on foot, but had no real idea of what it would look like when I got there.

Dunno how it will be this time,

Anyways,for twelve years and 250,000 miles of my life over here all I had for transportation was whatever motorcycle I happened to be on at the time.

You can do that in Texas, just barely sometimes, but it can be done.

Been over most of the Lower 48 States here on a motorcycle at one time or another, including quite a few 1,000 mile days. The sheer size of this place and the ubiquity of the Interstates (Motorways) encourages riding on that scale.

I'll 'fess up though, when I went once again on two wheels from San Antonio to New York State (2,000 miles) to visit family last summer..... ....I did it on a bicycle instead

Turns out bicycles are not unlike motorcycles except slower and more dangerous.

Hoping to put in another 2,000 miles pedaling the UK next summer: Blackpool, Lake District, Scotland, Ireland, North Coast of France, England, Wales, Blackpool.

Maybe I will find my lost accent.

But first, I'm going with my son to see the TT Races

Life is grand sometimes ennit?

Mike
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"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744

[Suntan Sid]

Not sure how much you'd pay on the ferry to take a bicycle, but there were plenty of folk using them to get around during the TT.
A mate of mine was using his mountain bike to get around, when the roads were closed for racing, there seemed to be plenty of footpaths and trails to use!
I'm not 100% sure but I think I saw somewhere hiring out mountain bikes.
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[San Antonio Mike]

Thanks again Sid.

Just to clarify (between two people separated by a common language ) does this mean....

if you are going over to the TT as a foot passenger, with no vehicles, you wont have a problem pre-booking the ferry.

...that we can expect to show up unannounced at the dock and prob'ly get a spot?

Anyways, we're going on foot to Man, prob'ly going to rent a car for the remainder of my son's stay, then in a perfect world I hit the road on a bicycle for a month or two.

Mike
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"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744

[Suntan Sid]

I'm not 100% sure whether you can just turn up on the day, i would say that depends on when you would be travelling.
I would be pre booking myself, as you have no vehicle I can't imagine you'll have a problem getting a crossing!
If you're going to be based in Blackpool, you'll have the choice of either Liverpool or Heysham ferries?

Having said that, if I was on your position, I would be flying, simply because it's easier to book at short notice!
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[San Antonio Mike]

Thanks again Sid.

I'm hoping for the ferry on account of I think seasick is part of the experience. My son might feel different, about many things. He was raised here, and the average afternoon high around here right now is 37C

Mike
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"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744

[rubyhorse2]

hate reading posts like this as i am unable to go to the 2016 TT

Think Sid has covered most of your issues.

I too would suggest the ferry over flying, not because its easier just that it really does start the TT for me, gets me all excited

Few of my mates popped over to last years TT while we were there and didnt have a problem with ferry tickets, think its pretty ok for foot passengers as opposed to vehicles.

If you havent got transport while on the IOM maybe look for a campsite close to douglas, there are plenty but you may want to book these as they will be popular.

have fun.

[Dave70]

I would suggest that you fly. You'll have more departure times to choose from and this may be more suitable for you, plus it's a lot quicker.

EasyJet fly from Liverpool and are usually the cheapest.

If you decide to go by ferry, I would definitely suggest that you pre-book it. Your chances of just turning up, even as a foot passenger and getting a place on it are going to be very slim.

Also, book well ahead to guarantee a place and save money.
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2012: R125 killed by white van. 2016 R125 killed by 30,000 miles of redline. Current: 2016 Kawasaki ER6f.