Wigan. One of my favourite trips, start the day with Italian Tapas at Appley Bridge before moving to Wigan Central a railway themed pub that majors on real and craft ales.
Two pints of the dark stuff and a pleasant time with the locals. So much so I'm offered a lift to the ground. Gratefully I accept and a further pint at their local The Bricklayers follows as we exchange football life stories in the way true fans do.
Around this time I realise I've lost my iPhone. Nowt I can do, forget it for now enjoy the company.
Over the Leeds Liverpool and we are at the DW.
Team news no Bent, no Lowe. Vydra and Olsson in.
Derby in their mint green kit starts the stronger, the Latics fight though, we are given no quarter. It makes for a scrappy match.
After fifteen minutes we are ahead Bradley Johnson with his head from Tom Ince’s free kick, we await the floodgates opening.
But like a boiled kettle sitting on the side, we cool. The on switch is never flicked again.
Before we become lukewarm Johnny Russell in the box, wide round the keeper and from the tightest angle the post saves Wigan.
It's the last meaningful effort we make.
Our life is being drained not least by the referee who after the goal went in seemed on a mission to win a nomination for "Homer” of the year. Identical tackles, whistles blown, yet we get yellows they don't.
That's not a gibe at the home team. Wigan play well, have a large share of possession yet are toothless in front of goal.
As the match works its way to conclusion, the Latics are the stronger side, we hang on.
Max Power loses his marker and a powerful uncontested header flashes against the crossbar and the Rams breathe again.
Not even the addition of crowd favourite Will Grigg can turn the fortunes of the home side.
The final whistle, three more points, a case of coming to do a job.
We didn't see a great game, we didn't see a great ref, yet we saw Jake Buxton, football genius and that was the chant from the travelling fans at the end of the game. The big man applauding the Derby faithful as he reached the tunnel.
All that was left was crossing the Leeds Liverpool and Frog Lane back into town, on the way a Latics fan had found my phone, we caught up at the Station, a smashed screen the damage but I was glad to get it back.
And if I had to sum Wigan up it would be "friendly, honest, hardworking, upstanding” the folk and their football team.