Brian

Just a shortish walk today I wanted to explore the north side of the pond seeing as the ground was frozen. It’s not normally possible due to the boggy ground. I mostly did this route as I’ve started using the Osmo action camera again and wanted to practice my editing. Just a couple of images from today. I did a ramp test this morning so my legs were toast !!

I never intended to walk so far today but I was having such a nice time I just kept walking. Firstly I was trying out my new walking boots, a pair of Keen Taghee IVs which are a nice wide fit and relatively lightweight. I can recommend these if you have a wide foot. The route today took me over ground that I have walked recently but not all at once. I walked upto Dinnington on the Reivers route the follwed the footpath past Gardeners Houses farm to Brenkley then across the now filled in open cast site into the Blagdon Estate exiting at The Old Kennels. I crossed the A1 and up the hill to Shotton then aling the footpath to Northumberlandia, it was very busy here, loads of people about. I had a pit stop at the garage where I go a coffee and an average burger, inface very average. The route wen down Beacon Lane and I crossed the Arcot Golf course on a footpath that Id not been on previously and as the course was closed I was able to cross a few of the fairways without having to dodge golf balls. The last bit of the walk was on my regular path at the rear of Seaton Burn but I had a bit of a set to with the owner of two Alsation dogs which were off their leash. One actually tried to bite me but the pair of them were agitated and barking whilst chasing after me. I had to have words with the owner, a female who appeared to have no control over the dogs. Whilst I don't have a dog myself I am confident around them but they clearly had no recall. I made my point with her in a firm but not abusive way, another dog owner who was with her looked at me as if to aologise, I'm not even sure if she did as I couldn't here what she was saying for the noise from the dogs. Anyway they eventually gave up and wandered back to her. Despite this I did enjoy the walk and I'm currently sitting planning a walk for my 700th activity on Komoot. All of the images were taken using my iphone.

Had a trip into Newcastle to buy some new walking boots, I managed to get some at Cotswold Outdoor at a good price too. Walked part of the way back

Today’s walk started with a random bus ride, I really had no idea where I was going to go today so I got on the first bus and paid to go to Morpeth. I never actually got to Morpeth as I decamped at Bebside to start my walk. I’d not been to Humford Mill for ages so I made for there first before doubling back and heading toward the coast following the river Blyth. It’s country park to start with then opens out when you get to Cowpen (pronounced Coopin). I followed the England Coastal path into Blyth where I stocked up on energy at the health food shop Greggs, if you know you know. My route took me through Ridley Park then along the Coast from South Beach to Seaton Sluice along the top of the dunes which was bitterly cold but amazing coastal scenery. I caught a bus to take me back to Newcastle. Then another to get me back home, it took me two hours of bus travel but it gave me a chance to start editing the photos. Most of my photos were taken in the last three or four miles the coastal light conditions were amazing. The sea was up too and I watched some guys surfing in the huge waves at Blyth, they must have been freezing. Happy New Year to everyone that follows me.

Just a short walk today to collect a parcel.

Just a short walk today around the local trails, the weather started off gloomy and got worse when it rained. I’ve a longer walk planned for tomorrow though.

This morning I did a tough turbo trainer session on the back of yesterdays 12 miler but I felt surprisingly good. Anyway this afternoon I had one present to deliver to a friend but I didn’t want to leave it with her instead I delivered it to her sister who is going to take the flack for me. I’ve just finished decorating her house and in the process I managed to ruin a new pair of trainers that my friend had just bought when a can of expanding foam leaked and went everywhere including all over me, it’s a bugger to get off just so you know !! Anyway my feet had recovered slightly from the blisters yesterday too so it was nice to just have a stretch of the legs.

Today I decided to have another long walk to the coast and my intention was to try and get to Blyth again. Once again though I didn’t!! But I got close. Today was very gloomy and there were intermittent showers. The conditions underfoot were pretty awful, muddy, slippy and boggy. My route took me through the Weetslade Country Park, through Camperdown and Backworth. Then I met up with the Heritage Way path which I’ve been on a few times. Through Holywell Dene but on the south side, it’s a bit more up and down. I crossed Hartley lane and found myself next to Whitley Bay holiday park. It was a short walk down to the lighthouse and then along the cliff top to Collywell Bay where I nearly went my length ( fell over for non North Easterners). It was at this point I bumped into someone I used to work with at North Shields Police Station over 30 years ago. It was nice to see him again, I hadn’t seen him for a while. My walk ended outside the Melton Constable pub where I had arranged to meet my support crew. My little toes were badly blistered as I foolishly wore the wrong boots which are going in the bin as I type. Yesterday I did quite a hard turbo session. so my legs are feeling it today.

So today my intentions were to walk to Seaton Sluice but via Blyth. However after negotiating my way through Cramlington I ended up on the Laverock Hall Road. This is a very busy A road going into Blyth, after a mile or so I’d had enough despite being on a footpath so I decided to head into Seaton Delaval on the disused railway. Once I got to SD I followed a footpath that took me into Seghill then it was a case of picking my way back home. Lots of mud and marsh off road and plenty of pavement pounding. This was another long walk this week it was quite nice and mostly very quiet.

I had a little errand to run today so I combined it into a long walk. The walk was mostly on paved surfaces with just a short section on very wet and muddy grass at Killingworth Lake. Popped in to see Mam on the way back. No photos today.