Brian

This was meant to be an easy walk for Allison but I don’t think she enjoyed it that much. It was very boggy in places and there was a bit of off camber footpath she didn’t like either. However being the true trooper she is not one word of a negative variety was uttered. The weather was amazing again and the views from Humphrey Head once we got to the top were amazing in all directions. In order to avoid the boggy section I chose a route that took us up Allithwaite Road, it was about 25% and quite a pull up. We were going to walk to Grange over sands but Allison had had enough and we stopped at Kent’s Bank again. I must admit that I really enjoyed the walk but then I’m used to it, I would also have liked to explore Humphrey Head a bit more there’s some lovely woodland and the bluebells were just coming out as well as an abundance of wild garlic. We saw grey squirrels, a couple of egrets, Jays and loads of other birds that I couldn’t identify. It’s actually my sixtyoneth birthday today and so far it’s been a great day.

Today we had a mission to go to Edmondsons wet fish shop in Morecambe. We decided to get the train to Carnforth and walk along the Lancaster canal path and onto the promenade into Morecambe. The weather was fantastic sunny and warm and the tow path is a delightful walk, we met so many lovely people along the way. The canal tow path is a lovely walk we even outpaced a canal boat. The walk along the promenade was nice too with loads of families enjoying a day at the beach there were all sorts there, the sweet smell of cannabis in parts and people of all shapes and sizes. We’ve never seen so many dachshunds ! We made it to the fish shop and enjoyed our Morecambe bay potted shrimps sitting on a bench looking towards southern Cumbria. It was a short stroll back to the train station for our journey back to Arnside via Lancaster.

Allison and I are away for a five days staying at our friends apartment which overlooks the Kent estuary and has view towards the Coniston Fells and the Howgills, we’ve stayed here loads of times but this is our first break of more than a couple of nights as we spent the last 12 years looking after our respective parents. So today we just had a stroll around the streets as part of our trip is scoping out a new house as we intend to move over this way later this year. It very blustery with squally showers, we just managed to dodge one ! The photo is one of the view from the apartment.

Alli and I had a short stroll to the local nature reserve to feed the ducks. I’ve got the Merlin bird app on my phone it’s really amazing how many different species are around you, we heard chiff chaffs, coal tit, great tit, long tailed tit, robins and a few others. We’re off on a holiday next week to Arnside staying at a friends apartment for five nights. It’s our first proper break for 13 years it’s just a shame it took the loss of our mothers to allow this to happen. Stay safe this weekend from storm Dave !!

Today I managed to persuade Allison that a walk on the beach would be a good idea and we set off from Newcastle in the train to Saltburn by the Sea via a change at Thornaby. We decided to get off at Redcar east, this turned out to be a good move as it meant the wind was on our backs all the way. It was Sunny but bitterly cold in the NW wind when we got the odd bit respite the sun was actually very warm. Walking was easy very flat and we were in no hurry today both of us suffering with dodgy knees today. The views south as we walked were fabulous, we had one eye on the rising tide as we didn’t fancy walking on the soft sand above the high tide line. As it turned out we made the promenade at Saltburn with plenty of time to spare. We had a stroll along the pier and in and around the Town, we’d not been here previously for a look around so it was nice to see a lot of little independent shops. We ended the trip off with a nice coffee at Koseli Bakeri which is adjacent to the railway station, I can highly recommend this place if you’re in the area. We’re currently on our return journey back to the mighty Newcastle before our onward journey home later this evening.

So today Allison and I got the Metro train to St Peter’s at Sunderland, our intention was to grab brunch at The Calbash Tree, a Caribbean restaurant run by one of the contestants on the TV program The Great British menu, but it was closed so we went to Propa a pie and mash place partly owned by the ex Hairy Biker Si King. It’s fabulous by the way and if you’re in the area I can recommend the food we also had a drink at the Tap Room. After lunch we had a walk along the river past the Glass centre and onto the promenade at Roker. We followed the sea front via a stroll along the pier to Seaburn where we walked up to the Metro Station to catch the train back. I’ve been suffering from patella tendinitis so I was a bit concerned about the distance but as it turned out it went ok. It was fabulous weather with a chilly wind. All of my photos were taken using a 2017 Panasonic Lumix GX8 with different lenses, by the way if you're ever down by Roker beach can you keep and eye out for a Lumix lens cap, I lost one today.

Dropped off my car to get the wheels, well two of them refurbed. The ultra low profile tyres aren’t very pot hole friendly. The route was mostly off road and the weather dry, mild but overcast. I was treated to some crepuscular rays when I was passing Killingworth Moor and saw a recidivist statement on a subway at Camperdown. Now that the dust has settled after the two recent funerals I’m getting stuck in to finishing some landscaping in my back garden so I can get the house up for sale. I can feel my back complaining already!

So this morning I wrote the eulogy for my Mams memorial service tomorrow which took me about 2 1/2 hours but only 20 minutes to read out. I decided that I would go out for a walk this afternoon despite the gloomy weather. I walked over to Big Waters nature reserve with the intention of photographing a Robin at the very least but on my way I encountered a family group of deer grazing in one of the fields near to the A1 western by pass. I grabbed a few photos at this point. When I arrived at Big Waters I had some swan feed with me so I fed them and tried to feed all of the other birds, Coots, Geese, Moorhens and ducks but those Swans are such bullies. I then wandered along to the Northumberland wildlife trust hide where I saw another family group of deer, about six in this one and four in the other, more photos. Then at the hide there's an area where wild birds feed and at last I got my photo of a Robin. I had a slow and very soggy stroll home through the fields of Brunswick and Wideopen. The extended family is all up from down south for the memorial tomorrow and we're off to the Ridley Arms for a meal which is where the memorial actually is tomorrow morning.

Before my walk home today I actually walked about 2 miles around the city centre practising my "street photography" The walk started at the bottom end of the "Town" and took me through Shieldfield past all of the student accomodation and I dropped down I to Jesmond Vale and up I to Heaton Park, there's a disused wi drill there that I didn't know about so I grabbed a quick photo. I walked along I to Jesmond Dene and took the obligatory shot of the waterfall by the old watermill. I then popped I to Wex as I'm looking for a new camera as a carry around for my walks to save humping the air camera around. with its heavy lenses, it'll be stuffed in a small rucksack and I can use whilst out on my bike too. Anyway I left the store more confused than I went in but I'm angling towards Sony Alpha at the minute. A quick refuel at Greg's and I made my way slowly along Heathery Lane and then followed the Great North Road and then into the Weetslade country park and back home. This weekend is a bit full on it's my Mams memorial where I'm reading the eulogy and Monday is my wife's Mams funeral as she passed away last week, after that it's life as normal (hopefully).