Northumberland cycle
30-31 May 2009
by Sarah (with photos by Sarah, Lynn and Clare)
Our new Chair (and Clare) getting ready to leave the Joiner's Shop Bunkhouse in Preston after passing the Bike Inspection (just). Hey, looks like summer's here.
The first of rather a lot of navigation stops that day. Clare had to rearrange the Chair following complaints that he was giving following cyclists the heeby jeebies.
First stop Howick Hall. A fantastic place with a stunning arboretum and paths cut through meadows full of wild flowers. My idea of heaven.
Clare and Mark paid homage to Earl Grey with a cup of tea in the Big Hoose where he lived. (Well actually Clare doesn't like Earl Grey. We tried to persuade her that George Bush didn't like it either, like broccoli, but she still ordered English breakfast tea. )
Mark had a Julie Andrews moment in more glorious meadows. I took lots of pictures of flowers like magnolias and meconopsis, and some amazing heart-shaped leaves that I've now got as my desktop, but you might start yawning so I'll leave it at that.
The day just got better and better. Cycling along the grass to Dunstanburgh Castle was just brilliant. The castle was rather like Dunottar, we thought.
Lynn thought it would be a good idea to cycle along the beach just like she used to do in Kirkcaldy. Jim thought so too. (Photo by Lynn)
Clare, Mark and I weren't quite so convinced and indeed there was rather a lot of peching and huffing. Our goal was a pub in a village in the distance, but three of us ended up there and the other two in two quite separate places. I think the beach had done our brains in as well as everything else. The one I ended up in was great - a square of houses overlooking the sea with a lawn in the middle with horses and dogs and beer called things like 'Sea Wheat' and 'Sea Dog'. (Photo by Clare)
Day 2. We stopped at a tiny nature reserve and had a rather close encounter with a swan. Clare took this picture - luckily we were inside a hide at the time.
One of those wartime concrete thingies made a very good viewing platform for eyeing up the beach below.
Another swan? Oh no, it's Jim declaring his arrival in Bamburgh! We did our bit for the RNLI and visited the Grace Darling Museum. Actually it was a nice wee exhibition and it was good to get out of the sun for an hour (oh that poor Scottish skin!).
Bamburgh Castle behind us, we cycled on to catch up with the others who had been sunning themselves and snoozing on the beach.
It seemed like they had practically walked to Lindisfarne. Jim moaned about having to trek across the Sahara carrying his pannier. I think the heat was getting to him.
Ah, that's better! The sea was absolutely freezing but the river running into it made for a brilliant wee swim. (Photo by Lynn)
Thanks very much to Ross for organising a WONDERFUL weekend!