Bowburn Hall Durham

Countries: 1
Miles travelled by Car: 1121
Miles Travelled by bike: Do trips to the supermarket count?
Fond Farewells: Numerous
Declarations of Jealousy: More numerous (because it includes a lot of people I don't even know)
Accusations of insanity: Even more numerous (because many people made more than one)
Bricks Shat: 53
Tasks left incomplete at time of departure: 2
Tasks able to be completed via internet: 2

... and it was all excitement again.

I said my farewells and looked back to wave as I passed through passport control, and then I was on my own.

Another short wait outside the 'King' and then it was on with the packs. Locked up the bike and found my way to my cabin with only one false start (went down to deck 6 - but on the starboard rather than the port side and there was no connecting corridor). I then donned my wind proof and ...

... up the bikes, we all headed off towards Scarborough to pop in and see Nathan aka the "Postman" & "Dot". Nathan rode from Sydney to London on a moped (named Dot) earlier this year and is a really lovely one off character. We all turned up & his Father supplied tea & biscuits for us all. Thanks Nathan & good luck with the book.

I was getting really excited ...

Well this is day one.

Left Haverhill at 10am this morning and was in Newcastle at the Angel of the North by 15:00. Not bad going for an old thing (the car not me!!!) lol. Stopped at the Angel of the North and took a few pictures, just need some wi-fi so that I can upload a few. Then off to my first stop over, Newcastle YHA. Checked in, handed over £20 and and went up to my room with a packet ...

Lonesome George is a tortoise who lives in the Galapogos Islands. The last of his kind he is the rarest creature in the world. Despite having a small hareem of female tortoises for his leisure and earthly pleasures he persists in a state of unnautural abstinence that would make even the most dedicated Buddhist monk envious. That or maybe he just ain't all that attractive to the ladies. Not being a tortoise, I can't comment further, but for the namesake and the fact ...

... then headed up "The Shambles" road and The little shambles road and had a look at the street market. I got a new 4 pound black case for the phone as I managed to crack the last one...I seem to go through them quite quickly, ah well at least the phone is protected.
We walked back towards the church to try and get a 2pm slot to climb up the spire. On the way we stopped at a fudge place where they made fudge in front of you, we got a ...

... documents are in here too. There is a list of all the WCT fellowship fellows with contact details for each. I see that there are 5 from the North East that have been successful this year including myself. I must get in contact with them and see how their plans are coming along - maybe even a joint local news brief for 'Look North'. Hmm... that has potential and can raise the profile of the trust. This document also covers the ...

... hearing it again :-). Equally great was the first night; we sat around a keg fire, had a bbq, sunk some **** and talked afl.. A GREAT AND WELCOME CHANGE from hearing about soccer 24/7. Afterward, we headed (walked) out to the town, and the town's smallish size didn't affect its nightlife! It was a public holiday and the clubs and pubs were packed. Luckily the boys we were with work in the aussie bar in town and so knew the bouncers so we ...

Greetings from Jolly Ol' England! This trip has been fabulous. A few points of interest I learned from teachers in England, County Durham is that they get SIX MONTHS for maternity leave, at reduced pay. They can take the next 6 months without pay, and teaching positions must be held for a year, without fear of replacement. The faculties are wonderful and have learned alot from these teachers. The teachers conduct music ...

... to the bedroom, where it hits the visitor with an intoxicating scent that causes instant pangs of hunger. And in that moment, with the scents, the morning light, and scenery, life just seems very, very good.

We headed down to breakfast. If you haven't read my account of Ratho Hall from my 1997 trip, then you probably won't understand my reference to croissants. But, for those of you that have, I'll just say that the croissants were back on the table at this visit ...