Durham Castle

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

1345 and I set out (Chauffeur driven of course) to leave the Eden Valley, bound for Newcastle. The journey was fairly uneventful and once I had located the correct check in desk it only remained for us to wait 20 minutes or so until boarding commenced. Jo and I broke into a chorus of 'The Littlest Hobo' which caused mum to get a touch emotional and we all had a lump in our throat for a minute or two. Soon enough however the doors started to roll ...

... as we were now going to the Freeman Hospital, my home. After riding over the Yorkshire moors & Teeside we came through the Tyne Tunnel & arrived at the Freeman. Well I say we, myself, martyn, David & Lyndsey nearly got lost! we managed to lose the others on the run into Newcastle but we got there in the end.

Wow! there were Nurses, photographers, paparazzi ...

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 ...

... Red Dwarf.

So I have three months to.....

1) Not find myself, I often never know where I actually am and have become quite accostomed to the setup so will make the resolution that if such an unfortunate event occurs to quickly lose myself again.

2) Learn to firedance, it is crazy and beautiful and dangerous and utterly pointless. Then if I ever lose all my money in an opium den or similar haunt I will have a better way to make money that the ...

... I have been awarded a WTC fellowship, that news is travelling fast. What did they write? Here it is... Crime cracker passing on skills 1:01pm Monday 23rd February 2009 By Bessie Robinson » A WOMAN who teaches the science behind cracking complex crimes is crossing the world to study how colleagues in other countries work. Hazel Biggs, a crime scenes investigator (CSI) instructor at Harperley Hall, near ...

... is seriously like 5 minutes, but I dont think we were capable of walking at that point, so it could have been 12 times that long really! Spent the next few days exploring the town, walking up the hill to the castle and cathedral (dated 1066) where we were lucky enough to catch a pretty damn awesome choir sing some stuff that we couldnt understand but sounded great! Nights were spent back around the keg fire with the boys, good times, good times!

... for special needs kids. There was face painting, arts & crafts and a musical put on by Durham University students. We spent most of the day with these teachers and students and really enjoyed ourselves. As you have read on this Travel Pod we have also enjoyed many castles, cathedrals and museums. It has not rained at all, which is very unusual. We are enjoying fish and chips and lots and lots of puddings! Karen and All

... family. It is refreshing to know that in this world of corporate hotels where one feels like a piece of machinery, there was a place where hosts still take the time to remember your names and make you feel like it's their privilege to have you stay in their house. We are grateful that fate brought us together with Janet and Freddy. I think Kelly said it best when he said that he felt that Ratho was his home in Scotland. And when was the last time that anyone said that ...