Metro Inns Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne

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

... out on to deck to await departure.

1704 and there was a blast from the ships horn. The ropes were cast off and, slowly but inexorably, the massive ship swung out into the harbour. Over the next hour I watched the lights of Newcastle recede until they were just a thin orange strip, illuminating the darkened horizon.

The 'King of Scandanavia' was as you would expect for a short haul cruise ship - bars, restaurants, and a 2 screen ...

... thinking that my LR is broken and I might have to call the AA to get me home. Eat first. I went out to have a look and now that the engine is cold and it's daylight it is easy to see what the problem is. The exhaust bolts have worked their way loose and it has come apart. 2 new bolts and I am back on the road. I am off to Hadrian's Wall today so only a short drive (and everything is OK with the LR, touch wood). I have driven to a place ...

... sheets. Let's hope my 3 other room mates don't mind my snoring! At least I got there early and bagged the bottom bunk!

Up early to get some breakfast and to try to work out where to head to tomorrow. Nothing booked yet...let's see what happens. Left the LR tonight with a strange rattle, not sure what it is, sounds serious, lets hope I can work it out tomorrow and it doesn't cost too much :-(

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 ...

... dinner was scheduled for 7pm. Our room sucked, we had a double bed and when we went down to sort it out, we were told that the fold our couch was the 2nd bed...oh great. What ****. Our tour director didn't seem at all interested in helping sort out the bed, so we decided just to try the double bed. So when the hotel people came to make up the bed at 6.50pm we told them to forget it. To be honest we paid for 2 beds, twin ones..and later we ...

... Class!!!) then Miami to Cayman Islands I have about 5 hours in Miami which will be nice as never been there though it will be only the airport I'll be seeing!!!!

... most of that reading, playing with my nephew, and relaxing- a great way to procrastinate before returning to the real world. Some of my impressions of England- they may be known to have some of the best media sources in the world (BBC) but it must be at the expense of others, since nearly every newspaper I came across was almost exclusively gossip, trash, and worthless public interest stories. They have stuck with the pound ...

... clear that you are entering England and leaving Scotland.

After driving for a couple of more hours through spectacular Northumberland scenery, we arrived in Durham. I had wanted to go to Durham because of the town's magnificent cathedral. But, I discovered that the town had much more to offer. Before we could get to the cathedral, necessity dictated that we stop at our bed and breakfast: the Countryview Guest House. Our room didn't have a bathroom, but it did have ...