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Wednesday, 19th July 2017
We had glorious hot and sunny days, Monday and Tuesday, too much to expect that it would run to three in a row, this is Northern England! Cloudy but mild, with the possibility of a shower, is the forecast for today.
The plan is to take the bus to Alnwick (there is a bus stop approximately 20 minutes walk from the site).
Bus arrived on-time, driven by a very competent young lady who looked young enough to be a school girl, but, she whisked us along the country lanes, no problem.
A wander around Alnwick, doing the usual "day visitor" things, ie coffee and cake, inevitably, visiting the shops, Kathleen has her "retail fix". Lunch at the Market Tavern Pub and Steakhouse, very good indeed.
Return bus ride is with the school children, so, not so quiet!
Overall, a pleasant day out, and, we did not get rained on!
Thursday, 20th July 2017
Heavy, well, torrential actually, overnight rain, but, nothing like what other parts of the UK have had, so, not thunder, no hail stones and no flooding (here-abouts anyway).
By 08:00, cloudy, dry, and mild.
The weather forecast says it may rain at about 13:00, in an attempt to beat the rain, we are out, cycling by 10:00.
The plan had been to cycle to Wooler, about eight miles away, but, the Site Warden has told Kathleen that part of the route is off-road, and can be muddy. Given last nights heavy rain, this is enough to deter Kathleen, no sense of adventure!
As an alternative, we cycle along route 68, which is a tarmac surface, a small and quiet road in fact.
After two miles, it begins to rain, slightly, but, Kathleen is not deterred, we keep going.
Initially, we follow route 68, past Reavely, but, the hills are not to Kathleen's liking, so, we retrace our steps (or peddling) and instead cycle up the Breamish Valley, towards Linhope Spout, waterfall.
Following my usual procedure of telling white lies about how far is still to go, we pass Ingram, and make it almost to Hartside Farm, before my ruse wears thin, and Kathleen refuses to tackle the next hill.
My next ruse, explaining that it is not hilly, but undulating meets with a similar dismissal.
But, as the photographs show, we are rather high, onto moorland.
We freewheel, most of the way to Ingram Mill, to enjoy a cup of two and an enormous and delicious slice of Carrot Cake, in the village cafe.
Then, back to the campsite, just getting slightly wet, as the rain begins, to complete a respectable 11 miles.
A sterling effort by Kathleen, after her recent hospital stay.
Peddling along behind her, I gave my usual "encouraging comments" ie "stop talking and save your breath and keep pedaling".
Friday 21st July 2017.
Home again.
Time to begin planning another trip!
Tuesday, 18th July 2017
A short break, only an hours drive and approximately 50 miles from home, to hopefully speed Kathleen's recovery.
Yet another Hospital appointment yesterday, with the usual expectations of an appointment time, which means you arrive on time, then wait for an hour (or two), we assumed that Monday was a write-off, but, surprise, surprise, appointment actually happened spot on time. But, too late, by the time I rang to attempt to change our booking to include Monday, the site was full.
In common with most Caravan Club Sites, check-in is not before 13:00.
The weather is beautiful, so, we decide to make the most of the good weather and stop off at Druridge Bay Country Park.
Very pleasant, plenty of free parking, a boating lake (bring your own boat!), walking routes, cycling routes and a Visitor Centre with cafe.
So, a two mile walk around the lake, in the sunshine, the morning is not wasted.
Entertainment is provided by a group of School Children who are on a "school trip" with two teachers to supervise. There is a male teacher, who clearly has a great interest in imparting a love of nature to the (not always receptive) pupils, and a female teacher, who I think, in a previous life was probably a Sergant-Major and kept everyone in-line.
If we had travelled directly to Powburn, our route would have been mainly major roads, A19, A1, A697, but, our detour means a cross country route, from Druridge Bay to Powburn, at least we see a lot of rural Northumberland.
With almost perfect timing, we arrive at 13:15 at River Breamish Caravan Club Site, Powburn, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 4HY.
The site is a short distance off the main A697, far enough so that it is not possible to hear any road noise.
As you would expect, from Caravan Club, it is a clean and well maintained site.
Essentials are quickly done (EHU plugged in, also, there is TV plug in), and a quick lunch.
Bicycles unloaded and we cycle along the quiet lanes to explore.
Despite Kathleen's miss-givings (does that sound better than complaints?) about the surrounding hills, the cycle route follows the River Breamish valley and is easy going, we do a ten mile round trip, as far as Ingram Village, with some small detours to explore possible future routes.
By the time we return, the initial "miss-givings" have turned to enthusiastic self-satisfaction, perhaps Kathleen is on the road to recovery.
I am chef for the evening, but, easy-peasy, Marks and Spencer "two dine for £10", and, I get to drink the wine, plus, very little washing up!
