Tapp's Travels

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Arriving at Nunnykirk in glorious Northumbrian sunshine and temperatures that are rarely reached this far north, we parked on our favourite pitch.  To be fair, there were only a handful of pitches available.  So we were really lucky!  Awning up straight away to give some shade.  (John and Carina will appreciate that!)

And off for a walk.  We know there’s a bridleway from Greenleighton Quarry to Fontburn reservoir which is less than a mile from the campsite.  We tried to find it last year.  It took us two attempts just to find the quarry on that occasion!  The road was blocked, as it had been last time, by a herd of free-range cows.  Unpredictable things.  To be avoided where possible!

Anyway, we managed to start off on the right path.  Clearly marked.  Obvious Quarry.  Well defined track.  No problem!  But after less than a mile we we being taken to the left into an ex-forest.  I’m guessing it was a victim of Storm Arwen.  All that was left was a pile of logs and a very rough and churned up field.

So, that’s two years we’ve failed to find the reservoir.

However, it’s our wedding anniversary this week.  Unsure what to get for Glenda and knowing she prefers experiences to material things, I called the Red Arrows to arrange a fly past.  They were happy to oblige so long as we shared the display with the Great North Run – and settled for it a couple of days early.  True to their word, fly past they did.  Just as we retreated towards the caravan!

The GNR ended in chaos as torrential rain closed the centre of Newcastle!!!  So, having binned Skiathos because of flooding, we now find great tracts of the city here closed by … flooding!  No buses, no metro, no swimming!

As they say, if we can’t take a joke, we shouldn’t have joined!  Luckily, although we did have some rain at Nunnykirk, it could never be described as torrential.  As I write this, several days later, we are hearing reports of massive flooding in South Devon!  Newton Abbot, Dawlish and parts of Torbay were hit by best part of a month’s worth of rain in an hour!

Thunder storm over Brixham Harbour!

There’s a pattern developing here.  And what’s that about a joke!  (Clearly these photos are not mine.)

OK, I’ve got a bit out of sequence here, so, trying to get back on track…

We had an excellent Sunday lunch at the Three Wheatheads in Thropton near Morpeth.   We will be back!

On Monday, (after the floods!) we elected to visit Newcastle.  The Biscuit Factory is an excellent gallery with a bit of parking.  Lots of bonsai trees for Barry.

As the name suggests, the gallery is housed in what used to be the factory of the “Newcastle upon Tyne Biscuit Manufacturer”.  Originally built in 1870, now sympathetically re-purposed with a cafe and (did I mention?) a free car park.

There are some fabulous pictures hanging around …

… and a few which would suit other people’s homes better than ours!  But their bacon sandwiches are very tasty.  Just don’t tell Glenda.  She thinks the restaurant in the gallery is vegetarian!

A quick morning walk to counteract the forthcoming anniversary celebratory lunch at the Cook and Barker Inn at Newton-on-the-Moor.  We walked past a farm which said it specialised in beef and venison.  But their yard said something different.

We can see ewe!

We had our anniversary lunch…

… with the person.who was responsible for Glenda and I meeting way back in 1967.  Kathleen.  Now Kathleen and David.

Thanks, Kath!  Good move back then!  And great recommendation for the restaurant on this occasion!

And perhaps this is a good place to pause.