Pic: Bedlington, destination of the world's first stamped letter.
After sampling my “full English” at 6.30—you don’t expect much, or get much, for 17 pounds in the world of B & B. I rolled out along the beer bottle strewn streets of Whitley Bay, turning east again out of the town, to re-join the coast for a few miles before navigational challenges re-asserted themselves. The Blythe River creates a natural barrier to northbound pedestrian traffic and a detour several miles inland as far as Bedlington was required to by-pass the problem and find a suitable bridge crossing point. Bedlington, famous #1 for the breed of terrier dogs of the same name and #2 being the town where the first ‘penny black’ stamped mail was delivered in 1840.
Weather has generally improved over the past couple of days with the forecast of dry conditions to continue through the weekend. Readers may consider that this writer is perhaps fixated by a couple of things—weather and accommodation. In this world of long –distance walking these are the two things that dominate the days events. The first he has little control over: continuous heavy rain makes life almost intolerable and certainly it is a temptation to grab a rest day, till the clouds blow over. The second concern is always finding accommodation. It is still too early and way too cold for the night on a park bench to be an appealing option. I arrived in Newbiggin on Sea and had conjured up in my mind images of a resort town waiting for the arrival of happy holiday-makers. In fact, Newbiggin, is a rather run-down fishing town in an era when all the fish have disappeared. With little to offer including tourist rooms, I was lucky to locate a run down room at a run down pub. Such was the management style of the land-lord, that I even had to negotiate an extra 2 pounds (that’s 16+ 2=18) rent, in order to have fresh sheets on the bed!
Trillium Health Centre has always been there for me and my family, I want to do my part and be there to support them. I’m giving 110% to Trillium, will you? www.trilliumhealthcentrefoundation.org
29.2 kms. walked today per pedometer. Cumulative Kms. covered: 1304.6
Hours of walking today including rest stops: 8 1/2
Type of accommodation: Tall Ship Pub.
Cost of bed & breakfast: pounds. 18.50
Please go to Flickr.com (traveller6666) to view pics of the walk.
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