Glascow

We werent going north, we were going south. J & S were going to Glascow but with a long weekend and expensive train tickets, only one bus leaving late. We had a hire car so we drove to Glascow airport. The road seemed a bit busy but nothing like the roads at home on a long weekend.

From Newcastle to Glascow is north west but tge easiest way to go across to Carlisle and then north. We passed several areas that we had walked through. It was  incredible to think thst a week ago we were walking close to where we drove today.

A welcome stop for a coffee.

A real bucket with an off set saucer.

We dropped J&S at the airport and continued back down south. We thought Ayr might be an interesting place but we couldnt get any accommodation.  

One side of Newcastle to the other

Our last night of our Walking Company holiday ended with a night near the mouth of the River Tyne. After visiting the museum we took the metro/train to the station of Tyne and then a 600m walk to our hotel. We were on the second and third floor! Breakfast was down stairs another flight and it was very cold with a cold wind coming off the water.

We returned with all our luggage to the metro and continued on the line to West Jesmond, thanking our lucky stars that the company had a weight restriction of no m ore than 15kgs. It didnt take as long to get there as we had allowed. We were able to leave our luggage and then we retired to Starbucks for a coffee.

Washing! I had spied a dry cleaners who also advertised laundry. They gave me bag, i took the medium one. For £10.95 they would wash and dry in 24 hours, a good deal seeing that we hadnt been able to any washing on the walk.

We were due to pick up a hire car at 2.30 pm, not far from our hotel. Not far so we decided to walk, Warren said it was about 3miles but being used to kms, I was thinking kilometres but no it was 3kms so 5 kms. Happy to say though that my ankles are back to normal and there wasnt a drama thank goodness.

Just got the car, a black mercedes and it started to rain! Driving an unfamilar car in an unfamilar city in the rain and just as school got out was not easy but we make it back to the hotel with only one wrong turn as instead of the road continuing on, the road went left.

Persian food

Never eaten Persian food before but it was delicious.  Just down the road from our hotel in Newcastle, West Jesmond. Mainly stews or grills.
I had lamb with egg plant with saffron rice. The lamb was very tender.  Prices were very reasonable as well.
After we had a mixed dessert it was called a Trio of something and was served on a long platter. One end had a yoghurt base with preserved figs, then three scoops of different flavoured home made ice cream and some baklava not sure of that spelling,

After we had finished and the bill paid, the owner said he would bring over one of the other desserts for us to try. It was rice noodles in rose water, served with a couple of slices of lemon. We asked what we did with the lemon and he said to squeeze a little over it. I think we all had some first without the lemon and it tasted okay. I am not that fond of lemon but, when in Rome etc so I squeezed and tasted. OMG, the difference it made was incredible couldnt taste the lemon but it really changed it. It was so refreshing.

Such a nice end to our Newcastle part of the trip.
A quick change of plans for today, we picked a car yesterday and were heading south but now we are heading back into Scotland to Glascow.

Newcastle Upon Tyne

We went from one side of Newcastle to the other with a stop in the centre of town first. We were lucky enough to get a front seat at the top of the double decker bus each time.

This is Jamie Olivers Italian restaurant in Newcastle quite expensive and it is expected that a 12.5% tip will be added.

We had a good view. It was cool.

Out shoes, out!

Almost a quote from some one famous.

Warren's shoes after the walk where a little worse for wear so out they went into the bin. Mine will follow soon but I needed to buy a new pair first as I was more concerned about packing walking boots. The runners that I wore are also now past it. Luckily I did put in a pair of sandals at the last moment but they do not have a great deal of support. A visit to Marks and Spencer and a wave over my card and I now have matching shoes to match my suitcase and jacket.

 £15, some of the shoes were £35 upwards.

Newburn Newcastle upon Tyne

That was the destintation yesterday. We stayed at Keelman Inn, it is a small brewery with a lodge.

The restaurant area.

Walking through to the lodge, 60 metres away. 

Massive trees in bloom.

Yay, we are in the downstairs rooms so no need to take suitcases up the stairs! (However we are being punished tonight as we are on the second floor).

My breakfast this morning, I was going to just have juice, coffee and yoghurt then Warren asked for poached egg with mushrooms. The mushrooms are really good so I then asked for mushrooms and bacon.

Outside the restaurant, as we were leaving.

Taxis

I caught a taxi from Hexham to the Robin Hood Inn. Lucky that I did as there were no buses.

Yesterday when leaving the Robin Hood, the bar tender gave me a card to ring for a taxi, I rang and requested one for 10am. I received a text at 9.35 to say taxi had been dispatched, just before 10am, I received another to say it was about to arrive. I hadnt even got my phone out when it turned in.

My destination was Heddon on the Wall (that is the full name of the town) where the plan was to meet the others for morning tea or lunch depending on what time they would arrive. I arrived at approx 10.15 and cost £9.40. I wandered the town a bit, the pub wasnt open til 12 noon. I found a cache in the common but everything else was too far away.

I retired to a coffee shop, yay not many of those around. The others got in around noon. They walked one way and I walked the other. I could have grabbed a bus then changed to another bus but decided to finish by taxi for convenince. Again it was a quick turn around and cost me £5.

This taxi service runs a little like Uber, cannot hail them only by ringing but they are classed as taxis, have the same licenses etc as the ones to hail. Flagfall starts at 10p. Cost from Hexham to Robin Hood Inn cost me £19.20 different company.