Leaving Harrogate after another of Mayumi's wonderful breakfasts on the morning of Thursday 28 August I made good time through two major roadworks on the A1M to arrive before noon at the Staybridge Suites.
I walked into the centre through some dubious graffiti-laden pedestrian alleys and bridges to find Northumberland St a mess of new metro works. Did a big shop and Ubered back to the hotel and settled in to a familiar suite. Since last year the trees have grown taller and block the direct view of the Tyne Bridge. A quick glimpse is still to be had at the end of the corridor.
Bridge from Staybridge
I rose very early on my birthday the next day and headed down to the river for some selfies and shots of the bridges.
Birthday bridges selfie
Tyne, Swing, High-level and Motorway bridges
From the Gateshead Millennium pedestrian bridge, world's first tilt bridge
Monument to a famous Geordie song for my sister G
‘As Aa cam thro Sangit, Aa hard a lassie sing, Weel may the Keel row, That ma laddies in’. A traditional North-East England song associated with keelmen — the boatmen who worked on the River Tyne transporting coal in flat-bottomed boats (keels).
Then I drove to Tynemouth to re-enact a family ritual of the early 50s, the Sunday walk along the north Tyne Pier. Sadly the Pier is under repair and no longer open to the public.
North Pier and Priory Castle
Mouth of the Tyne and Collingwood Monument
Tynemouth Beach, some swimmers even though only 20 degrees
I did a big shop at M&S Foods and headed back to the hotel to enjoy an aperitif of the famous Newcastle Brown ale.
A personal recollection, viewers may skip.
A high Google rating, confirmed by the hotel, led me to the Broad Chare restaurant located in a refurbished warehouse down by the Quay.
Broad Chare restaurant
