Durham June 2016

Durham June 2016

Fri 24^th

We set off at 0950, it was nice, sunny morning. We as we travelled Rich said he could hear a odd noise, he stopped a couple of times and checked but couldn’t see anything, eventually it got so bad we tried to call a garage and finally found one nearby in Tarporly, after mistakenly going through the town we found the place and the wheel was just about to fall off as nuts had not been tightened properly when Rich had had the tyres changed, they tightened them up for us and didn’t charge anything.

When we arrived at The Croft Warden Law we set up and then went to Harry & Loraine's where we had tea and a good catch up.

Sat 25^th

We put the awning up and then Harry fetched us and took us to Seaham where we walked round the town and visited the lifeboat which had been restored and also a larger than life statue “Tommy” of a first world war soldier. Back to theirs for tea and some sewing. A lovely sunny day but a thunder storm in the evening in Chester but not at the site.

Sun 26^th

Another bright, sunny morning,finished setting up and then went into Seaham to Aldi for a few things, then after lunch H &L came round we chatted and Loraine and I did some sewing. It got quite cool in the afternoon and rained quite heavily.

Mon 27^th

We went to Harry's and he took us for a run round. First we went to see a NT property we thought it too expensive as there was not a lot there, just an embroidery exhibition. He showed us Beamish Hall, now an hotel and then we walked to “Causy Arch” the oldest railway arch in the world, 1700s when it was wooden rails and horse drawn carriages, a very pleasant walk. We then called at a small tea shop for a drink.

After we went on to Washington and went round the home of George Washington’s ancestors, very interesting.

Tea made by Harry again, lovely.

Tue 28^th

Sunny first thing, H&L came and then took us to Holy Island, Lindisfarne. It started to rain but was not actually raining on the island, which is reachd by a causeway at low tide. We had a look round the small town and the Priory then Loraine and I went on a shuttle bus to the castle. It was on a craggy rock with lots of steps but was very interesting, very cosy for a castle, redesigned in te 20s by Lutyen.

Back to the site then we had beautiful fish and chips from Seaham.

Wed 29^th

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We went to Harry's but the weather was so bad, heavy rain, that we decided not to go out, we stayed chatting and sewing and they gave us a nice lunch.

Thurs 30^th

H & L came to us after lunch after Harry had had his warfarin check, it was wet again so Loraine and I stayed in and the men went to collect a spare wheel for his new car. In the evening we went to a local pub,Copt Hill, and had a very nice meal.

Fri 1^st July

the weather was a bit better so we went to Barnards Castle, a pretty town. We stopped outside a café that welcomed dogs so we went in and had some lunch. After lunch we went to Bowes Museum, Loraine and I went in while the men took the dog a walk. It was a fantastic museum, we went to the shoe exhibition which was very interesting but we didn’t have time to have a really good look at the rest of the museum.

Back in the car Harry took us round some back roads and stopped at Eggington Abbey. Back to ours for a cuppa before they went home.

Sat 2^nd

Only 10c when we woke up! It was a sunny, blustery, showery day.

Harry came and took us to look at some caravans at a couple of sites, we saw one that we really liked and are seriously considering.

We carried on to the coast in South Shields and a place called Marsden Grotto, there was a lift from the car park down to sea level which came out into a café/bar in a cave. The beach was very pebbly but we walked along it for a way, there was a big sea stack which had once been an arch but had eroded and also a smaller stack . We went into the café when it started to rain, it was very noisy, full of people and loud background music playing.

Back to ours where we cooked tea and then chatted for a while.

Sun 3^rd

Blustery again but some sunshine, quite cool.

After lunch we went to Harry's and did some sewing their son David and his wife came and we had pizza for tea, very nice.. Rich watched the grand prix before we came back to van.

Mon 4^th

Started packing up. Loraine and I went to a craft shop at a retail park and had a good look round. Then back to theirs for some more sewing and tea. The site owner gave us some plants to bring home. The site was beautifully planted as it had once been a nursery.

Tue 5^th

Up and away by 0945 and a good journey home.

A really nice site with very friendly owner, good facilities and attractive grounds.

This was the last time we went away in our motorhome as we sold it a few weeks later.

Mileage 215 each way

Fuel £40

Site fees £126