Lent Walk 5: Bede's Way Whitburn to Boldon

I feel as though I'm making heavy weather of Bede's Way, but with my current work pattern anything but a short walk is difficult, so this is the middle section of the walk.  I caught the bus to Whitburn, once again marvelling at how good the public transport system is in these parts (let no-one tell you otherwise) and then promptly retraced my path from Front Street back through a housing estate to the footpath over the Cleadon Hills.  It was here that the purpose of this walk became apparent:  confront your fears.  I was walking past a farmyard, would there be dogs?  Indeed a dog did bark from a yard but it must have been tethered as I didn't see it.  Relieved I passed on over the stile to the field path.  Then I looked back, a man is a red jacket was just passing through the yard and appeared to be heading for the path.  I felt anxious, should I continue?  I strode out along the field edge forcing myself to enjoy the scenery and put all thoughts of serial killers to the back of my mind.  At the next stile I paused, I couldn't see him and the day and the scenery were so nice that I thought a photograph would be good.  Then I spotted a glimpse of red through the hedge and I was off, up the path, thinking how far from civilisation I was.  At the crest of the hill he overtook me, nodded in a friendly way and continued along the path.  Not a serial killer then, just another walker (I think he was following the Linnet Way).
The views round here are fab, down to Sunderland, across to Penshaw, and what with the skylarks singing and the trees in bud, it was a truly lovely day for a walk.  There was a bit of a geography lesson going on at the windmill, and from there the path wound down past the water tower to Occupation Road.  More fears to confront, someone was murdered here within the last few years.  A young man dead, two others convicted, at least three lives shattered.  Did they go intending to kill?  Are we just filled with information about violence which makes us think that it is not real, just a game, press reset and nothing will have changed?

They put the red(ish) carpet out for me!

Cleadon water tower

The path to West Harton mineral line

Signpost  West Harton mineral line

I followed the path past the allotments, and Tilesheds nature reserve, and along the West Harton mineral line to the level crossing.  Then I walked along New Road towards the school and the bus stop to wait for the bus back to Shields.