The Newburn disaster area

Having seen the TV footage, I knew in my head that somewhere in Newburn there was a block of flats with the foundations washed away, about to be demolished.  And of course you completely sympathise with people whose homes and businesses are ruined and who must be worried beyond belief about what will happen. And I'd been told that the road was closed and I'd have to go into the village via Throckley.  But actually seeing what's going on it something else.

I walked with a friend across the front of the almshouses, as near to the work as we could get. The road is not just closed, it is barricaded off.  Diggers shovelled earth around what appeared to be a makeshift dam in the middle of the road.  Apparently (so the man in the stores told me) there is a huge crater here where the earth and rubble washed out further up the culvert burst up through the road surface.  It all seemed a bit unreal.

We retraced our steps and went up the hill to try and look at the flats.  Even on this side of the dene, flats have been evacuated and paths are not just closed with notices and tape, but rigid barriers.  So we couldn't look down into the culvert, just sense the air of emptiness around the place.

The road was closed too beyond the school.  Here fire and rescue crews were still stationed and in addition to the barriers etc was a private security guard.  We weren't the only sightseers.  The whole place has a tense feeling, but thank goodness no one was killed or seriously injured.

So, at least one block of flats must be demolished.  Small businesses in the centre of Newburn will undoubtedly suffer as long as the road is closed (and that must be a long job, surely).  Bus services are diverted and for a few days Newburn was without any service at all (now there are shuttle services up to Throckley).  We returned to the centre of the village via a footpath alongside the churchyard, ending up at the war memorial.  A short walk, but long on story.

South Shields in the rain

Just a couple of little strolls this week.  On Sunday I popped to Lidls in the afternoon via Chichester, but I came back through Rekendyke crossing Eglesfield Road, Marshall Wallis Road etc etc having walked down Frederick Street to see what is going on down at the bottom.  Several properties waiting restoration or demolition by the looks of it.  One must have been a butchers shop as the old tiles can still be seen - pigs grazing happily in the meadow or something like that.  I hope these will be salvaged.  You can also see a sign for Axelbands where a signboard has been taken away.  Now there's a blast from the past.

Today, what with stormy weather warnings and instructions not to travel, Hadrians Wall along with most other things was out of the question.  So I got kitted up in waterproofs and boots and headed for the beach!  The sea was magnificent, tide roaring in, waves breaking over the pier.  I was secretly hoping for masses of sea foam such as was seen at Marsden yesterday, but there wasn't any (could have been at Marsden I guess but not Sandhaven).  A lone dog walker trundling his geriatric alsatian across the sand paused to point out a small black object on the sand.  I thought it was a black plastic bag, but it turned out to be a puffin!  The dog walker, who seemed to know about such things, said it was probably exhausted and probably a youngster and best to leave it alone, so that's what we did.  I hope it rides out the storm and makes it back home. 

The Great North Run walk

Yes, it's that time of year again.  The verges of the Felling bypass have been manicured, the Tyne Bridge is advertising BUPA and the equivalent of the population of a small town will be running from Newcastle to South Shields dressed in improbable and often impractical costumes and one even carrying a fridge (hope his wife knows about this).  Why anyone should want to do this is frankly beyond me, although I applaud them for their dedication and the amount of money they raise for charity.  Running has never held any appeal for me, but walking I do enjoy and so, marooned in Shields as I was, I set out towards the finish line to cheer on the troops.

I headed down Westoe Road and Fowler Street to King Street which looked busier than on a Saturday!  Despite the rain, crowds were heading down Ocean Road to the seafront, passing the spruced-up statue of Kirkpatrick of Gallipoli.  There are so many new curry houses on Ocean Road!  Time to visit again, methinks!  On I went following the crowd into the South Marine Park and along past the Bents Park (given over to camping) and past an incredible number of buses stuffed with the runners' gear.  By the time I got to the New Crown, runners wrapped in tinfoil blankets were walking towards me, having finished the course.  How can people still stand after running that distance?

I continued up the Broadway and crossed onto the Leas where a small township seemed to have sprung up - tents, burger vans, TV cameras, candyfloss - and where the largest crowd and most vocal spectators were.  The runners were streaming in, and the award ceremony for the elite competitors was taking place.  It was a bit of a ruck round by the Bamburgh but I got through, still amazed by the constant stream of runners.  It really is a party atmosphere round here on this day, and what a glorious finish on the cliff tops overlooking the sea!

I left the Leas, and headed over the Blackberry hills towards Horsley Hill.  By now I was really enjoying the walk, wondering as usual why I don't do this more often.  I was briefly confused by the new-look houses in Lincoln Road (they were pebbledash the last time I was there!), but then it was on up Centenary Avenue to the Nook and guess what - yet more runners!  I paused here to smile encouragingly at those who were struggling a bit, and also to get a good view of the Red Arrows as they swooped by.  Then it was back down King George Road and home.  Not the buzz of reaching the finishing line with your time up in lights above you, but I felt a quiet satisfaction that my ankle was fine to walk on now, and that walking was fun.

How the mighty are fallen...

Stumbled, actually.  I stumbled in Mortimer Road, twisted my ankle on a stone.  It wasn't too bad at first - I walked on it all morning but standing at work all afternoon finished it off.  By the end of the day I was hobbling about like a good 'un.  So much for friends' concern that I should break an ankle on the Hadrian's Wall Trail.  I ended up using my walking pole (bought for wall walking but never taken) to walk round the flat.

Finally I realised that I couldn't rely on the sympathy vote indefinitely, and got out the ice pack and the tubigrip bandage.  Ankle fixed in next to no time!  But it did serve as a reminder, a whisper of mortality.

Wapping Street and the riverside

I always enjoy Heritage Open Days!  A combination of freebies and a chance to be nosey - what's not to like!  And this year I could combine it with my walk too.  So off I went, retracing my steps along River Drive, deciding against some steep steps down to Wapping Street and walking downhill to the junction  and then along.  It was a lovely day, but autumn is here now - rosehips and rowan berries in abundance.

I was making my way to the North East Maritime Trust because I'd never been there before and what a tret it was.  Inside was the paraphernalia of boatbuilding, tools, old photos, a DVD about the north east fishing industry and old cobles being rebuilt.  It was a friendly, working atmosphere.  You could walk through the shed to the quayside and there was an old foy boat ready for repair.  Thrown in was a secondhand book shelf where I picked up a couple of interesting bargains.  Perfect.  and I didn't even know the place existed, although I was told it had been there for seven years.  It's open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays apparently.

On leaving I continued along Wapping Street to the riverside path.  People were parked up eating fish and chips, or fishing, I even saw a sizeable rat in the seaweed.  I passed the redundant Garland call centre.  What a shame!  A lovely looking building (better than some I could name on the riverside), in a fantastic setting and it's closed and empty.  Surely something could be done with it?  My mind went into overdrive when I looked through the window and saw that the staff canteen is there ready and waiting.  Oh for an entrepreneurial spirit so that I could open it up as a tearoom or a restaurant or a vintage market or a something!

I continued on past the Middle Dock (I think) with its stainless steel ships sailing nowhere, past the Spirit of South Tyneside reaching for the stars and back to the ferry landing.  A nice little walk and one to remember for future reference.

foy boat

Spirit of South Tyneside

Hadrian's Wall: Housesteads to Walltown

To be honest, I've been putting off the next section of the Wall.  Arriving at Housesteads so tired and unable to go on to Steel Rigg the last time, made me wonder if I really had bitten off more than I could chew.  Maybe it was too much for me physically, and trying to fit in with bus times was adding to the pressure.  So my plan for this time was firstly to check the direction of the wind and walk with it behind me, and to drive to the Wall and park at the finishing point, catching the bus to the start, no pressure to finish at a certain time then. Also, I wasn't worrying about organising holidays or such things this time, so I felt I would be in a better frame of mind.

That said, after I'd parked at Housesteads and was on the bus to Walltown I was still planning get-outs.  I could finish at Cawfields, or Steel Rigg, or even not start - after all I still seem under-equipped by the standards of serious walkers.  The bus route through the cosy-looking town of Haltwhistle calmed me down a bit and I resolved to start off and see how far I got.

Walltown quarries looked very pretty and I puffed my way up onto the Wall.  Definitely a change of season in the air now - the trees are starting to look autumny and there is heather blooming, though a few little harebells are hanging on.  I surprised myself by arriving at Cawfield quite soon.  It looked a nice little tourist spot, chance to picnic and climb up to the Wall, lovely countryside.  Then it was back up to the top and on to Steel Rigg.  I stopped here to eat lunch. (That was another promise I made myself, eat plenty and drink plenty).  I felt fine, much better than I had last time, so I decided to continue the three miles to Housesteads.

I first got cramp in my leg scrambling up the steps at Steel Rigg but managed to walk it out.  I felt quite confident that this was a familiar bit of the Wall, I have walked it a few years ago now.  How memory deceives us!  I'd completely forgotten just how steep the drop was a Sycamore Gap, had to scramble down that on my bottom.  And worse was to come!  For someone like me who has no head for heights the path above Crag Lough was sheer torment!  I must have walked it before but have obviously blotted it from my mind.  There was no one else around, the wind was buffeting me and I was scared.  In fact, I actually crawled on all fours part of the way, counting my paces and staring at the grass bank, not daring to look up.  Once I got to the trees it was slightly better as I could hug the stone wall, and by the time I met walkers coming the other way, I was walking on the path again and looking relatively unfazed, apart from trembling hands.  Once through the gate I felt safe and it was only a mile and a half to Housesteads.

At the next climb, both my legs cramped up, probably a reaction to crawling and tension.  I rewarded myself with another sweetie and soon it felt OK again and I was able to stride into Housesteads in much better shape than I had done the last time.  It felt good, walking the rest of the Wall had become possible again!

Cawfield

Crag Lough

hole in the wall roman style

Steel Rigg

Sycamore Gap

Lessons from this walk?  I will never walk from Steel Rigg to Housesteads again.  I will tie my hair up in a headscarf or hat on windy days.

Summerhill Sunday guided walk

This is the first of my two walks this week.  A couple of years ago I bought myself a season ticket for the Newcastle guided walks and really enjoyed learning about the people and places that make up the town, however, I didn't manage to do the one round Summerhill Square and this was my chance to make up that.  Summerhill Square is tucked away behind Westgate Road and is a little jewel. Our guided explained who had lived there, why there is such a lovely park in the centre of it all, and showed us where Robert Stephenson had lived and where a synagogue had flourished.

It was a glorious Sunday afternoon stroll.  I can't recommend the guided walks highly enough, and if you haven't discovered Summerhill Square yet, make sure you do so soon!