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