Mick's Motoring September Stroll

[mickthemaverick]

Good stuff Steve, I notice that we both share a famous name, your's happens to be that of one of the nicest professional sportsmen I have had the privilege to meet, while mine is of a bumbling idiot made famous by Rowan Atkinson!!

[mickthemaverick]

However I would still be grateful to borrow your maps ...

Gracious. I had already forgotten about them! Let's hope that I don't forget again between now and getting back.

No problem Paul, my personal info PM in a couple of weeks will serve as a reminder when you are back in blighty!!

[myglaren]

Good stuff Steve, I notice that we both share a famous name, your's happens to be that of one of the nicest professional sportsmen I have had the privilege to meet, while mine is of a bumbling idiot made famous by Rowan Atkinson!!

He's not as daft as he looks

My dad was called Joe. Strange coincidence.

Or perhaps you meant Sharon

[mickthemaverick]

My dad was called Joe. Strange coincidence.

Or perhaps you meant Sharon

I didn't know Sharon played snooker! Swimming has never been my thing, I only passed my 100yds certificate so they would let me join the sailing club at school!! It is indeed a coincidence considering that the snooker pair were not related, Joe being a Davies and Steve a Davis the same as you.

I was lucky enough to be involved in the Courage London Snooker challenge in the eighties, when all the local clubs who sold Courage Beers were invited to take part in a tournament, the winners of which nominated a player to play the visiting professional. Our club, Watford Telecomms, won the tournament twice in 6 years and the first time we nominated our skipper to play Steve Davis who gave him a 5 black start and then demolished him with a 141 break!! The second time I was nominated to play John Virgo who gave me a 5 black start and beat me 82-73 and I still have my trophy:

Own work

[mickthemaverick]

In view of the trip to High Force I have modified the Monday route to look more like this:

Own work

So picking up Willow Bridge will not be a problem. However I have discarded the transporter bridge in order to save a chunk of time, giving more time at High Force and Mathewsons if Derek will let us in!!

[NewcastleFalcon]

Mick, an alternative route from High Force to Tyneside probably no greater distance, and if you like a bit of motoring for pleasure a more interesting route driving wise, and scenery wise.

So this would be it

High-force-Middleton in Teesdale
Middleton in Teesdale to Stanhope across the moors
Stanhope to Consett up Crawleyside (quite a test on a bike) Over the moors
Consett to Chester-le-Street down past Beamish
Washington and home for Steve
A19 down to the Tyne Tunnel and on to WhitleyBay

REgards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

Thanks Neil, I'll add that in on the next revision. I'm expecting a few in the next couple of weeks!!

[mickthemaverick]

So it will look more like this:

Own work

[myglaren]

From High Force, how about THIS then the 1231 to the A19 and the tunnel or bridge?

1231 is almost on my doorstep, A19 a couple of miles along that - past the Nissan factory and the bridge or tunnel a few miles further.

Are you still staying at the Worm Mick? Only a couple of miles from me and an easy rout to the A1 or A19 from there.

I would have offered accommodation but eldest daughter is in hospital and I have a grandson and granddaughter living with me for the foreseeable unfortunately.
House is normally empty except for fleeting visits.

[mickthemaverick]

That's nice of you Steve but we have moved the overnight to Whitley Bay and booked in to Cara's. We now have a couple of options for the route after High Force so we'll probably make that decision on the day depending on time and weather.

[mickthemaverick]

Map update!1

I have managed to source all the Landranger sheets which we need for the stroll so don't worry about looking for them if you were thanks!!

[mickthemaverick]

Latest Itinerary:

Own work

[mickthemaverick]

Good progress on the route plotting today although I decided to eliminate Boston from the route giving another amendment to the itinerary. I have now got 2/3rds of the maps prepared but it was chaos at times! :

Own work

Own work

[mickthemaverick]

Neil, I've been looking at pubs in Whitley Bay and The Fat Ox or The Dog and Rabbit seem the best options, unless you know better?

[NewcastleFalcon]

The Micro Pub may well not be open due to social distancing. I see the Briardene which is a big Sir John Fitzgerald pub just along from the B&B is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Have a look at the Spanish City which is just opposite your B&B.....fairly newly redeveloped with several eating places. Also doing the eat out to help out thing on a Monday.
Only place I have eaten out in the vicinity thats still there is the Gibraltar rock at Tynemouth for a carvery on a Sunday .

https://spanishcity.co.uk/

REgards Neil