Geordies & Scotties: Bev, Jam, & JT do the North

So on the Wednesday night, after work, I got changed, left some of my clothes at work, and headed to Kings Cross to catch a train to Newcastle with Suzanne and Bevan. They got a little held up due to tube issues, but in the end made it in time, which is just as well as they had my ticket.Once we got to Newcastle we found our Travel lodge, Suzanne went to bed, and Bevan & I went out to take a few photos before bedtime.

The next day I got up reasonably early to have a look around before we had to leave Newcastle - checking out the bridges and Castle Garth. Once I got back to the room, Suzanne & Bevan went and got the car from the hire place, we then jumped in and went and had a McDonald's breakfast (being Suzanne's Birthday).We then headed North to a place called Seahouses - where we boarded a ferry that took us around, and to one of the Farne Islands. These islands were teaming with birds, including puffins - something Suzanne and Bevan had been hanging out to see for ages. There were also seals resting on the rocks nearby. All-in-all it was pretty cool. Once we had finished the trip we drove back to Newcastle to check out the 'Angel of the North'. After that he headed back north, and had a pub meal in Bamburgh.The next day we checked out Bamburgh castle, and then headed to Holy Island - an Island that you have to time it right, as when the tide comes in there is no access - there we looked at Linsfarne castle and Priory before heading on up to Edinburgh.Once we got to Edinburgh, I got a bus from our motel to the Royal mile and had a look around, mainly looking in souvenir shops and stuff, later being joined by Suzanne and Bevan - where we took a walk to the New Town, got a bit of dinner from the supermarket - tried to go to somewhere in Holyrood park to eat it, but the park was closed for a Fire festival - as it was some pagan festival (the following day was May Day - 1st of May). Anyhow, we ate our food near the train station, near the Scott Monument, looking up at the Castle. We then headed back to the motel, and jumped in the car and made a trip out to the Firth of Forth - so I could see famous Rail Bridge - a big red steel construction.

The next day we got up, and went and had a traditional Scottish breakfast, and for once, I'm not using that as a euphemism for McDonald's. This was the real thing - Black Pudding, Haggis, sausages, bacon, eggs, mushrooms, beans, and toast. Totally awesome, the things I would've thought I would have found gross, were actually OK, especially Haggis, in fact after completing a free walking tour, I had Haggis again for lunch, accompanied by 'Neeps & Tatties' - Parsnips and Potatoes. The walking tour was awesome - one of the best I've been on, probably only second to Berlin. It was all about the Convenanters, the Stone of Destiny, and a wee dog called Bobby.

Once that was done, I meet up with Suzanne & Bevan, and their friend Colin who they'd met on their Italy tour, and we headed to Glasgow, and had a pub meal there - I had chicken in a white wine sauce with roast potatoes etc, totally awesome, especially since things seem to be so much cheaper in Scotland, or even outside of London. We then went on to Carlisle, which is just back within England again, for the night.

Once waking up, we promptly headed to our first destination of the day - Hadrian's wall - a wall constructed by the Romans back in the day to protect their territory. It was pretty cool.From there we went to the Lake district, and looked around a town called Hawkshead, and had lunch there, as well as some high tea - I had a piece of sponge cake (which they call Victoria cake here) and a hot chocolate. On the way out I insisted we have a quick stop at Wray castle.

From there we headed to Blackpool - which to be honest didn't inspire us much after a quick toilet stop and walk on the beach, so we soldiered on to Liverpool.The things that look like people on the shoreline, are in fact statues, such as the one below. Something like that wouldn't fly in New Zealand, as people would think someone is drowning.We got some Fish & Chips and ate them on the beach, had a bit of a walk and photo shoot near the docks, and then retired to our motel, somewhere between Liverpool and Chester. I did try to convince Suzanne & Bevan that if we made a small trip we could also cross into Wales, and then could have said we went to 3 countries in our travels, but they didn't have a bar of it.

Anyhow, the following day, we nipped back into Liverpool, walked around the docks, went to the Maritime Museum, which included an exhibition on slavery, and also emigration, which was interesting. After that we went to the Beatles Story - museum, which was also quite interesting, despite the fact I think the BeeGees were bigger than the Beatles... The above photo is of 'Superlambananas' art in Liverpool. (Recently near my work at Tower Bridge, there were something similar - but elephants).

So, from there we high-tailed it out of there to Coventry - to drop off the rental car, and catch the train back to London. The reason we dropped it at Coventry was because Suzanne works there, and therefore already has a train pass to and from there to London, as well as the fact that it saved driving it through London as well. Once back in London, I went back to Abercorn house -the Hostel in Hammersmith.