The misty North East.
I have just spent 36 hours on a trip to the North East of England visiting Beamish Museum and my sister in Blyth leaving the bike at home.

It was misty all the time so did not see the area at it's best but still got to see some of the area's interesting bits. The Angel of the North is big but stands on only a little lump so is not as imposing a sight as I had imagined. If you are ever tempted to visit it be warned, the Angel is all there is, no extensive landscaped parkland with visitor centre, cafe and picnic area, just a car park, a grassy mound with paths, benches and a huge iron angel. Gatehead Council have cunningly arranged that access to the Angel is from a dual carriageway that forces you a mile into Gateshead before you can turn round and get back on the A1, I guess the idea is to get more visitors into the town.

Me and the Angel of the North (OK so it wasn't misty here).

Then on to Beamish, an open air musuem of life in a pit village of the early 20th Century with shops, houses, trams and trains, a good place for a day out with enjoyable learning.

How did the stage coach end up burned out in the middle of a pond at Beamish. Could be a good story.

Had a quick muddy visit to Causey Arch a soaring single arched railway bridge remarkable for having been built for horse drawn trucks in 1725 by a local stone mason who had to learn about the construction from Roman structures.

Causey Arch and muddy path.

Spent a relaxing evening with my sister in Blyth (many thanks for the B+B, J) before setting off home via the 'Spanish City' (currently undergoing redevelopment) in Whitley Bay. The sea at Whitley Bay was grey and merged into the mist, it was cold and the sea air was bracing but you could imagine on a fine summer day that it would be a most agreeable place to be.

By way of the Tyne Tunnel and the A1 to Richmond a most charming town with a splendid castle, remarkable Georgian Theatre, large market square, a maze of cobbled streets, courtyards and squares all perched above the river Swale, a town well worth a visit.

Over into cold and misty Wensleydale, through Leybun, Wensley, Aysgarth and Hawes to be home in time for tea.

Tomorrow, back on two wheels.

Good night.