Long Eaton - Durham - Tynemouth

Well Fiona's B&B received a 5 star rating.... Bedroom was terrific, breakfast each day fantastic, but the best thing was all my washing was done!!! On the road that was such a bonus  :)

Had  another problem solving moment this morning... Before I left Perth I  found a travel card that was cheaper when interacting with GBPs so I loaded it with 300 GBPS  before I left. After I had to withdraw cash yesterday to get my Euros, I decided to try and replenish it with some more cash, but I couldn't  add any either via Direct Debit or my Commonwealth Bank Bpay.... it wanted to send me a code via my phone, but I now have the UK sim installed, so that wouldn't  work. Anyway, Fiona zipped up the street and bought a new cheapie phone so I could put my Australian SIM in it to just receive things like bank sms .... sad but true it wouldn't accept my Australian Sim, so I'll have to go to a Mobile shop somewhere and see what the alternatives are.....

Anyway, after that mini drama, I got on the road and traveled very happily North via the M1 and various other roads...

Today's journey

Even though it looks like quite a journey it only took me about two and a half hours to Durham. I wanted to make the Durham Cathedral part of the journey as it contained the tomb of St Cuthbert, and tomorrow I am going to the Holy Isle where St Cuthbert features prominently.

Cuthbert features around the 600s where he felt called by God when working as a shepherd  and he saw St Aidan  being carried up by God to the heavens. He felt called to carry on St Aidan's work, so he became a monk. Long story short he ended up on the Holy Isle of Lindisfarne as the Bishop. He  was becoming quite famous so he retreated to  another isle a bit further off the coast  called Inner Farne to become a hermit. Lots of things happened but eventually he died so the other monks buried him at Lindisfarne. Eventually they opened his coffin and found he was perfectly preserved... But after the Vikings came to rape, pillage and burn. the monks decided to move Cuthbert's body and he was on the road for a long time. Eventually was buried in Durham - where they built a Cathedral to house his remains.

That's  very short version and I've left out lots of bits .... here's a few more links if you're interested!!!

St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne
Cuthbert on Wikipedia

So that's why I went to Durham Cathedral..

We weren't allowed to take pics inside  unfortunately, so here's some of the outside

Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral

Cloisters Durham Cathedral

Interesting story about the milk maid and the cow related to Durham Cathedral

Story about the milk maid and the cow

Apart from all that I had my usual dramas when trying to park somewhere in Durham!!! I put the car park  near the Cathedral into GMaps, but as usual I missed the turn off and ended up God knows where in a big traffic queue. So while I was queued, I put Durham Park and Ride into GMaps and ended up at a lovely Park and Ride spot, where for 2GBPs I could go into the city and not worry. What a bargain... saved  my skin again.

Anyway, after all that I set my little GMaps for the Grand Hotel in Tynemouth and she took me here very nicely.
One slight drama on the way... I had to go through a toll gate.... Memories of my French experience came flooding back!!!  However, I just pulled over and watched and realised you could get change in a machine and then put your 1.70GBP in the toll booth and away you went... Phew.......

So I arrived very safely at the Grand Hotel in Tynemouth which is famous for its association with Laurel and Hardy and others ... see below...

People associated with Tynemouth

My hotel

View across the road

That's my part of the hotel - Laurel House

View looking the other way

My room - it's enormous... and a lovely view out the bay window - right across the sea

One last thing - it's Sat night and I try to go to Mass if I can.... probably won't always be able but when I can I will. So I had already checked on the web and there was a Mass at 5.30pm at St Cuthbert's in North Tyneside. Bit of a rush for me as I didn't arrive until after 5pm. Anyway, thought I'd give it a go... it's really hard to get a park at this hotel, and I was a bit reluctant to give up the street park that I had (you could get a parking permit for this!). Anyway, decided to risk it for a biscuit and I snuck out a Mass after communion because there were heaps of people there and I had parked a bit dodgily!!
But came back to the hotel and got a park right out the front. Maybe there is a God after all!!!!

Had the biggest roast beef dinner with the fattest Yorkshire pudding I have ever seen!!! Washed down with a couple of nice glasses of red.


And hopefully I will be able to watch the footy tomorrow if the Internet holds up!!!

Could be doing worse things :)