riverside

A promenade to Roker
Grab your coat! It's time to go.

Grab your coat!  It’s time to go.

It’s Monday, my usual day for a walk.  Do you fancy a stroll?  I’m starting out today on the banks of the River Wear at Sunderland.  Ship building used to be the mainstay of this area, till foreign competition priced us out of the market.  For a lot of years nothing much happened around here, but gradually life is creeping back in.

The National Glass Centre blazed a trail and it is the start and end point of my walk.  At the river mouth a small marina huddles against that sometimes biting north east breeze.  In its absence, this is a very pleasant stroll, with some quirky sculptures along the way.

All is quiet this morning on the River Wear
There’s a ‘not so comfy’ seat if you’re tired already
But best to head off round the marina

But best to head off round the marina

Vessels of all shapes and sizes loiter here
From working boats
To those with a more leisurely life
Masts always delight me

What can I tell you about Sunderland?  I expect you’ve heard of Geordies, people who hail from Newcastle-on-Tyne, but have you heard of Mackems? The name Mackem (‘make them’) may have derived from the Wearside shipyard workers, who would design and build ships, which would then be taken by the Tyne-siders.  The expression “mackem and tackem” (make them and take them) seems to refer to the rivalry which has always existed between these two cities.

My favourite sculpture is the stained glass boat

My favourite sculpture is the stained glass boat

Tiny buoys dot the water as you look back to the Glass Centre
And there are colourful bollards on the quay

Beyond the marina the river mouth opens onto the beach front at Roker, newly made over.

With more sculptures

With new sculptures and seating

And numerous rock pools

The beach is full of tempting rock pools

Just the place fro walking your dog

It’s just the place for walking your dog

And admiring the lighthouse

Or admiring the lighthouse

This area is not without its admirers.  Lewis Carroll wrote some of his works in neighbouring Whitburn and local landmarks are believed to be the source of inspiration for his “Alice in Wonderland”.  The painter, L.S. Lowry, regularly stayed at the Seaburn Hotel, here on the front.

The promenade stretches off into the distance and you can walk as far as you like.  Buses run all along the coast so, if you overdo it, you can always hop on a bus back to Sunderland centre.  I think we may have walked far enough for this morning, so it’s time to retrace our steps, and maybe pick up an icecream en route.  A  short detour through pretty Roker Park will bring you back down to the beach.

The lighthouse at Roker

Upper or lower promenade at Roker lighthouse?

An old drinking fountain

An old drinking fountain

Back to the beach, from Roker Park

Back to the beach, from Roker Park

The National Glass Centre has a very nice riverfront restaurant where you can take some refreshments, and maybe fit in a free tour of the glass factory.  I love glass blowing.  Don’t you? But more of that next time.

Six word Saturday

6ws-participating-in-banner

Classic example of getting it wrong!

The river bank at Yarm, North Yorkshire

The river bank at Yarm, North Yorkshire

A sultry Summer’s day seemed like an excellent time for a stroll by the River Tees, in search of a tempering breeze.  Yes, this is north east England I’m talking about.  Don’t fall out of your seat in surprise!  It happens.

We headed for Preston Park, knowing that we had access to the river there, and should be able to walk along the banks as far as the village of Yarm.  You’ll note that I said “should”.  It being an impromptu little outing, neither of us had consulted a map.

The park itself was heaving with picnics and families having a good time, so it was a relief to drop down onto the riverbank.  It felt wonderfully idyllic as we ambled through shoulder-high wild flowers, extravagant in their pink frocks.  The sunshine bounced and shimmered on the water.  All was right with the Bradley world.

Innocently following signs for The Cleveland Way, suddenly we found ourselves in the midst of a housing development.  The river was there somewhere, but we couldn’t find it!  Nothing to do but keep following our noses (and the signs) in the direction of Yarm.  It was a long walk beside a busy road!  I wished I’d had my bus pass with me.

Undeterred, but hot, we reached Yarm, and with relief descended again to the riverbank, alongside of the superbly positioned pub “The Blue Bells”.  Why it did not occur to us to seek refreshment at this point, I do not know, but good spirits were restored anyway.  Yarm is a pretty place, and peaceful, viewed from the opposite bank of the river.  Swans mingled with ducks and the bridge was in harmony too.

Again we were swathed in wild flowers, mainly whites this time, and meadows opened out behind us.  I was amazed at the form and variety of some of the plants, which seemed to have grown to a mighty height.  The sun beat hotly down as we followed the meandering riverbank.  Beautiful though it was, I was starting to wonder how much further, when catastrophe befell.

We had arrived at Eaglescliffe Golf Course, with its privileged riverside location, and there was no access beyond that point.  If it hadn’t been for substantial hedges I would have been a willing trespasser.  Irritatingly we could hear the golfers calling to each other, yon side of the hedge, but we had to head wearily inland to complete our walk.

We never regained the riverbank, but collapsed into “The Sportsman” for a reviving Guinness, then limped back to the car.  Fortunately the rest of the week’s walking was better planned.   Another lesson learned (till next time!)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Hope you enjoyed our very English walk this week.  Have a great weekend, and don’t forget to take your map with you!   Do make time for Six word Saturday, with  Cate at Show My Face.

6wsButton

Sunday Post : Morning

I’m humming away to myself this morning.  But then I’m a morning person, especially if that sun comes peaking over the rooftops, calling to me.  I mean, how can it be a hardship to get up and start a brand new day?

Jakesprinter’s theme for the Sunday Post this week is Morning.  I walk through a park very like yours on Saturdays, Jake.  I don’t have time to linger on a bench, but I always smile at the swans on the peaceful lake, the dog walkers, and sometimes an early morning toddler, kicking a ball with his dad.  Very often I’ll be singing Cat Stevens’ “Morning has broken”…  that most gentle celebration of the new day.

More prosaicly, my day always starts with a cup of coffee, and a book (though these days , the laptop sometimes wins).

Sparkling grapefruit?  A bit of toast, and I’m good to go.

That doesn’t vary much, even when I’m in the Algarve, but the scenery’s a whole lot different.  Often I sit up on the rooftop, gazing out over the salt marshes to the sea.  Sometimes I do a little t’ai chi, before it gets too hot.  Then maybe a stroll down to the bakery for fresh rolls.  I can seldom resist that early morning wander through the town.  Coming along?

There’s always a church spire, whichever way you look, in Tavira.

Irresistibly I’m drawn to the river, the boats tethered securely against the tide

It’s high tide beneath the Ponte Romana

The riverside houses need a touch of paint, but no less beautiful for that.

Looking back you can almost see Anazu, our favourite cafe, just out of shot.

If I’m feeling very energetic, then maybe a climb up to the castle walls

More often it’s a stroll through the riverside gardens

Especially if the bandstand’s festooned for one of the many local festivals

In the side streets you encounter many of Tavira’s exquisite town houses

Admire the prettiest church facade in Tavira

Or loiter in the shady chapel gardens

Just time to play on the stepping stones when nobody’s looking

Then off to the bakery before they sell out! Just one quick look back.

I’m going again in a few weeks, so thank you Jake for reminding me what I’m missing.  Apologies to those of you who’ve seen some of these images already in Talking about Tavira.  I hope it’s worth a second look?

This started as a morning post and it’s teatime already!  The evening will be spent checking out the other entries in Jakesprinter’s brilliant challenge.  Click on the flying dragon logo or the links to come with me.