Time for the facilities and a brief foray to Bunbury locks where we were invited to collect damsons last year. My No2 was collecting damsons as is her wont when the lady of the house remarked that it would be nice if we asked. It wasn't worth the effort to explain that we had been there before as there weren't many damsons left anyway.
spent the next few days making sure everything would go smoothly for our trip to Seahouses

Moored as close as possible to the bridge so as to make access to either the busses or a taxi as easy as possible for the forthcoming holiday in Northumberland. Busses to Chester and Crewe both half hourly and the Crewe bus stops off at Nantwich.
Investigated several routes to Seahouses and decided that it would be best to get a taxi to Crewe Station to start the journey as busses with heavily laden rucksacks (one on the back and one smaller one sitting on the chest) could prove difficult.

Sort of a dry run which threw up a possible glitch as there are roadworks around Nantwich making the journey to Crewe a bit longer than expected.

Shopping for picnic stuff for tomorrows trip.

We had booked the taxi and enquired about the roadworks in case it meant the taxi had to get here much earlier but it seems that the roadworks are complete nod no more delays, Phew, what a relief.
From Crewe to Edinburgh Haymarket station with no changes. Scenic journey up the west coast, across the middle ending up at Haymarket. Our tickets entitled us to catch the train from Edinburgh Haymarket to Berwick-on-Tweed but due to Network Rail engineering works we had to catch the replacement bus instead. From Berwick-on-Tweed things became even more complicated as there was no direct bus from Berwick to Seahouses at this time of day (the 918 leaves at silly o'clock in the morning) so we had to go from Berwick to Wooler and from there to Seahouses on the 418 which we became quite familiar with.
We did eventually arrive at Seahouses and settle in to our holiday home for the next two weeks.

I had placed an order with Morrison's to get a delivery of basics to keep us going for a few days, but in their wisdom they have decided to take the funds from the bank account at two in the morning. As I don't very often shop with Morrison's my bank decided that making a purchase (from a relatively unknown source) at two in the morning looks suspicious and so provided me with the option of confirming that this was indeed a valid purchase. Unfortunately by this time Morrison's automatic system decided that the money had been refused and cancelled the order. There was no period of grace in which to correct the situation.
So started off the day with no milk, no porridge no tea in fact no refreshment of any sort. Great start to the holiday.
Took a walk into the village and found a Co-op so managed to get some provisions to keep us going.

I think my No2 decided that the north sea was a bit too cold to attempt swimming so settled for a paddle instead.
Most of the day was taken up by investigating Seahouses proper and finding out what there is to do, where you can go to from here and when the busses run.
Found Swallow Fish Ltd who smoke fish on the premises so we had ourselves a couple of fresh kippers for tomorrows breakfast.

Decided to visit Bamburgh Castle. To be on the safe side we caught the bus there and walked back. Bamburgh Castle has loads of history but i am not going to try and cover any of it here. We enjoyed wandering around and investigated every nook and cranny that we could and once everything was exhausted we made for home at Seahouses by way of the coastal path (which goes for 62 miles in total).
Bamburgh Castle cafe dished up a coffee that did not fit the description on their menu. When questioned about it we were told that they always put a double shot of coffee in their lattes. Not what I wanted.

This is an example of a local bus timetable, one bus out in the morning and one bus back in the evening.
Off to Alnwick for the day. Can't visit Alnwick without seeing the castle. I was disappointed by the guided tour and most of the written commentary around as it focused on the current occupying family rather than the history of the castle. I still don't know much about the castle. Had a coffee at the Rolling Pin in Alnwick before returning to Seahouses.
Swallow Fish Ltd for a dressed crab for my No2 as she had never had one before, I declined the offer as I know that crab does not agree with me.

Took the 418 bus to Beadnell and walked back to Seahouses, Along the four and a bit mile trip we crossed the Long Nanny Bridge and passed a standing stone (properly called a menhir (shades of Asterix the Gaul and Obelix the menhir carrier)). When we got back to Seahouses the coastguards were out and it looked as if they were practising an emergency drill as they did not seem to be in a hurry over anything. It turned out that it was for real but rather than a full blown emergency they were collecting a medical patient from Lindisfarne.

More walks

The multi fuel stove was actually unusable as the door wouldn't open and the maintenance guy who visited left a mole wrench firmly fixed to the door mechanism to try to make it workable while he ordered a spare part from the manufacturers.
Had lunch at Trotters Family Bakers.

This is the first day of our holiday that hasn't been filled with sunshine. The sky's were overcast and the wind had picked up and was blowing quite hard, nowhere near storm force but enough to blow spume into the air from the breakwater. I tried very hard to catch some of the more spectacular waves breaking and throwing water high into the air.
This time we managed to get a couple of fresh lobsters from Swallow Fish Ltd, we have been trying for a few days. Don't know why but crab disagrees with me whereas I like lobster which doesn't.

Today's day out was a little more adventurous. Caught the 418 bus again but this time took it to Newton-by-the-Sea where we disembarked and walked back to Seahouses, eight miles this time, mostly along the sandy beaches and through the dunes.
The Landing Chathill

A day out in Seahouses. I know, we are in Seahouses so how can this be a day out. Well as Seahouses has a rather interesting beach with all sorts of rock pools and interesting things to see like the Gunpowder House tucked away on the foreshore so as not to kill anyone if all the gunpowder goes off in one big bang.
Ended up close to where the fishing boats return with their catch and teased the starlings with our burgers.

It was such a good day out on Tuesday we decided to do it again.

This time the bus took us to Berwick-on-Tweed station where we had an hour or so to kill before our onward train connection.
We wandered into the park next to the station and found a delightful spot for a picnic and then found a B & B where the very kind landlady allowed us to leave our luggage in her vestibule (in exchange for a small donation in her charity box) while we wandered along the riverside. A most enjoyable hour spent playing on the driftwood boat and clambering up the stairs to the castle remains.
Back to the task in hand, a train to Edinburgh Haymarket, change to the Crewe train, and finally a taxi back to Hurlston Bridge.

No peace for the wicked, just back from a very long train journey and looking forward to a day or so to relax and recuperate when along come the fuel boat, now I have to make a decision about how much coal to purchase for the forthcoming cold spell, it is autumn and heading to winter after all. I think twelve bags between us should last till the fuel boat next arrives.

Dennis.

Iowner.

Yesterday was for recovering and recouping, Today was in preparation for tomorrow. As we are heading towards Middlewich (hopefully to find some apples) we needed to turn around and the nearest winding hole is at Wrexham Bridge, just over a mile away. The round trip was only about an hour but at this time of year quite enough for one day.

Down the flight. They are still having trouble with the pound between lock two and three being much lower than it is designed to be and many a boat has run aground and had to flush more water from above to actually make it from one lock to the next.
Fairly uneventful for the rest of the journey and moored close to the winding hole near to Benyons Bridge.