Why Whitby? Well one of my personal heroes has connections here. James Cook moved to Whitby and became an apprentice in a Quaker-owned shipping company. He trained and took coal between Newcastle and London. I intend finding out a bit more about him. An added bonus is that there is a Dracula connection and the town itself is meant to be very pretty.

Our journey today took us down the North East coast of England. It is a beautiful part of the country. White and golden sand beaches like Budle Bay dot the coast. Quaint seaside towns like Alnmouth sit quiet now. Located at the mouth of the River Aln, the village had a port supporting a small fishing industry and engaging in national and international trade. It was for a time a leading north-east centre for the export of grain and other foodstuffs, especially to London, and specialised in the import of timber and slate. These activities to some extent shaped the village, as granaries were constructed to store grain, and sawmills and a boatyard established to process wood and build ships. Most is long gone now.

We visited Warkworth. What a stunning place. Surrounded on three sides by the River Coquet, it is dominated by its magnificent castle. The old bridge that crossed the river still stands as does the gate house.

The main street is Castle street and it is lined by shops constructed in the same honey coloured stone. It is a stunning place. Nowhere can you go without seeing the castle perched on the high ground above the town.

We headed south to a part of the world where I spent some years of my life in Seaton Delaval. I went to see the schools that I attended from the ages of 4 to 15 and the houses my family lived in. Memories came flooding back. The bus stop where my mum would put me on the number 358 bus to Newcastle to be met at the other end by a family friend who would take me to see Newcastle United is still in the same position. As a 7 year old complete with my black and white hat and scarf I would stand at that very spot waiting for the bus with mum and there she would wait for me when I came back from the game as well.

We moved on to Whitley Bay and had a coffee at the Spanish City.

This Historic England photo is the best one I can find that shows the Spanish City in its heyday when I would visit it as a child. The fairground has all gone now. It has been covered over with car parks and a hotel. Such a shame. It was a real treat to go. There is not a child in that part of the country that had not been or wanted to go to the Spanish City. At least the dome and main facade have been renovated and saved. Time to move on.

We continued south, through the Tyne Tunnel to Durham where our eldest son went to university. I had hoped to stop and take a few photos for old time sake but alas that was not to be. The traffic was dreadful and there is a dearth of parking spots for 3 metre high camper vans. No problem for a car. After running through the city in vain we beat the retreat to our stop for the next two nights a mile to the west of Whitby town centre.

Durham Cathedral will be forever special as our son gained his Masters and was given it in this cathedral. It is closely connected with Lindisfarne from whence we have come. It contains the shrines of Saints Cuthbert and Bede. The See of Durham takes its origins from the Diocese of Lindisfarne, founded by Saint Aidan at the behest of Oswald of Northumbria in about 635, which was translated to York in 664. The see was reinstated at Lindisfarne in 678 by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Among the many saints who originated at Lindisfarne Priory, the greatest was Saint Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne from 685 until his death in 687, who is central to the development of Durham Cathedral.

It has been an emotional day. Reliving my past and revisiting old homes and schools certainly gives you goosebumps. My junior school has been demolished and a new one lies just up the road from it on what was the old schools playing fields. The ground of the old school is now a housing development. No more playing fields for the new one. A sign of the times.

Much to ponder on as I write.

Todays distance: 145 miles

Total Distance: 2560 miles.