Work restrictions have never prevented us from undertaking adventures in the past. Being unable to be granted a full days annual leave (probably due to our having already taken plenty of time off recently for our previous tours) meant we didn’t set off for Tynemouth until after lunch.

The purpose of this visit was to spend a little time with Sarah’s friend Laurence and her family (Geoff, Danielle and Amber) who are briefly over from America visiting family, and staying in Tynemouth. The last time we had met up with them was 12 months ago. We decided that a little time spent with them was better than none at all!

We arrived at around 3.30pm. Then following greetings we decided to visit Tynemouth Priory and Castle. Tynemouth is the beginning/end of a number of cycling routes, and this was third time lucky for Sarah and I since we had passed the priory on our recent Coast and Castles South cycling tour but not gone inside, and then found it closed due to an upcoming music concert when trying to visit it on our Hadrian’s Cycleway tour.

  

After visiting the priory it was already early evening and therefore time for something to eat. So we all piled in to the Gate of India restaurant for a very pleasant meal.

Then before we knew it, it was time to say our goodbyes and set off back to Stockport (it would be 1.00am before got back!). It had been just a short time together and time had gone so quickly. Sarah and Laurence had however thoroughly enjoyed catching up with news and events. Indeed we had all enjoyed the time spent together. So, until next year …