Day Ten: Sunday June 10th

Well, if you've been a bit ticked off at the lack of photos (and I don't blame you), then this should cheer you up.  Today Dennis and I walked from Tynemouth up the coast to Whitley Bay - almost to the lighthouse - but not quite.  "Rain stopped play" as they say in the cricket world.  Actually it was just a threat of rain but anyways, the tide was in and so the causeway to St. Mary's Island and the lighthouse was under water so we wouldn't have been able to get across.

So here is a blow-by-blow with pictures:

The beach which we see from our townhouse is the Tynemouth Longsands.  Going south there is one more beach area - St. Edward's Bay.  Today we are going north to Whitley Bay.

We deeked over the road to the Tynemouth boating lake where I'd hoped we'd see the remote control boat society strutting their stuff - they're supposed to be there on Sunday mornings.  But not today it would seem.  This is where I would come with jam jar with a string attached in hand to catch tiddlers.    Later in the day swans and gulls will arrive for afternoon ablutions.

And very near by, the Park Hotel.  Iconic.  Sixties style.  Got a bit grotty but happily is now being smartened up with a bit of paint and such.

Walking along the beach was lovely.

And to the next bay - Cullercoats Bay.  This is quite close to where we lived for a while and there were mornings when mother would have Alison and me down there for early morning dips.  Not happy times.  The water of the north sea is cold and in those days, also rather mucky because of the coal ships coming out of the River Tyne.  But nicer now (though no warmer I'm sure).  Cullercoats - a fishing village - was and still is a place for artists.

We deeked up and went back to the Beaches and Cream cafe - for toasted teacake and cheese scone and pots of tea of course.

This is the Watch House - a place built in 1877 to enable the life brigade as well as members of the fishing community to have a place to keep a vigil for the safe return of the fishing boats.

And more pics as we walk around the headland at Cullercoats

And so to Brown's Bay.  We're now within the boundaries of Whitley Bay.

And around to the rocks of my childhood - where I played between ages 6 and maybe 10.  We lived just above these rocks for a while, but I would come back after we'd moved into the centre of town because I had a friend still on that street.  I can't believe that we played there unsupervised - leaping from rock to rock over deep dangerous crevices.... i.e."Devil's Gap"

This is called "Table Rocks"- a tidal swimming pool very popular at the turn of the century (19th to 20th that is).

For a while we had a couple of rooms in No. 14 Rockcliffe Gardens.  I just had to cross this road to be down and into my rock "playground".

This is the prom where walks were taken - one such walk with mother when the North Sea was wild and the waves were coming high up and over the prom.  We clung to the side of the cliff but still got soaked.  For some reason my mother had a beaver coat on and she was always amazed that it actually survived.

And this sad bit of the prom is where the paddling pool used to be - well I guess it still is but it's many a year since any little ones enjoyed it.  I used to toddle down there in my red swimming costume.

Now we're coming closer to Whitley Bay beach.  This promenade which had fallen into a dreadful state has been refurbished and is very nice.

This clock has been here since 1933.  It's had a recent facelift as part of the rejuvenation project for Whitley Bay.

After years of neglect the dome of our beloved Spanish City (where we spent our pocket money and far too many hours on the waltzer) has been cleaned up.  We'll have a chance to go in there for the Proper Food and Drink Festival on Friday.  Lots of construction going on - roads have changed/disappeared in fact.

Some old familiar bits around here, but not a lot...  Here's the corner with arcades, fast food and lots of ice cream.

But we chose this cafe where we were a few years ago for lunch.  Lovely fellow runs it - and food was really good!

And here's the cenotaph.  My dad always took me here on Remembrance Sunday to see my Mum marching in her Red Cross uniform.

And these are the links (nothing to do with golf).  Great expanse of green between the coastal road and the promenade and the sea.  A few "dips" along the way - access points and places where activities such as dance performances would take place.

And here we are heading onto the main prom where, back in the day, there would be lots of activity.  Great fun!  Everyone loved being at the seaside!

As you can tell, the tide was well in so not a lot of sand at this particular time of day.

And, inevitably, we end up at the Rendevous Cafe.  An iconic seaside cafe and ice cream parlour.  We had tea and cake.

And that is that.  The lighthouse will be another day.  We'll check the tide tables beforehand!