Whey aye, canny lad. The wattas o the Tyne
PROGRESS
Andrew and Hilary Clark
Wed 10 Jun 2009 19:17
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55:00.8N 01:24W
   The perceptive reader will have realised that we
are now in the land of the Toon Army.
We made an early start from Lowestoft for the 200
mile leg up here to the Tyne. The brooding, malevolant wind turbines off Great
Yarmouth (have you ever noticed how many are stationary when you see them?) gave
way to gas platforms as we crossed the Humber estuary. What with coal fired
power station in the Medway, Sizewell Nuclear Power station near Aldeburgh, and
oil rigs to come off Scotland, we will soon have done a complete review of the
main alternative energy sources for the UK. Our own wind generator has become
quite perky since he has seen his big brothers - no doubt he will start to sulk
again as we go further north.
As we approached the winking light on Flamborough
Head, we expected a fairly quiet night. But the volume of coastal shipping
traffic surprised us, and kept us occupied all the way to the Tyne, which we
entered 29 hours out of Lowestoft. We are moored in Royal Quays Marina, about 2
miles in from the sea on the North Shields side, which you enter through a
real lock. Being in it at low tide, when the sluices are opened it is
like being in a kayak at the base of Niagra! The marina is good, surrounded by a
pleasant development, and the marina team are helpful and
knowledgable.
Today we took the metro into Newcastle, and were
very impressed. Although all the way in there is evidence of where industry and
employment used to be, the city has an upbeat and affluent feel to it. The
public areas seem to be well laid out and cared for. We were able to see the
Millenium Bridge 'tipped' up to allow a small ship to pass
underneath.
Completing this leg was an important milestone in
our overall cruise plan, and we will have only one more brief stop before
Edinburgh. But now we are here, we realise that, given time, between Whitby and
the Border there are a number of places that would be worth visiting. But most
places would be easier with westerly winds.
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