Kinross to Sunderland. ( Land of the Macam )

Tyne Bridge Newcastle

Seaburn Prom Sunderland

Roker pier Sunderland. Just at the bottom of my Mam's street


Jedburgh Abbey



Me on a bridge in Jedburgh. Slightly pensive as I consider the journey to come.

The Border, weather a bit "iffy" but spirits high.

Just about ready to go. Kinross to Sunderland. 0915 12 July 2008

With the first 148 miles of our journey completed we set off "Dahn Sarf ", the first major obstacle being a circumnavigation of the somewhat bewildering roads around Edinburgh.

We avoided the dreaded ring road as one of the major roundabouts was under repair and the traffic news had warned of disruption. Not minor disruption, which usually means a long queue of disgruntled car drivers, but disruption which means nobody over 55 should attempt to use the road if they wanted to be home in time to draw their state pension!

My navigator of 27 years was up to the task and only one u turn was required ( no mean feat with a fully loaded Blackbird and legs as short as mine!) in a relatively quiet part of the capital. So soon we were past the City and pressed on to Jedburgh stopping for a leg stretch, a drink and some more photos.

We paused briefly at the Scottish/English border, took some photos and waved our adopted country goodbye.

There was a big biking meet on at Kelso over the weekend, so much waving and headlight flashing was the order of the day as a steady stream of every motorcycle imaginable was spotted en route to N E England.

The famous Tyne bridge at Newcastle was a first on two wheels for us both, we had crossed it many times in various cars over the years and I, in younger, fitter days had even run over it at the start of the 1992 "Great North Run" ( a PB of 2 hrs 4 mins for a half marathon! ). Newcastle was successfully negotiated following a prod in the back from the "Nav" when I almost went wrong at a flyover, exit/entry ramp "thingy" just before Gateshead.

We fueled at Seaburn in Sunderland then proceeded to my mam's in Roker, just a couple of miles down the coast. I'm sorry there's no photographic evidence of the City of my birth this is because we both spent the entire visit eating at the insistence of my Mater. This is normal!

302 miles on the clock, two tank fulls of gas used so far............... and a week to go!

To be continued...........