We are now in Northumberland! We chose to follow the South Tyne Trail for much of our route today, which followed the river until the last four miles. The first part of the trail was alongside the railway line from Alston to Slaggyford. The train is operated by a charity and organised largely by volunteers. We were pleased to be walking the route at a weekend, as the train was running and so was the ‘buffet car’ at Slaggyford station, serving refreshments, including homemade cakes.

After Slaggyford, the trail continued on the disused part of the railway before crossing farmland and woodland, and then taking the Roman Road to our destination. An easy route today, which we were pleased about as it was very hot and humid. We entered Greenhead in rain, the first since we were in Somerset!

A Backward Glance

Went for a walk with Carol today, nothing interesting to report really, oh, did I mention that I saw a young lady skinny dipping in the River Tyne? When I say saw, I wasn’t looking exactly, just glanced, not purposefully needless to say, more by accident. Well, didn’t notice to be honest. Yes, I realised, but wasn’t that interested, if you know what I mean. No, I didn’t get a photo, Carol had the phone damn it. Not that I would of course, because I hardly realised she wasn’t wearing a costume. To be honest she may have, it really didn’t bother me. In fact I was not looking at the river at all today and took so little notice I’m surprised I never fell in myself. So there we are, there probably may or may not have been a young slim blond lady swimming in the River Tyne. Well, when I say slim, she wasn’t that slim by all accounts, but I wouldn’t know, because now I come to think about it, I clearly remember having my eyes closed at the time. So, I couldn’t see anything anyway and that’s the end of the matter. Following the route of a railway line certainly kept us on an even keel, making walking easier but the scenery less interesting than the last few days. We met several other vintage couples on our walk which always compensates for the ever narrowing scope of conversation we have left to punctuate our long silences with. One were collecting elderberry flowers and they explained to us how to make elderberry champagne, which has a reputation for being non-alcoholic but which, after downing a bottle each one evening rendered them both legless! He was a retired small dairy farmer with about twenty cows and had some interesting views on the direction modern farming is taking. Another owned a buffet carriage serving drinks and cakes at the station terminus for holiday makers using the small leisure railway service. He loved his job and his customers loved what he did. He was able to give us a potted history of the line and some of the area around. It’s great chatting to people who enjoy their job, believe in the value it has and the service it provides. There were more, all prepared to give us their time to chat – with the possible exception of the lady in the river.