Friday, November 30, 2012
The River Wear.
Last week we went to Monkwearmouth - that's the north side of the River Wear. Sunderland is on the south side - well, apart from the Sunderland football stadium (now called The Stadium of Light) which is on the Monwearmouth side.
We travelled on the Metro - quite a distance from the west side of Newcastle.
From the station we had to climb down many, many steps from bridge level down to the river.
There are 2 bridges over the Wear - one for road traffic and one for the Metro.
We would be walking eastwards towards the coast - or as Ashley explained we would be visiting most of the planets of the solar system. Hang on - all will be revealed.
This contraption represents the sun.
From this point all the planets are positioned to scale all the way to the coast.
In no time at all, it seemed, we had passed Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars - all quite close to the sun.
Pluto was still 2 and a half kilometres away.
Shona - what a beautiful dog.
Apparently Shona, in Urdu, means Golden One.
I can't remember the breed of Shona - except that it originates in Holland.
We chatted for quite a while to Shona's owner.
The North East is blessed with councillors who approve of money being spent on art and culture.
I am sure this is wise - people feel more positive if surrounded by things of interest.
So we have this metal tree on a plinth by the river.
And part of the river path has a maze to work your way around - sort of like a shadow of the tree.
Ashley strode back and forth and completed the maze path.
We had passed a large wooden nut, through which you could view the bridges and the tree.
Then we found the matching bolt.
And yes, Bill looks cold, because it was cold.
The Sunderland docks do not seem to be busy these days.
Looking out to sea.
I have been tracking the Reef Despina on the internet. It is now far out in the North Sea servicing the Lincs wind farm.
We didn't walk this far.....not to the coast, not to Pluto.
We stopped at the National Glass centre.
We travelled on the Metro - quite a distance from the west side of Newcastle.
From the station we had to climb down many, many steps from bridge level down to the river.
There are 2 bridges over the Wear - one for road traffic and one for the Metro.
We would be walking eastwards towards the coast - or as Ashley explained we would be visiting most of the planets of the solar system. Hang on - all will be revealed.
This contraption represents the sun.
From this point all the planets are positioned to scale all the way to the coast.
In no time at all, it seemed, we had passed Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars - all quite close to the sun.
Pluto was still 2 and a half kilometres away.
Shona - what a beautiful dog.
Apparently Shona, in Urdu, means Golden One.
I can't remember the breed of Shona - except that it originates in Holland.
We chatted for quite a while to Shona's owner.
The North East is blessed with councillors who approve of money being spent on art and culture.
I am sure this is wise - people feel more positive if surrounded by things of interest.
So we have this metal tree on a plinth by the river.
And part of the river path has a maze to work your way around - sort of like a shadow of the tree.
Ashley strode back and forth and completed the maze path.
We had passed a large wooden nut, through which you could view the bridges and the tree.
Then we found the matching bolt.
And yes, Bill looks cold, because it was cold.
The Sunderland docks do not seem to be busy these days.
Looking out to sea.
I have been tracking the Reef Despina on the internet. It is now far out in the North Sea servicing the Lincs wind farm.
We didn't walk this far.....not to the coast, not to Pluto.
We stopped at the National Glass centre.
