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Peter & Mary’s 2017 HolidayPeter & Mary’s 2017 Holiday
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Peter & Mary’s 2017 Holiday

July - September 2017
When I retired, we decided to travel overseas each second year, so now we have been to the UK & Europe in 2010, 2013 and 2015 - this will be our 4th big holiday. We have made many friends and been able to visit relatives that live so far away. Read more
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  • Peter DanePeter & Mary’s 2017 Holiday
    Day 12

    On the road again ....

    August 4, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Today we start our road trip around the UK. First challenge is to get the train to Kings Cross and then to Russell Square to pick up the car. The train station platform at Shepherds Bush is on top of a mountainous staircase. Mary said we would be alright. Well I had it planned, like crossing the New River Lagoon in Tassie's South West where you use two boats an cross several times - I had a system ready. When we reached the bottom of the stairs, people [well young men] grabbed our suitcases and carried them up the stairs. Luckily they didn't make off with them - just kind hearted.

    We got to Hertz and their computers were down. American tourists were waiting and getting crabby. Anyway, after almost an hour we were upgraded to a larger vehicle with a sat nav [I had already paid $100 for UK maps on my own Garmin]. Still it this bigger car will hold all our bags nicely.

    Mary & I were most worried about getting out of London [BTW we had to pay £11.50 congestion tax] through the traffic. As it turned out, the road beside Russell Square ends up on the M1 ... too easy. Our drive to Durham was going to be 4.5 hours but ended up near to 5.5 hours because of road works.

    I like driving on the big freeways - in some ways its like a waltz. Cars need to change lanes all the time to keep things moving. You just have to watch your rear view mirrors almost as much as you look forward. It was a good drive.

    Arrived at Marie and Bill's (our friends for 34 years) to be welcomed by a magnificent dinner and then we sat down to watch the Women's Soccer - unfortunately England lost. I did mention that Australia won their soccer competition in the USA?

    Tomorrow Mary will go hunting for Sea Glass ...

    Cheers    Read more

  • Peter DanePeter & Mary’s 2017 Holiday
    Day 13

    Finding Sea Glass

    August 5, 2017 in England ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    After travelling for a couple of weeks, its time for a good long walk [not shopping], especially for Mary who is in the habit of a 10km walk almost every day. Today we went for a walk with Bill and a dog called Bow, a black Labrador - well behaved.

    We started at the beach - was a bit windy but not cold. As you walk along this beach you can find small pieces of tumbled glass [called, not surprisingly "Sea Glass"] that was orginally thrown from a glass factory that used to make the small medicine bottles. Mary is determined to find these little gems - so not much walking happened.

    We them drove to the cliff tops and walked through the fields. This would be an 8.5km walk. The views and the history made this a very pleasant and interesting walk. We dropped down to the beach at the end, under the viaduct that is still used by the speeding trains and onto another beach with sea glass. While we sat there a baby seal came up on the beach to sun him/herself.

    Friday night is pub night. Bill and I went out to the Hetton Lyons cricket club to watch the first soccer game of the year between his club Sunderland and Derby. Sunderland has been relegated to division two and expectations were low. However, they did play well and a draw of "one all" was a fitting and somewhat pleasing result. Bill and his drinking mates have this agreement - they have one "round" of drinks, in this case we had a shout of four, then you buy your own. So I had four pints of John Smith Ale while we watched the game. Not sure I understood every word spoken as the night went on, especially trying to understand their very strong geordie accent in the excitement of a football game - but they were lovely blokes and we had a lot of fun.

    After the game we went to the Tavern. A tiny pub, full of people and a karaoke machine/operator. I didn't sing - thank goodness. It gave me a fascinating view into the local lifestyle and community friendship built up over decades of knowing each other. Another couple of pints here and then Bill's wife came down to pick us up.

    A good day of exercise and pub culture. Tomorrow we go to York for the day.

    Cheers.    Read more

  • Peter DanePeter & Mary’s 2017 Holiday
    Day 14

    The House of the Trembling Madness

    August 6, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    What a car we have. It has an inbuilt Sat Nav, a heads up display on the dash and my own sat nav on the windscreen. Can't possibly get lost - even when they disagree on the route we need to follow.

    Today it was time to go to York - one of our most favourite places in England. It's only about a one hour drive south of where we are staying in Murton. Traffic around York is terrible - made worse by a gas pipe repair on the main road into town. Anyway we finally got there and parked in a car park - I would like to look for a spot closer, but this was agreed to be close enough. Now it was off to look for Bill and Marie's daughter Zoe with husband Stuart and their daughter Millie.

    The York Minster dominates the sky line. Compared with the bendy and crooked Tudor buildings it is tall straight and extremely ornate. Shows how the strength and the power of the church must have dominated people's thinking in times past.

    We visited lots of small shops and the market - Mary was happy buying more things for me to carry for the rest of our trip.

    Lunch was a Murphy's Stout and a pulled duck wrap - life is good.

    After we had finished shopping we came home - think Mary had a good sleep in the car.

    Getting home at 7pm, it was a bit late for another night out, so we stayed in and watched the athletics - shame Usain Bolt didn't win his final 100m race.

    Tomorrow a boot car sale in Murton - I will try to imagine I'm on the Antiques Roadshow or Bargain Hunt - lets see how I go, hope Mary doesn't find anything heavy to buy !!!!

    Cheers,    Read more

  • Peter DanePeter & Mary’s 2017 Holiday
    Day 15

    Real Pub - Real Ale

    August 7, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Having watched TV shows where people buy treasures at a market or car boot sale and then sell them at auction for a profit, we thought we would see what it was like. The Murton car boot sale had about 200 sellers in a large farm paddock and, judging by the car park about 2000 people looking for bargains. I was surprised at the old and worn out things that people were buying, traders were having a good day. Luckily, Mary only bought one thing, a small magnifying glass - happy me.

    Time for lunch and an afternoon drink or two at a local pub. We went to the Smiths Arms, a beaut little pub in a country laneway. They have Sunday roasts, Pork, Beef or Lamb with seven types of vegetables and Yorkshire pudding. A hearty meal indeed. This is where we caught up with Bill and Marie';s son Scott who was dog walking.

    We tried a couple of real ales, first a Mole Catcher then the Urban Fox. I liked the Urban Fox and so tasted a few more. You can't order half pints, people look down on you, so pint after pint it was. The bar also allowed dogs - so we had dogs all around us - Mary, though not fully comfortable, didn't mind so much.

    Home then for a night in, watching bit of TV, Mary even got to see the last episode of Poldark - happy days.

    Tomorrow we have a big drive up the east coast to near Aberdeen in Scotland. A good test of my driving and Mary's navigating.

    Cheers    Read more

  • Peter DanePeter & Mary’s 2017 Holiday
    Day 15

    Scotland ... here we come

    August 7, 2017 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    It's time to leave Murton [near Newcastle in the North of England] and to take a quick five day tour around Scotland. I said to Mary "let's leave at 10:30". So we hit the road at 11:35, not bad considering.

    Driving through Newcastle is not the easiest thing to do, there are many ways to go - I wanted on the A1 to follow the coast, our Sat Nav wanted to go another way - the quickest. Ignoring "her", we found our way onto the A1 for a beautiful drive up the coast past Banburgh and Lindisfarne especially.

    We stopped at Berwick, near the Scottish border for lunch. Mary had "Coronation Chicken" sandwiches- they looked good. Berwick is a pretty town, the old part protected by an ancient wall with lots of bridges and a picturesque port.

    I wasn't looking forward to driving around Edingburgh - lots of traffic.There were queues on the ring road and the Forth Road Bridge. However, once we crossed the bridge and headed up the coast we had the best road for our trip so far - even got to drive under a rainbow!

    Very surprised at the cost of staying in the little coastal village of Portlethem - which we only booked yesterday. A king size room with ensuite, our dinner and breakfast, two large beers [Lia Fail], two top chef single malts [Garioch & Bunnahabhain], two top shelf Gins, all for £104 [you know] ...

    We played a game of darts - Australia Versus France - with the Scotts as umpires. Of course Australia won - it was great fun, much laughing and a reason for another drink or two.

    Tomorrow we travel to Skye through the Scottish Highlands.    Read more

  • Peter DanePeter & Mary’s 2017 Holiday
    Day 16

    Speed Bonnie Boat ...

    August 8, 2017 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Today we have a drive from the East Coast to the West Coast of Scotland - Aberdeen to Skye. It takes about 6 hours, 3 hours to Inverness and then 3 hours to Skye.

    Up at 6:30am to catch the sunrise - our hotel is in a small coastal village and so I decided to go down to the water to get some photos. Think the sun has already been up for hours - but it is a lovely harbour - crystal clear waters.

    I thought we would drive up the main road, but secretly would have loved to go via the Cairngorms National Park. So I was happy when the Sat Nav directed us up the hills to 'the shortest route'.

    Leaving the coast was uneventful, we could have been at the back of Ulverstone, Sheffield or Colebrook in Tassie. Farming country with vivid green pastures. We were going well until we came to a diversion. First, if you have lost a roadside witches hat - have a look in Scotland, they have millions of them. Second, why is it a Diversion and not a Detour? While I'm having a go, its no use putting up a sign saying, divert via the A994, A1236 and the A97 - I'm driving at 60mph and she's on Facebook. Further, when you have a diversion or detour, put your little yellow sandwich board signs at every junction - not just the start. Despite all this, we did get through - another thing, why put up signs saying "weak bridge" - what can I do - why don't the authorities just strengthen the bridge. Rant over.

    We stopped in the middle of the Cairngorms for morning tea. I had toasted Tea Cake - it was just toasted raisin bread if you ask me - but it was good.

    Now the drive through the Park took on its uniqueness. Huge bald hills and snow lifts by the dozens. It would be a magnificent place in winter.

    Running a little late we went straight through Inverness and joined a traffic jam around Loch Ness. A convoy of trucks carrying huge transformers crawling around the side road. After 30mins, they did pull over and let the cars pass.

    The drive from Loch Ness to Skye must be one of the most magnificent drives in the world. Words cannot describe the hills, views and waterfalls on the way - just brilliant.

    Our hotel, The Kings Arms, is just over the Skye Bridge - a nice spot, but expensive over $A200 a night. For dinner, Mary found a superb restaurant in Broadford called Red Skye - great to have a break from pub food. It was 8:00pm but still light, so we took the 2 hour return drive to Portree. The Isle of Skye has to be seen to be believed. The hills are so high, rising straight from the waters edge. Portree was packed due to the annual Highland Games - pity we didn't get some accommodation there. On the way home we were presented with a brilliant sun set - back to the hotel for a whisky and a brandy, great way to round off the day.

    Tomorrow we head toward Glasgow - not sure where we will stay ... stay tuned.

    Cheers    Read more

  • Peter DanePeter & Mary’s 2017 Holiday
    Day 17

    You take the high road, and I'll take ..

    August 9, 2017 in Scotland ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    I said that the road from Inverness to Skye must be the best road trip in the world, well the drive through Glencoe must be a close second. Huge hills - no trees, just rocks and heather - sometimes reaching into the clouds.

    We started the day with a walk - over the Skye Bridge and back. Can't imagine how hard it would have been to row across in the olden times - something like Devils Gates at the mouth of Macquarie Harbour on Tassie's West Coast

    On these trips I like to leave plenty of nights unplanned - just to see what we get. I wanted to stay near Fort William but everywhere was booked out - so we decided to go near Glasgow - to a place called Greenock which looked good.

    Fort William is a beautiful place, resting at the waters edge with splendid gardens and the grass that has to be seen to be believed - such a bright green! After lunch we drove on, down the side of Loch Lomond.

    Suddenly the traffic slowed to a crawl. For the next 1.5 hours we averaged between 0 and 3 mph. Don't know why, I expect it was just a peak hour traffic jam that went all the way to the Erskine Bridge at Glasgow.

    We stayed at the Tontine Hotel. A building in the old part of town, sandstone walls and built over 200 years ago. Inside it is beautifully restored - looks magnificent. A word to management, next time you renovate, please add a lift and air conditioning !

    Today we travel around the coast near Glasgow, then on to visit our friends Rosemary & John.

    Cheers    Read more

  • Peter DanePeter & Mary’s 2017 Holiday
    Day 19

    Mary's Birthday present

    August 11, 2017 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    After several days of long drives around the highlands of Scotland, today was going to be a short day in the car. A little sightseeing around the coast near Glasgow - a place called Largs. The houses with views out to sea and their grand designs were picture card perfect - what a place to live. But I do wonder how cold it would get in winter.

    Stopped for morning tea and Mary remembered that an artist she had followed on Facebook lived nearby. He specialises in painting famous musicians - including Mary's most loved Leonard Cohen. Well its her birthday soon although I am taking her to Venice for her birthday and maybe River Dance in Dublin for her birthday and the corgi dog from Buckingham Palace was for her birthday and the .... anyone who knows me would know that I love celebrating birthdays so why not another gift?

    Gordon Irving was home in his studio and invited us down to to see him at Prestwick. His work is first class and it was easy to find a painting that Mary loved. Birthday sorted - again.

    Last night we had a great meal at the Tontine Hotel (Tontine is an investment group - not pillow manufacturers) but the eye fillet steak was not a patch on what we get at the Lenah Valley RSL.

    We called into a Sainsbury store for alcohol - not groceries by the way and were pleased to see that they were supporting Guide Dogs as their charity - especially with a nice big bucket for money at the checkout counters - some good ideas for us in Tassie there.

    Tomorrow we spend a day with Rosemary and John, another quiet day because I do have to be up on Saturday morning at 5am to here Geelong beat Richmond !!!!

    Cheers,    Read more

  • Peter DanePeter & Mary’s 2017 Holiday
    Day 20

    Home of a whisky giant ..

    August 12, 2017 in Scotland ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    Today was a day of sightseeing around Aryshire in Scotland. We took the scenic route to the coast - must admit it was a bit rainy and foggy - but good farming country and prosperous looking farms. There are many golf courses around here and yes, the grass is unbelievably green.

    We drove through some small country lanes where very wealthy people have built huge mansions on what looks like 5 acre blocks - lots of trees and privacy. For lunch we stopped at the Piersland House Hotel.

    This hotel has a fascinating history and architecture which makes it well worth stopping off in for a spot of food or an overnight stay. The house was built in 1895 for the grandson of the founder of Johnny Walker - yes, the famous whisky brand, and the owner served as managing director of the company.

    Driving back there was plenty of traffic on the winding roads, got caught behind a truck and so had a slow drive home. A great dinner with Rosemary & John then home for a family catchup, a few beers and a few whiskys and a promise from Mary that we would be up and away by 10am tomorrow.

    So its off to Manchester tomorrow to catch up with rellies ... really looking forward to that.

    Cheers    Read more

  • Peter DanePeter & Mary’s 2017 Holiday
    Day 21

    Tassie Devils found in Manchester ...

    August 13, 2017 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    "Straight up this road then take the turn off to Carlisle and that will take you all the way to Manchester", said John as we were leaving his house after a most enjoyable stay. He was right, no problems and we were on the M6 to Manchester. A great drive, easy 130kph, (just keeping up with traffic) on 6 and sometimes 8 lane motorway. Even had time to call Bill, Isabel and Andy along the way.

    Mary's navigation skills came to the fore at the roundabouts around Manchester, some very complicated manoeuvres - but we made it to the Hotel without a miss - well done Mary.

    One of the highlights of this trip was to catch up again with relatives - Carl whose grandfather was my grandfathers brother and to meet up with Mandy and Lorraine, Carl's daughters, and their families.

    After settling into the hotel we met, Carl, Lorraine, Andy and Nathan who took us on a sightseeing tour of the local area. We went for a walk through the Tandle Hill Country Park in Royton. It consists of approximately 110 acres, a combination of beech woodland and open grassland. On top of the hill you have a brilliant view of Manchester - but just down at the bottom of the hill you can see the Tandem Hill Tavern ...

    We had to drop in for a drink or two - I tried the "bumpy lane" - not bad. After that Carl invited us back to his house for coffee and to see his brilliant record collection. Very comforting to know that relatives enjoy their music as much as Mary and I do.

    We finished the day with a family dinner [curry] at a local restaurant and then back to the hotel. Like our last stay here, there was a wedding party in full progress but Mary & I were so tired - the noise hardly mattered.

    A quiet day is planned for tomorrow- Mary is keen to do some washing, me - I will re-pack my suitcase and find out which clothes I have with me that I haven't used as yet!!

    Cheers    Read more

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