Hartlepool

Started the day off much earlier than our previous casual mornings. Though we did snooze 1hr after the alarm ⏰😂. Once out of bed, we went for a long run around the local trails. Just over a hour and 10km later, we began our final pack to head north to Hartlepool.

Saying our final farewell to Tiger and H, we were motorway bound. Two lane motorways are really not enough lanes as the slow lane is always conjested with lorries, and then the slow cars move over and impede the rest in the other lane. Ultimately even three and four lanes get conjested... We pretty much motored in the fast lane the whole 5 hour journey without needing to go much faster than the posted speed limit 🤣. Motorway rest stops are quite small. The one we used only had a fuel station and a Starbucks near Thirsk. The $10cad frappicino seemed a bit overpriced 🙃, but we savour it.

We arrived at Spike's house and met C. She is set to leave on the morrow to a folk festival for the week, and so we will be looking after Spike.

C gave us a quick orientation drive around town. For dinner she cooked us a delicious Italian meal: Eggplant Coponata, fresh baguette, and Pasta with Bolognese. For dessert, a fruit salad of strawberry and kiwi.

Her bird feeders were frequented even by the woodpeckers, along with a Pigeon clean-up the ground.Read more