Day 8

The beginning of our second week and we would like to say thanks to Ann on Reception at Travelodge Seaton Burn for her local information. While I was talking to Ann Ian chatted with George Naismith who was also staying at the Travelodge. Not only did he know about Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres he was also an architect (?), had worked on the Edinburgh Maggie's Centre AND had met Maggie!!! Life is full of such 'small world' co-incidental meetings....

We set off to meet Mary Jennings for the Newcastle North East Maggie's Centre and became caught up in two sets of road works and some traffic lights that were not working - thank you for your patience... we had a great chat over coffee then set off to see the new Cancer Centre although it is not yet open (even the multi story car park was impressive). Mary told us that the Heaton Voices Choir would be performing a concert in aid of Maggie's Centres. Sounds really impressive! We drove through Byker (as in Byker Grove) and saw the bridges across the Tyne as well as the most impressive Angel of the North...

I now have an apology to make - we should have met a gentleman with the nickname Uncle Albert (because he looks like the character from Only Fools and Horses), Barry from Pudsey in Yorkshire, but I misread the directions and went down the A1 (M) instead of the M1 - so sorry but we hope to catch up with him when he brings his motorbike down to Rhymney in South Wales.

Carrying on southwards I became fed up with driving along motorways - we had been spoilt with the roads and the scenery around Scotland and Northumbria - and on seeing the sign for Sherwood Forest detoured off the motorway. We found ourselves walking through the forest to The Major, an oak tree estimated to be over 800 years old. Our photo was taken by Debbie who had Jamie and Sam with her - thank you. Then we started chatting with Julia and Ollie Taylor and their two children, Sam and Caitlin. They were enjoying a break at the local Centre Parcs and we realised they were living a couple of streets away from where I grew up in Cardiff - another 'its a small world' co-incidence.

Back on the motorway we decided that as it was coming close to 5pm it was time to eat as we still had about 2 hours to go to our destination. We were passing Nottingham at the time and remembered the most enjoyable meal we had had the previous Monday at The Otter in Kegworth - just off J 24 of the M1. Located on the river bank with canal boats passing - a really idyllic spot for a bit of R & R. So we dropped in there again for a warm welcome from Tim Loakes, Richard and Steph and others who had all been there the previous week. Another super meal - thank you very much for your comments and support of our venture.

Eventually we made it to Hemel Hempstead where we were greeted by Jenny on Reception at tonight's Travelodge.

Tomorrow I shall brave either the M25 or the A1 /A406/A40 in order to reach Maggie's London Centre by 11 am followed by Oxford for 2 pm... better get a good night's sleep I think?

TTFN

Berni and Ian