27, 28 & 29 August 2012

Scotland to Wales via the Packet Boat Pub.

The canal between the hotel we stayed at, the Royal,
and the Packet boat.

We try not to go back to the same place twice but in the Packet Boats case we had to make an exception to the the rule. We felt so at home last time we decided that it would make a good half way stopping point on our way down to Wales.

Apart from a few drinks we had to have Maurice's favourite, Pickled Eggs.

We found out that Ann-Marie is also the bouncer.  Gypsy's beware!

After a good night at the pub we travelled down to Wales and through Snowdonia and down a bit of the coast.  Thankfully the weather was a bit nicer and we got to enjoy the scenery.

Just in case you have forgotten what we look like.

You wouldn't believe it was Wales if we didn't put at least one photo of a Castle.

The evening stop.

 Then it was off again to make our way to Caldicot through more beautiful country side and pretty towns.

26 August 2012

Edinburgh, Scotland

We only had one other day in Edinburgh so we decided we would go and have a look at the Royal Yacht Britannia, which was a good idea.  

We had nice tea and scones under the canopy.

Maurice put that down or we will get kicked off!

Careful we don't want to shout the bar.

Yep! Bloody Fosters!

25 August 2012

Edinburgh, Scotland

The Tattoo!!!!

What a great night!  Well worth the money and the wait.  Thanks to Maurice we had fantastic seats just near the VIP's.  

One of the many great looking pubs.

Who's got their tickets then?

No you can't look up his kilt!

Part of the ticket package was a Whiskey
experience including having a drink with some of the performers and seeing the largest collection of
Whiskey in the world.

Come on lads raise your kilts not your glasses!
No I didn't say that.

Yah! Finally there!

150+ Pipers make an awesome sound.

The Aussie's did a great job and really had the crowd going. Very proud  of them.

The Grand Finale including fireworks.

23 and 24 August 2012

Otterburn to Edinburgh, Scotland

On the 23rd we spent the day riding around Otterburn and briefly crossed over the Scottish border.  Despite the weather being a bit dreary we did manage to see some beautiful country side including Hadrian's Wall. We then headed North through Jedburgh to Edinburgh on the 24th.

What a great looking bike wall!

One of the sections of Hadrian's wall.

What else would you expect at the Scottish border?

Jedburgh, Scotland.

Back together. High Street Edinburgh
"The Royal Mile"

Our digs in Edinburgh.  

Where's the Haggis?

The Castle and part of the arena.  Only one more sleep!!!

19, 20, 21 & 22 August 2012

North East England

Over the last 4 days we have travelled up through Hull, York, Scarborough, Whitby, Boldon (near Sunderland) and we are now in Otterburn in Northumberland.  On Friday we head up to Edinburgh for the Tattoo Yah!

A nice place to stop and have a cup of tea & scone.

Another stop this time for a long lunch of traditional Sunday roast.

 The walled city of York.

A nice place for yet another break.  

This time was coffee & tea cake at the cafe next door to the Red Lion.

It was then back to the coast and to the North Bay of Scarborough. It is school holidays in the UK so everyone has headed for the beach.

The old & the new.

South bay of Scarborough.

Maurice remembers Whitby being a quiet seaside town where James Cook trained as an apprentice.  Endeavour was a Whitby built ship.

This time it wasn't exactly quiet.  I think everyone who wasn't in Scarborough for their holiday must have been in Whitby.

James Cooks lodgings when
he was an apprentice.
Now the museum.

 We made our way to Boldon yesterday as the bike was booked in for it's 2nd service of the trip this morning.

We have done about 16,000 Kms.

The plan was to have a good look around the area on our way up to Edinburgh but unfortunately about an hour or so after leaving the service centre it started to rain heavily so we stopped at Otterburn.

The Butterchurn is our home for the next 2 nights.

 A very short walk to the Percy Arms.

 Just the place for a coffee & a port.

This next picture is on the wall across from the BB and reminded us of an incident in Pamplona, I'm sure Kev will remember it!