It was a shame to have to leave Whitby after only one day but we needed to get on. Possible bad weather in the latter part of next week could hold us up so we’ve got to get the miles in. Today’s journey was to North Shields on the Tyne river, it was literally one straight line from the pier head to pier head, so not much navigating to do. However lots of commercial shipping in and out of Hartlepool and variable wind strengths and directions stopped the boredom setting in over the eight hour passage. There were times when we were motoring in no wind and times when we were zipping along at 9 kts with 2 reefs in! During the trip We also passed our 500 mile mark.

On arrival at the marina we refueled before locking in, ready for our passage up to Amble tomorrow, where we hope to pick up some local knowledge for the next hundred miles of travel from the reportedly very friendly and knowledgeable marina staff.

We have been it touch with John Gilmour, whom many of you will know, from the sailing club, his teaching at the local school and his volunteering at Swanage Lifeboat. We were hoping to meet up somewhere on our journey, but our itineries have not quite coincided. Such a shame after travelling this far.

Our schedule puts us in Edinburgh next Saturday, one hundred miles away. but with Amble, Lindisfarne and Eyemouth to visit on the way it’s going to be a busy week.