… all over the place. It’s not that I think anyone has missed me, it’s just that my WordPress licence is up for renewal and I have not posted since the end of May.
Ten years ago, when I seriously returned to motorised two wheels, for the first time in decades, I never imagined it would come to this. A year that started with a wet ride down to the Triumph factory has continued with many day trips and some longer ‘adventures’ – Orkney and Shetland in June; Newhaven in August and the Outer Hebrides in September. All told, I have accumulated just short of 10,000 miles, the majority on the BMW R1250 GS, the only bike I, and my backside, could contemplate covering 376 miles in one day trip.(Newhaven to Hexham).
All this goes some way to explaining my lack of posts on WordPress – days in the saddle, hours on the golf course and too little time at home with the Good Wife. So, there are no motorcycle pictures in this post, just a selection from this week’s escape to north Northumberland where we are enjoying a lazy seven days together. We should do this more often:
The Gate at Bamburgh Castle.
Illuminated sheep at Bamburgh Castle, celebrating the return of the Lindisfarne Gospels to the north east.
Beadnell Bay and Newton Links – the estuary is fed by Brunton Burn, Tughall Burn and Long Nanny.
Watery dog walking – Beadnell Bay
The Coastguard look-out hut and Bass Rock, North Berwick.
Monday is washing day – North Berwick
Norham Castle, high above the banks of the Tweed – painted by J. M. W. Turner on many occasions.
Heatherslaw Light Railway – sadly, no steam running today..
And for those who need a motorcycle fix, this is the video of my Orkney and Shetland adventure – you will need patience to see it through to the end:
northumbrian : light 
Always good to see any of your pictures, Robin, but bikes are special. Since this is the only way to ‘talk’ to you I thought I’d ask if you’d heard the latest ‘Is it Rollin’ Bob?’ podcast with Emma Swift, companion to Robyn Hitchcock, author of ‘Clean Steve’! Hear it here – (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/emma-swift/id1437321669?i=1000581271528)
Hi Steve – good to hear from you – how did you find me here, I wonder 😉
I haven’t heard that podcast but will listen now – I have time to spare on this lazy week, so much so, I have even turned Blip comments back on. Trust you and yours are keeping well – all the best, R
I must have signed up to your blog some time ago and I just received your latest edition. All well here, except I am feeling the effects of the recent Covid vaccine booster which I had a week ago. First time it had hit me.
Roads and clouds, Robin. I ran out of patience but I’m sure it’s a different experience when you’re on the bike. On the other hand I loved your nostalgic photos. Have a great week with the missus.
I am not surprised, Jo 😀
Thanks for the kind comments and trust you are keeping ok. I will try to be a little more active on WordPress, at least over the winter. I am already plotting my escapes for 2023 😉
Great to see and hear from you again,Robin. I’m glad you had fun without your wife but also glad you’re both enjoy time together now as well. I think you do B&W as well as anyone whose blog I follow but I really enjoyed your color photos today as well. I’ve heard of illuminated books but never sheep. Who knew? 🙂
Thanks for your ever generous comments, Janet.
This explains the illuminated sheep:
https://www.visitnorthumberland.com/explore/things-to-do/events/arts-culture/illuminated-sheep
OK, that makes more sense. I thought they were real sheep and wondered how on earth that could be. 🙂 Duh!
We didn’t know what to expect either – the reality is somewhat underwhelming – the sheep could have been bought from the local garden centre. Real sheep with fairy lights attached would have been much more entertaining 😀
I did miss you, Robin, honestly 🙂
I thought you must have 😀
That has got to qualify as one of the world’s most scenic rides! The weather was (almost) perfect and the views stunning! I’m sure your time away there was just amazing.
Well done for sitting through it! Yes, I got very lucky indeed – the weeks preceding and following were fairly awful. It was so good, I nearly didn’t take the bike to Barra, thinking I couldn’t get so lucky twice – but I did! That video is still on the cutting room floor – I will post when done. Many thanks for watching!
Many thanks for sharing it!
Glad to have you back again! Great video! I like videos like these.
Thanks Pit, glad you liked it! I should appear more often on WordPress, at least over the winter. Hope you and yours are keeping well.