Lesson of the day today~ The North Wind is not your friend. It wasn’t the wisest decision to pick the coastal route, The Lees as it’s called, along the sea front at South Shields today. I wanted to do a longer walk today as I’ll be working tomorrow, and this route seemed like a good plan, but hadn’t factored in how bloody windy it would be in such an exposed area, and as the walk went on, the wind got worse. I walked from The car park at The Waters Edge pub, all the way to Souter Lighthouse, and then back again. It wasn’t too bad on the way out, but coming back was a right struggle as the gusts of wind were head on. After 1/2hr of it I’d had enough and my brain was muttering ‘beam me up Scotty’ to itself, and at this point a really annoying man RAN I tell you! RAN past me, and I could see him dwindling into the distance, forging ahead until he was a tiny speck, and I’d only struggled on 20 more steps. How can anyone do that in those conditions??? The last thing you need to see is bloody Superman when you’re having a hard time just walking! How I hated him for his speed and fitness :). Nothing to do for it except put one foot in front of the other until finally I got back to the car, whereupon I wept and hugged the steering wheel.
Anyway, onwards ever onwards, I’ll have an easy day tomorrow!
Here are some photo’s I took along the way, all processed with RNI film app using Agfa Optima 200 Warm, apart from the B&W which was done in Filmborn, and all clickthroughable for embigguned versions.
The start,
it’s actually 2.75 miles so they lulled me into an extra 1/2 mile round trip!
On the way to Target rock
Next stop Frenchman’s Bay and this is the info bit
the bay
Manhaven Bay
unnamed bay
Marsden Bay
Marsden Rock
Pompey’s Pillar (no idea why it’s called that)
Taking it in
Last bit, crossing over to pass Marsden Bay
The Limekilns
built in the 1870’s to take advantage of a bleak but perfect location. Limestone had been quarried at Marsden for hundreds of years being used in many notable buildings in the area including Whitburn Windmill in 1796, so with a constant supply of limestone and the nearby Whitburn Colliery providing coal for fuel, these large ovens couldn’t fail to be profitable, it was geographically perfect.
Layers of limestone and coal were poured into the top of the ovens heating and breaking down the stone to produce quicklime which was used in agriculture to neutralise soil. It was also an important element of the steel and chemical industry and was used to make cement and concrete.
All along The Lees are memorial benches, bought by relatives of beloved deceased, and this one was particularly poignant, only 14yrs old 😦
And that’s it for today!
What I don’t get about this walking malarkey is that once you get home and sit down with a nice cuppa tea and a snuggle with the cat, when you go to stand up again you can barely walk across the room without creaking and groaning. Is it supposed to hurt this much???
5.54 miles
Fraggle's Otherverse 
It stops hurting after the first two years, FR!
You did a good walk today. Almost six miles in a strong wind must be worth an extra mile in better weather.
I would enjoy that coast walk myself, and so would Ollie.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh lord don’t say that! 2 yrs is 23 months too long!! 😀 It is a beautiful and dramatic coastline, and I’ll do it again in better weather!
LikeLike
If you keep going, it doesn’t seem so bad after the first two weeks, honestly. The trick is to just keep doing it, even when it’s boring. From 2012-2013, I lost two inches off of my waist, and all I did was walk the dog for 2-3 hours a day, seven days a week. I am not at all slim, and I am not muscular, but I can walk all day if necessary, without feeling any ill effects. (As I discovered in October during that Lake District trip) Make sure to take care of your feet though.
Imagine how good you will feel, once you have achieved that 1,000 miles! x
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will keep going, once I’ve made a commitment to myself I don’t back out even when I really want to 😀 and cheers for the advice re feet, will be giving them some TLC!
LikeLike
Make sure not to take off all the hard skin, or your feet will suffer. At the same time, leave too much on the heels, and they will crack open and be sore.
This walking lark has got a lot to answer for…
LikeLiked by 1 person
OK will keep an eye on them!
LikeLike
Fraggy, keep on truckin’! As everyone says, it does get easier. In a boring place, listen to an audio book. And if you are especially expecting to be sore after a longer walk, take a couple of ibuprofen when you get home – it does help a few hours later. And, yes, take good care of your feet, slow down if you feel a knee twinge, etc. The other half and I can easily do 5 miles, with the dogs pulling him along while I waddle behind at my own pace. You have beautiful places to go, wherever in England you be. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Naomi, yes I have a knee twinge today 🙄 and hips lol, easy day tomorrow, just walking to the corner shop and back!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can already tell I am going to enjoy these posts and seeing you work toward 1,000 miles!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s right, enjoy my suffering 😀 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Liking the shot including the boots!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hah thanks Graham 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok first and foremost.. it takes awhile to build up those muscles we don’t use very often:)) Fraggy! Just had put that out there. Wow it did look cold and those whitecaps tell me it was pretty gust out there for you. I loved seeing your water. Awesome photos!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheers Kathy, got to find some muscles first 😄😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Having been living down south for too long, I’m always shocked by how cold and harsh those winds can be when I visit the north east! Some lovely scenery you’ve captured there, so worth it in the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cheers, yes having pictures a the end always makes things better.
LikeLike