We’re staying in a pub tonight. A nice one too, the Wrens.
Thought I’d have a pint of Guinness while I wait for my second in command’s arrival (from Manchester). Unfortunately, the keg ran out. On the other hand, the Guinness was free.
There’s a discount at the bar for guests to. Might stay here again.
The Colpitts Hotel, a rather excellent Sam Smith’s pub in Durham.
As is often found in their pubs, a nice fire.
The Swan and Three Cygnets is also a good Sam Smith’s pub.
And then there’s the Tin of Sardines, which is allegedly the smallest bar in Durham. A gin bar.
We like gin. And the Head of Steam.
Wsitting for a train. In the Waiting Room.
Fortunately there is beer.
I so love old buildings.
OK, I might love anywhere I can find nice beer.
The Worley Almshouses has apparently been closed for a few months. According to the bloke outside who said it was due to reopen a few days ago. He was meeting a mate from Malta there.Anyway, it hasn’t reopened yet. Even worse, a missed opportunity.
If only this had happened next year.Anyway, we found another Sam Smith’s pub, the Botolph Arms.
Beautiful.
Every time I walk past this bike stand, I recall the theft of our new bikes.
Unfortunately, at the time, I wasn’t aware that bike theft was a huge problem in Peterborough.
I’m consoling myself with a pint of Punk in the Draper’s Arms, while waiting for the Wortley Almshouses to open.
The nightlife in Gateshead isn’t great. There’re a few pockets of niceness, but a pub crawl of decent establishments is difficult.
However, we now have the By the River Brew Co. Which is by the river.
The right side of the river.
We’re in the Head of Steam in Liverpool.
For our second beer of the day here. Liverpool, that is.
We should actually been enjoying our fifth or sixth pint in one of the excellent old pubs in Belfast. Unfortunately, our flight was cancelled and the next available flight is first thing tomorrow. From Liverpool.
So we were packed off into a cab from Newcastle airport. After food in the hotel, we sought refreshment. And here we are.
We’ll try again in the morning, then, shall we?
I’ve previously mentioned my fondness for Samuel (not John) Smith’s beer.
I took this picture outside Saint Mary’s Vaults, yesterday.
Which is a lovely old pub.
In a lovely old town.
Anyway, it’s nice to see a Sam Smith’s bar being marketed as vegan/organic.
We’re trying to build up our cycling distance, with more cycling and less beer.
And we’ve made a pretty decent step towards that goal today.
After picking up a delivery from Team Valley, we headed to Swalwell, cycling up the Derwent Walk to Rowlands Gill.
After stopping off to eat in Derwent Park, we cycled (mostly walked) up the beast that is Busty Bank. Close to death, we stopped at Burton House for a well earned beer rest.
And then it was mostly downhill until we fell into the Marquis of Granby.
Where we had a couple of beers before calling a cab cycling home.
We’re now doing some gardening.
I’m quite enjoying our drive to improve our (disgraceful) state of fitness.
Yesterday’s bike ride, while a little shorter than last week’s, was more stretching.
We cycled to the Schooner this time.
After food, we cycled across the Tyne to the Tyne Bar. Then to Arch 2 and the Cluny.
After a short bike ride into town, we stopped off for a rest at the Town Mouse.
And the Head of Steam.
And the Bridge Hotel.
There might also have been a nightcap in our local.