Durham, March 2018

March 12th to March 15th

After our trip to York for my birthday and having Dot's birthday back at home, we set off for a few days on the CL at Durham City rowing club. It's only a few miles to Durham from our house but it is so different there, that it never botters us to just stay there for a couple of days.

Monday the 12th March

We arrived and booked in, the ground was very muddy but we managed to get on a pitch. It was like York, the river was running very high and fast. The pitches had changed since our last visit and one or two trees had come down but it was still very muddy, we did however get a key to get in to use the toilets, as long as the club was open.

As we were in Durham I didn't take many photos at all and we didn't do anything much different to any other time we have been there.

So we just wandered into town and had a drink, and even had food in the Head of Steam. To drink in there, I had Camerons, Brown Dog, a nice local beer and a Leeds, Midnight Bell, one I had had before.

Later back at the site, I did however rig up a new aerial for the TV that we had bought back at home and it worked fine.

Tuesday the 13th March

It was still damp today but the river level had dropped slightly. On the afternoon we again wandered into the center, spent some time looking around the shops but eventually ended up back in a pub.

The pub was the CoHo, more of a wine bar really but it was new to us, so we had to have a look in. It was down by the river next to the watermill from the old Ice Rink, the mill or electrical generator, has been rebuilt but still works. On the opposite side of the river was totally different, many of the buildings had been knocked down and removed and new was being built. Anyway in there I had an ordinary beer (it was a wine bar).

Back at the Head of Steam, we had our tea again and more new beers, a Bone Machine, Skeleton Party and a Wild Beer, Millionaire, both very drinkable.

On the way back to the van we popped into The Half Moon Inn, and had a Durham, White Gold, not a favorite but it was refreshing.

Wednesday the 14th March

Another trip into the center but this time it was a proper walk and today the weather was much better. We set off and went over Kingsgate Bridge up to the Cathedral, over Prebends Bridge and along the river to the next footbridge near the Radisson. Then it was up into the Spoons, The Bishops' Mill, we had not been in before, we had always use the other Spoons.

We had food in there and luckily it was an offer we got, I also got a couple of new beers. I had a J W Lees, Game On and then a Salopian, Bertza, both nice beers.

On the way back we popped into the Smiths pub on the river the Swan & Three Cygnets, and had a very good pint of Old Brewery Bitter, same as usual.

Thursday the 15th March

It was difficult getting off the site but we made it without too much mud flying about. We then drove home for a rest.