Heading South to the North...

Playlist
Cloudland Blue Quartet - SXTY (Latest Mix)
Udo Lindenberg - Epic Udo Lindenberg
New Order - Movement
Soft Machine - Six
Future Memory - Perpetual Daydream
Various - Albums Bought in the Year of Release

Up early and working on new mixes of the 32 CBQ songs for the SXTY project...

Not really sure if these will ever see the light of day...

Breakfast at home and then, out into the car...

A two hour drive down to Alnwick for a surprise holiday stay at a wee boutique hotel, organised in secret by the Exec Producer when I was unable to advise what I might like for my birthday...

We were due there at 3 so had a couple of hours to fill...

We found ourselves at The Tavern...

 

...which was nice and cosy...

...and enjoyed some excellent fayre, although the two unpictured baskets of very tasty chips may have been a step too far!

The crab sandwiches and mac'n'cheese were top notch (as were the chips)...

To the hotel...

...settled in...

...and a walk to nearby Barter Books...

...noting this for Gentle Giant fans...

The weather was unseasonably cold so the hot coffee and roaring fire in the vestibule were much enjoyed...

Then, back to the car and a short drive to nearby Caster...

...with the ruins of 14th Century Dunstanburgh Castle in the distance...

We walked around the harbour...

..and along the coast for a bit...

Two small planes flew overhead...

...while sheep grazed at the water's edge...

Goodbye to the sea...
   

 
The drive back involved a halt at a level crossing...

  

  

  

In the evening, out for drinks to the Black Swan...

...followed by a shared freshly cooked haddock fillet and a portion of chips from Carlo's, before hitting the King-Sized sack...

A good start to the trip...

Highlight of the Day : Road trip...