Time Off

Working Hypothesis

Well after last Tuesday's training runs, more intervals and hilly ones at that, around Hexham I've had a forced lay off. Work intervenes, with tender dealines of 12:00 Monday means working all weekend and every evening last week except Tuesday. This of course doesn't do well for next weekend's Hexhamshire Hobble.

Whittle Dean Revisited

And Hell is still where I saw it last

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The weather men have over stressed the warnings again, obviously for the benefit of the soft southerners again. To be fair the blow on the south coast does look spectacular but up here in the north, where it's usually 'Grim' remember, we've had a lovely couple of days. Revisiting one of the runs around the village where I live, Horsley, and Whittle Dean, the autumn colours and the bright sunshine making it if not pleasurable at least picturesque. The run ends by acending the Horsley Hell Run which Ihave not attempted for some months. It's as hard as I remember and although I can run most of it now there's a section at the bottom just as you approach the Horsley Wood Cottages where walking is a serious option especially after the last 5.5 miles.

Distance: 9.926 km Elevation gain: 186.5 m Elevation loss: -186.1 m

Trade Barriers at Newcastle Station

Ticket Barriers and Rocket Science

Ticket barriers, by rantoutloud.

Ticket Barriers
Newcastle Station

Given the total and utter confusion seen at Leeds station over the past few months after the introduction of ticket barriers like these ones seen at Newcastle, one wonders how the masses will cope with the self service and phone printed barcode tickets? My advice add an extra 15mins to your journey time.

I wonder also about the takings of the retail outlets behind the barriers (on the track side) and if they expect any fall off in trade. I'm sure there's many people that use the Metro and stop off at the station or other who use the cash machines then are passing trade for the shops and kiosks.

The reference to 'Rocket Science' is that it seems to the average traveller getting through the barriers is about as difficult.

Links
21 Oct 2009 ... CONTROVERSIAL ticket barriers branded an eyesore by heritage protesters have arrived at Newcastle's landmark Central Station
Newcastle Central Railway Station - before ticket barriers ...

Food

Food, originally uploaded by rantoutloud.

Carpaccio, excellent.

Black Gate

Black Gate, originally uploaded by rantoutloud.

This building near the Newcastle Keep used to house the Northumbrian Pipe Museum.