Quality time with friends...

This is R just setting off to paddle the North Tyne... you can just see his friends SDT & SM in the background. They had just paddled a 'bouncy' bit that R had decided to skip around!

SDT was a pleasant addition to the trip as we didn't know he was coming until last Tuesday but has had to return home this evening. SDT & R made a good impression on a bottle of Tormore last night over a good yarn.

I have been as they say a 'shuttle bunny' dropping them off with boats at one end of the river and meeting them at the bottom at the end of their paddle. The first river they did today was the Allan and then this afternoon the Tyne where I met them down the Tyne Green in Hexham.

I was a bit envious about the paddling bit when it came to it... I had been quite happy to not paddle leading up to the weekend. Maybe next year... get my fitness and confidence back up and hit it with gusto. But by not paddling it allowed R to have a bit of quality time with SDT & SM as he doesn't get to see them very often and they can talk cars and other boy's yatter without any complaining from other halves and other female company!

After seeing SDT off, R, SM & I went off into Hexham, had curry watched the fantastic fireworks and then went back to the Youth Hostel, Once Brewed at Bardon Mill!

Most of all R has had a great day and is happy man which is great!!