Tuesday/Rārua
We biked to Seaham and then a little way along the Durham Heritage Coast.
Seaham was built in the 1880's by a wealthy businessman who wanted it to be a city to compete with the neighbouring city of Sunderland. There were a few closed down pubs. I would say this city is a town, in survival mode, not booming. However local residents did buy "Tommy" who is a tribute to those lost in the war. It was located on a paved platform, on pavers under which a hidden time capsule was found. In this were remnants of the war - a victory medal and war remembrances. The cost of Tommy was 102,000 pounds, and he was handed across to the town at 11 am on 11th Nov 2018, a century after Armistice Day WW1.
I can contribute bike ride tours as a way to get this town booming. You know, publicise a heritage ride etc. Here is the beginnings of it. Start at the Marina. This was probably carved out of the cliff.
Maybe a picnic at a beach Seaham has created. This was a school trip to the beach. The temperature was maybe 15C.
And then off to bike the Durham Heritage Coast trails.
Bill had to take this photo below. I haven't got long enough arms!
I thought these below were cool. They told stories of the past. They put the story on one post and then poems on the others.
Then we biked home (with a cafe coffee stop on the way) to have a massage. (We are staying at a spa place. You have to make the most of what they offer.)
And then in the evening out for a meal and then to a local pub to watch the semifinal of Women's World Cup soccer. England lost 2-1 to USA in a thriller. English captain Houghton opted to take a penalty because another girl had missed twice, and then she missed! If she had scored from the penalty, things might have been different. That is sport. This photo was taken at 10pm at night after the soccer, the days are so long!
