This morning I walked along a path called the Teeside Way. It even had a fancy signpost. It is in fact a few miles of unused, overgrown, cable-theft-ridden dumping ground. It passed through the heart of Middlesborough's industrial zone; and although I find the factories, pipes and steam-spewing outlet valves along the route quite interesting (it is after all part of the local area's heritage) I suggest you don't bother walking it (if you can manage to get through) unless what I have described is what you really want to experience in a walk.
At one point there was a 100 metre jet of steam rocketing out across the path from a factory. But as I approached it the steam shut off giving me time to march through that section of path. Moments later it roared up again.
Apart from the mess left behind by the cable thieves, the only evidence that anyone had gone through there was a recent trail left by a bike.
I felt like hugging the first person I met when I climbed out of the mess that currently is the Teeside Way.
I then walked along a very pleasant cycle/footpath on the water's edge. Very windy! Past Redcar I stopped for a shore-side lunch in a cafe, and then onwards to Saltburn by Sea which is a lovely place. I stayed at The Spa Hotel who gave me a free meal and converted the heavy coins in the collection tin into lighter-weight notes.
At one point there was a 100 metre jet of steam rocketing out across the path from a factory. But as I approached it the steam shut off giving me time to march through that section of path. Moments later it roared up again.
Apart from the mess left behind by the cable thieves, the only evidence that anyone had gone through there was a recent trail left by a bike.
I felt like hugging the first person I met when I climbed out of the mess that currently is the Teeside Way.
I then walked along a very pleasant cycle/footpath on the water's edge. Very windy! Past Redcar I stopped for a shore-side lunch in a cafe, and then onwards to Saltburn by Sea which is a lovely place. I stayed at The Spa Hotel who gave me a free meal and converted the heavy coins in the collection tin into lighter-weight notes.
