Spring weekend in Newcastle with the RPS Visual Art Group

 I came over on the ferry to Ullapool on Easter Monday.  The ferry broke down on its way back to Stornoway so I was lucky.  I thought I only had to think of the weather when I travelled off the island.  I made my way down to Melrose for my first campsite.  I had a wander around in the evening and found a scenic river walk which I missed before.

I set out on Tuesday to North Berwick and had a slow explore of Northumberland to the next campsite at Berwick on Tweed where I stayed for a couple of days.  I was looking over at the Spittle peninsula.  I had a lovely walk along the beach on Wednesday morning then made my way to Whistlebare knitting studio where I hoped to meet Sarah.  Sarah had to come over to Skye on an extra ferry due to the cancellation and drove down from there.  She made it by 3.30pm which was a good time.  We both spent lots on wool so I now have another 2 projects to work on.  I had a look at the goats and kids and was allowed to feed one.

view from my camper van site

View of the campsite with my camper van

This was taken in camera using two images.

Whistlebare goats and kids

Another slow exploration drive down to Hartley Bay, the third campsite.  This looks out on to St Mary's lighthouse so I had a wander over in the afternoon.  On Friday, I stopped off at the nearby National Trust property then went to visit my friends Mary and Terry in Ponteland.  Then to the hotel in Newcastle for the main event.

St Mary's lighthouse

Hartley Bay stone patterns

icm sandpatterns

Seals at the lighthouse

Pheasants at the National Trust

It was good to meet up with old friends.  I wandered around the Quayside with Mark, Carol and Claire until 4pm when the presentations started.

We spent a lot of time taking photos of this bridge over the Tyne

A couple of Sage shots

Inside the Baltic

Adolescent kittiwake outside the Baltic

After dinner we were out again taking night photos.  I was lucky enough to wake at 5.45 and after trying to take a photo of the sunrise, I got dressed and went outside to do it properly.

I was dancing to a party bus which was going by

Sunrise

On Sunday we had a workshop with Bill Ward.  Bill took us to Tyneside and we had another great day taking icm and multiple exposure images.

Multiple exposure

The picture of the pool is what people want it to look like but it will need lots of funding

All too soon the weekend was over.  Luckily Mark, Carol and I had booked on to another workshop in Bamburgh on Tuesday so we spent the Monday wandering around Newcastle.

One of the original Marks and Spencer shops

Mark's comment was "I stopped for a pea"

Inside the cathedral

A blend of stained glass and chairs

We had fun taking this alley way

We met Andy S Gray in Bamburgh and learnt more on icm images.  I definitely need more practice.  We went back to our accommodation and Andy took us through his processing which was very useful.

Icm Bamburgh castle with a background blend

I left the others on Wednesday.  I caught another cold from the mainland so after stopping off at Whistlebare to pick up some wool for Sarah I drove straight to Culloden Moor campsite.  Such a shame as there is a lot to see in the neighbourhood but all I wanted to do was to sleep.  Made my way back after stopping off at Ffordes Photographic shop in Beauly.  No problems with the ferry, thank goodness.  I don't really feel like venturing on to the mainland again but may be there again in May.