St Mary's Lighthouse

Today’s the day ................ to be at your best
 
What a difference a day makes!
 
No fog today when we woke up in Whitley Bay.  The sun was shining, the sky was blue – and the view out to sea was spectacular.  And yes, the sea-front needs a face-lift but nothing can take away from the vast expanse of beautiful sandy beaches and rocky shore that make up this part of the Northumberland coastline.
 
I spent a happy few hours exploring St Mary’s Lighthouse on a rocky promontory – reached by a short causeway between tides which turn it into a part-time island.  The Lighthouse, completed in 1898, remained operational until 1984 when it was superseded by modern, navigational techniques.  The area is now a Nature Reserve containing rockpools, clifftop grassland and wetland habitats – and is used as a resting point for lots of grey seals.  While I was exploring, Will was painting.  You can see the result here.

We ended the day in Tynemouth with a fish supper.  It came from Riley’s Fish Shack – literally, a wooden shack on the beach.  The fish was freshly cooked to order and it was mouth-wateringly delicious.  Seafood at its best .....................