St Clare's Hospice Sponsored Walk
Kathleen, Maria and Joan have agreed to do a ten mile sponsored walk in aid of St Clare's Hospice.
The walk is to begin at the Robin Hood Pub, (Primrose Hill, Jarrow) where we all meet bright and early at 09:45am, it is dry and the sun is promising to shine.
After collecting their "walking pack" (safety guidance, route directions, water, chocolate bar), Kathleen reorganises the content of her "walking pack" into her back pack. The safety guidance and route directions are discarded, McCaffery's know best. The chocolate bar she keeps in order to stop me from eating it.
The immediate concern is who they might know among the crowd of people gathered outside the pub, ready to begin the walk.
Kathleen immediately spots a work colleague (Sharon) from some 15 years or so ago. A gossip session begins, to catch up on the events of the past 15 years. First introductions are made to Joan and Maria. Joan soon forgets Sharon's name and needs to be reminded, easily done, but I cannot resist acting out the advert which seems to be on the radio every five minutes at the present "Hello, I am Joan and I sometimes forget things and get confused. Be patient with me, I have dementia, but I also have a life", so we are patient with her.
The Marshals begin attempting to organise the group and eventually get them started at about 10:20. I am not part of the walk, so I limit myself to driving to various points along the route and taking photographs.
They cross the road, and go through the bridge under the A194, up the hill, into Hedworth Lane, turn left into Kirkstone Avenue and continue to the footbridge over the A19. 
Turn right and follow the footpath parallel to the A19, going under the railway bridge and then turn immediately left to follow the path parallel to the railway line and behind the houses, on the edge of Cotswolds Estate, onto Station Road. Cross the road and go through a metal kissing gate, follow the tarmac path which follows the stream. Pass the first footbridge (which leads to Brockley Whins Metro Station), and cross the stream at the second footbridge, turn immediately right up the slope and go along the grass path. Follow the path round to the left until the trees end, cross over on to the next path, and into Colliery Wood.
Take the path on the left, follow this along until it curves round onto a wooden boardwalk over a ditch Follow the track alongside the school playing fields to New Road. Cross New Road to Boldon Community Centre. It is necessary to stop here and do a name check because there was so much talking and so little attention paid to the Marshals at the start of the walk, the head count is a bit uncertain (sound familiar?). The Community Centre has "facilities" as well of course and this is an opportunity for the pensioners on the walk, and those who have not had a little "nip and tuck" in that department, to make a quick toilet stop.
After the community centre they return to New Road, turn right toward Cleadon, past the traffic lights.
Turn left at the mini roundabout, into Benton Road, and follow the footpath, over the railway crossing. Continue after the railway crossing, and take the first turn on the right at the beginning of the houses. The clouds have cleared and the sun is shining on the righteous, so coats have been unbuttoned.
Continue to the junction with another footpath, and turn left. Everyone is into it by now, and all kinds of little conversations are in full flow. The group is predominantly women, so they are busily swapping full life histories and medical details, with total strangers, as only women can. There are a few men in the group, one of them says he has only been walking for 2 years, since he is middle aged, we conclude he must be a late developer. He may have started late, but he is enthusiastic and is booked on a walking holiday which will take him up Everest, in the Himalayas. Joan is confused with this and we cannot understand why until she explains that she thought Everest and Kilimanjaro were just two different names for thesame place. We correct her Geography and all is clear. It is after all an easy mistake to make, they are only in different continents, Africa, Asia same difference. Remember the advert, be patient with her.
They continue along this straight and level path (the route of the old Sunderland - South Shields railway line), past such high lights as the "Whiteleas Club", under the John Ried Road, until Green Lane is reached. The effort is beginning to show now, still looking like three sprightly young girls, but coats and hats are off.Here they turn left and walk along Green Lane, up and over a railway bridge, passing "The Bridge" pub, and into Wenlock Road. Along Wenlock Road, past Simonside Metro Station to Newcastle Road. Left into Newcastle Road and head toward Tesco, but no shopping today ladies. More old friendships are rekindled when Kathleen recognises an old neighbour from her time living at Hill Park. At the traffic lights, turn right, crossing the road, into Shaftsbury Avenue. Follow the road and then turn right into Monksway, under the Metro bridge and past the Barbour Factory, now turn left into Bedesway. Follow this to Jarrow Road. At the traffic lights, cross the road and head toward Bede's World.
A bit of artistic licence from me, I take a quick shot of St Paul's Church (of Venerable Bede fame) while I am waiting for them to appear. This is now a C of E church, but as Dana once pointed out to me, it must once have been a Catholic Church, before Henry VIII stole it from them.
Follow the road to Church Bank, now take the tarmac path alongside the bus stop, opposite St Paul's Church.
Even more layers of clothing have been shed, this might get interesting.
Follow the path to the large mosaic incorporated in the tarmac, then follow the river and under the dual carriageway until the A19 is reached.
Turn left, under the Metro bridge, then turn left and first right to follow the path under the A19. Continue along the path, with Jarrow Cemetery on your left, until you reach Cemetery Road.
Cross the road, turn right, and then left to follow a tarmac path which follows the river, to a footbridge, turn left over the footbridge. Continue to the next footbridge, cross the bridge and follow the river past Primrose Nature Reserve.
The end is comfortably in sight now and they are sticking together as a team.
But in the final analysis, the sisterly bond breaks down and Maria cannot resist making a final sprint, to finish ahead of the pack, and be first into the toilet at the "Robin Hood".
We retire to the pub, where the manager has kindly provided complementary pie and peas for all. We buy some drinks and eat our pie and peas at the outside tables in the sunshine. They have been with this group for over three hours now, but still they are spotting long forgotten acquaintances, including "Mrs Black", one time teacher of Dana.
A good time was had by all.
Later in the day, everyone collects at Albert's house, as is their habit on a Sunday evening. Dana provides superb cakes. Nothing gluten free for Phil however, so he must content himslef with eating the icing only. Joan, Maria and Kathleen break into song with "100 miles, 100 miles". A slight exaggeration, but as they extract their sponsor money from the willing donors, they have raised several hundred pounds for St Clare's Hospice, so, very well done.
Had what is probably my last visit to Martin's allotment today, prior to our three month escape to the sunshine and warmth (we hope). About two thirds is now "turned over", and I have taken careful measurements of how much remains to be done, so that I can check he has been digging and not talking in my absence.
