Over the weekend a town near us called Blyth hosted the North Sea Tall Ships Regatta 2016.....Of course we had to visit....
As well as the ships there were fairground rides, live bands, food, drink and craft stalls, street theater, Romans, Vikings and so much more.....
The day didn't get off to the greatest start....We were planning on getting the 10.15am bus to Blyth but it was absolutely chucking it down....It rained and rained and we thought the day had been ruined....We were starting to think it was never going to stop....Finally it did! Phew and just after lunchtime we were on our way.....
As much as we were there to see the ships we couldn't get very close so the girls lost interest and the the shining lights and music of the fairground rides were calling them.....
They went on a few rides and we looked around some of the stalls on the quayside and moved onto Ridley Park....We walked around tasting food and drink....Sausages, cheese, gin, chilli and lots more.....We decided on a few things to buy and said we would get it on the way back.....
We stopped to talk to a Roman from the English Heritage....He was such a lovely chap and I learned more about the Romans in 10 minutes than I did in the whole time that I was at school....hehehe Ellie was fascinated by him and very chatty....
There was more stalls to look at, trampolines to jump on and the best ice creams ever to eat....
We saw the water fountains and the playground.....It isn't a park we have visited before but we will be back again....The playground is epic....As well as the normal things in a park there is zip wires and some epic climbing frames....
Next stop was the beach! It was quite a walk but it was worth it....The kids played for about 40 minutes on the sand....
While the kids were playing in the sand Stu and I went and sat on a nearby wall.....Ellie came over to see us and just as she did some Vikings walked around the corner....They came and started talking to Ellie.....They started apologising for their ancestors and then they started singing to us.....Ignoring the crowd that was forming and just focusing on us.....As funny as it was I wanted the ground to swallow me up.....I am not good at being the centre of attention....lol They gave Ellie a gold coin and a certificate....I thought it was such fun and so sweet but I would have preferred that they hadn't have singled us out....lol
Just as they finished singing and started moving away Becky came walking up to us....She had stood at the back of the crowd creased over laughing so much so that she never even thought of videoing it on her phone....Eesh! She said why didn't I....I was scared to in case they focused on me more instead of Ellie....lol
We started heading back to the bus stop.....Stopping at the food stalls to buy some fancy sausages, fudge, cupcakes and brownies and then last but not least we had to have a go on the hook a duck!
With the wet weather in the morning putting us a couple of hours behind we ended up just managing to catch the last bus home....It was worth the rush at the end....It was a fantastic day....We walked for miles and our legs were aching by the time we got home but all the treats we had bought eased the pain....hehehe
It was such a fab event wasn't it - you definitely need to re-visit Ridley Park, it's a favourite of ours. Those ice creams look EPIC.
ReplyDeleteIt was brilliant. I wish the weather had been better so we could have got there earlier and had more time...Thank you!
DeleteAnd look at those icecreams - yum!!
ReplyDeleteThey were awesome x
DeleteThis looks like such a fab day out.
ReplyDeleteIt was brilliant! The best day out we've had in a long time x
DeleteSounds like a great day out. We'd have been mortified being singled out too - N would have dragged me off I expect.
ReplyDeleteIt was fantastic! Thank you x
Deletewhat a fab day and so pleased it stopped raining so you could enjoy it! bloody british weather ey. those ice creams do look amazing too! #CountryKids
ReplyDeleteWe nearly never went because of the rain. I'm so glad we braved it.
DeleteThank you x
Sounds like you had a fab day! Yes i would of been mortified getting singled out I like to generally blend in the background ha! #countrykids
ReplyDeleteI like to blend into the background too...I was mortified. lol
DeleteThank you x
How wonderful! More photos of the ships please! :D I have such a weakness for tall ships. #CountryKids
ReplyDeleteI haven't got many more....Eek! There was just too many people to get a good shot!
DeleteThank you x
What a wonderful day out. What a relief that the rain stopped, something like this really does need a dry day to enjoy it fully. It sounds a little like our steam fair in that the Tall Ships were the main attraction but all the other things around it made for a great family day out. I love the people dressed up and how they interacted with you, even if it did leave you as the centre of attention! A wonderful video that really captures the fun of the day.
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking up and sharing with me on #CountryKids
Thank you! It was a fantastic day.
DeleteThat looks like a fun and lovely event. Would love to see tall ships too and that Roman guy from English man looks authentic ;) #countrykids
ReplyDeleteThe Roman guy was fantastic. He stayed in character too...
DeleteThank you x
What a fun-packed day out! It sounds like the costumed guys were brilliant-even if you were left embarrassed :)
ReplyDelete#countrykids
It really was...
DeleteThey really were great...Thank you x
It's sounds like you had a great day. I really wanted to go but the other half was working and I didn't want to take all three kids on my own. Xx
ReplyDeleteOh no! What a shame....I wouldn't have gone without my fella even just with my two. It was far too busy...
DeleteIts so true sometimes that experiencing the lesson is better than learning it inside the classroom! This is such a lovely time and so glad that you didnt let the rain ruin your trip =) #countrykids
ReplyDeleteYes! That's exactly it...She learned more in 10 minutes than a whole term at school.
DeleteThank you x
Oh wow, it looks like a great day. I would love to see that ship :)
ReplyDeleteIt was fantastic. The ships were so impressive.
DeleteGlad it turned out well in the end. Love that you stopped to talk to a Roman :-) #countrykids
ReplyDeleteMe too...
DeleteThe Roman was such a nice guy.
The weather was dreadful on Sunday but glad you got there and enjoyed the day. We ended up going on the Monday but not managed to write it up yet :)
ReplyDeleteIt was awful...It dried up just after lunch and by late afternoon we were sweating. lol
DeleteThank you x
Love the parcel of land. Sounds like you all had a great day. #countrykids
ReplyDeleteWe did.Thank you x
DeleteI so wanted to go to this this year but completely forgot it was on. It looks like it was a great day despite the weather. #CountryKids
ReplyDeleteIt was a great day! Such a shame you missed out on it.
DeleteWhat a fabulous day out. Love the tall ships and the Roman and was chuckling over you and Ellie being accosted by Vikings. What a shame Becky didn't manage to capture it on her phone! The playground and the ice-creams look amazing :-) #countrykids
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame about the weather to the start to the day. Sounds like it was more than made up for though (apart from being center of attention). The park sounds amazing. #countrykids
ReplyDeleteWoW! This sounds like an amazing day despite the weather at the start of the day.
ReplyDeleteLove the tall ships, I've never seen one up close but I imagine they really are huge and very impressive. And what about the Vikings?! It just goes to show if you have someone who is engaging how much easier it is to learn! As for the singing episode, I think I wouldn've been totally embarrassed too...but like Ellie would be laughing my socks off watching someone else get embarrassed! Still, its something you won't forget!
haha!
xx
#CountryKids
I'm jealous of the tall ships, they look spectacular.History reenactments are a fantastic way to see the past brought to life.I think I'd be freaking out too if I was the centre of attention too.
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