8th April 25 Goodbye Stockton on Tees

Having woken up early, opened my eyes and realised that last night wasn't actually a nightmare. It was actually happening. I took the opportunity to try and get myself washed in the shared bathroom. Took a towel and braved the few steps out and looked at the bathroom door. This seemed to be in two pieces with gaps big enough to actually see through.

I didn't want to be in this place another minute longer. Especially after seeing this sign. This wonderful artwork in the bathroom

I managed to shower without touching anything and woke Alda up to leave asap. I had a plan.

I had looked at the other hotel. The one we nearly booked last night but was £25 more expensive. How we wished we had spent that measly amount more to save us from last night.

This was a Hampton by Hilton hotel. And they did breakfast for non residents. And it was just across the road from the Peugeot dealership we were collecting the car for the return journey home.

We packed quickly and walked. No ran, to the Hotel.

Not before passing at the open front door and open window to the nearest room where two younger residents were arguing loudly between front garden and inside the house I say garden. I mean wheely bin and smoking areas.

It now became clear. This was a long term stay for some people at the taxpayer's expense. Thanks Border control.

The walk to the hotel showed how Stockton on Tees is trying to be, Ultra cool and trendy. A lot of riverside developments were underway and a lot of it was out of sight behind boarding

But the developers were hoping for a riverside community of cafe dwellers and rowers on the river. While opposite on the street. The usual rows of either empty, charity, vape, kebab shops or sell everything grocery shops. That inhabit most towns today.

Artistic impression of the future of Stockton on Tees

So an amazing breakfast was had at the Hampton by Hilton. Thank you for accommodating us.

While Alda enjoyed a second cappuccino I walked across the road to collect the car from the Peugeot dealership

The car was a 2016 Renault Kadjar which was very clean and drove us home brilliantly and without drama.

It was an Automatic and actually drove like a new car. Not a nine year old. No rattles or crashing over bumps and was super comfortable. It was even full of fuel. So that rare occurrence made me feel better about the trip and maybe someone was repaying us for last night and looking sympathetically down on us.

So found the the A19 heading for the A1 south .

The A1 is a very familiar, but unfamiliar road. It's changed dramatically over the last 10 years. Before that it was a road we travelled often between Cambridge and Scotland . Back then it was all roundabouts but you could still drive from Cambridge to Dumfries. Which also meant you had the A66 from Scotch Corner to Penrith to cross. But still do the whole journey in four hours.

In fact when we lived in central London. We could do Dumfries to W1 door to door in 4 hours 10 minutes

That's a six hour minimum now.

We found the A1 today quite quiet until Peterborough. From there to Bedford it's usually slow pace and getting through the almost permanent works at the black cat roundabout was a crawl.

But from there to Milton Keynes was quick enough. Before finding the A418 to Aylesbury and Home.

Dropped Alda at home and took the car to it's destination outside Aylesbury and caught the bus back.

Two good paying jobs finished to make that overnight stay nearly worth it. Maybe not.😁