Longest ride out to date in Myrtle

 I awoke proper early again this morning, firstly around about 5:30 am and then again at bang on 6:39 am, the exact time I have my alarm set, for getting up for work, however today I had taken Annual Leave so why Oh why can't my brain understand "TODAY IS A LIE IN DAY". I browsed my phone to see if there was anything interesting, hoping desperately that I may have won the lottery and I could then put my dream of buying a house in Scotland and buggering off to live a pretty isolated existence. "Pah" nowt again...

Love this Wee car

Out for a tootle with John

   

The Joker

 

I then decided to get up, get ready and go out and wash Myrtle and give her a quick polish, knowing I was going to meet up with my mate John around 9:30 am'ish. I had suggested to John we could have a ride through to South Shields and in passing pop in to the VW Workshop. I just wanted to have a chat with the lad who runs the garage about a few things on Myrtle and kind of get a second opinion as it were, mainly about her rear wings and why one appears to be wider than the other and what I could possibly do to sort the issue.

Myrtle 65 @ Souter Aired Up

Myrtle 65 @ Souter Aired Out

It was very nice talking to Darren who provided me with some bits of advice and of course it is always nice when someone who knows a little about these cars passes on a nice comment about your ride.

Following popping in to the garage, John and I took Myrtle down to South Shields and the sea front and rode along as far as Souter Lighthouse, getting a few pictures and thoroughly enjoying our catch-up. It has been a few months since I last saw John, life just gets in the way I guess at times.

 

Aired Up

Aired Out

Me and the Wee Bug

Got to love my custom mini surf board

We drove from Souter down to Seaburn and then headed for Sunderland, heading down to Penshaw Monument and turning in at Herrington Park where we parked up, and I grabbed us a couple of delicious double ice creams from the ice cream van.

Delicious

Bloody Lovely on a hot Day

Herrington Park with John

Travelling back home and up the Chester Road, Myrtle started coughing and spluttering a little bit, just felt like a lack of fuel. We pulled in at Grange Villa and just stood for a minute or so and surprisingly Myrtle then drove off and was fine again.

We then just did a local loop heading over to Craghead, and up Wagtail Lane, then headed down and through Burhope, going down the back road where the Wind Turbines are. Again a few snaps, then down to Sacriston coming out by the scrapyards and from there back home to Stanley.

Myrtle at Burnhope

Driving this wee car is a lot of fun I am having to watch out for the numerous potholes, as with having the low profile tyres on her, it feels horrible if I hit a hole. It just felt so good to have the windows down on such a warm day and potter around.

Me and Myrtle

Oh and my dad fitted my new Garmin 56W dash cam. It is really small and quite unobtrusive. At a later date I may get a rear camera too, as this is where I figure I will get most of my problems from irate drivers who don't understand Myrtle is an old car and has to take her time. So beep right back at ya!
  

Garmin 56W is tiny

Another very kind comment from a lady in Sunderland as we were waiting at the traffic lights, saying "I Love your car". It's awesome the positive reactions and when the wee car makes people smile...