The Epic Voyages of Maud Berridge by Sally Berridge

Author:Sally Berridge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

 Ticket for the voyage on board the Morpeth.

Arrived at Morpeth about 12. Dined on board the steamer, then walked to the railway station, which was the smallest and most primitive I have ever seen. We took our places for Maitland, which is the next place, and a prettily laid-out town. Having twenty minutes to spare before starting for Newcastle, we got into a sort of omnibus, a wagonette that was waiting and drove around the town. The streets were broad and well laid out. There is an avenue of Morton Bay fig trees up to the Court House, and the gaol is built beside it. As we passed there were about half a dozen prisoners at work on the road, a warder with a fixed bayonet keeping guard. It seemed a pity those men could not have been working honestly for themselves, instead of being marked as prisoners with an armed man over them. Most of them had very low faces, but one or two had a good expression. The sun was shining brightly and they seemed to be taking their work very easily. Altogether their lot did not seem a hard one!

We reached the station just in time for our train. The nine hours spent in the steamer, in addition to the fresh air, excitement and actual fatigue began to tell on us, and both Miss Bullions and I kept dropping asleep in the train, and were really glad to arrive at Newcastle about 4 o’clock and I found myself once more on the Superb after an absence of more than a fortnight. I lay down on the bed till teatime at 5.30, after which we had a rubber of whist, but feeling very sleepy went to bed about 9.

August 1st

I spent the morning unpacking. After dinner Mr Vale took Miss Bullions and I on shore in the boat. It was pleasant rowing down to the landing stage. After some little difficulty we found the tennis ground. A few gentlemen were playing but the grass was very wet. After tea, whist and euchre.

August 2nd

I stayed on board all morning, I sat on the deck and worked. In the afternoon Harry went ashore with us, and we walked out as far as ‘Nobby’s’ and to the end of the breakwater to see the immense blocks of stone brought down on a truck, one at a time and precipitated into the sea. Some of them were from fifteen to twenty hundred weight. It will take about five years to complete the breakwater.

August 3rd

I worked all morning. In the afternoon Harry went with us in the boat over to Stockton, which is immediately opposite to where the Superb is now lying. A few wretched houses occupied by lime-burners chiefly, and coal stokers, form the town, but seeing some beautiful beach beyond, decided to walk across through some scrub and bracken fern. Sand was everywhere, and how anything could grow there I cannot think. We were going slowly along, the sun being very

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