Well, just a quick note to say that if you scroll down to the bottom of the post for Day 1, you'll find a link to see the route from Gatehouse to Gretna in Google Earth. It'll show you where the photos in the blog were taken too.
I'll let you know when Day 2 has a KML file available (probably not for a few days)
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Monday, 26 October 2009
National Cycle Route 7 - Gatehouse to The Black Horse
Wednesday 7th October 2009: Day 2
Gretna to Little Salkeld - 55 miles approx
133 miles running total
A cold and frosty morning greeted us when we managed to get out of the very comfy beds at Surrone House and downstairs for a nice cooked breakfast. I suspect the cold weather and the fact we only had about 55 miles to do today, mainly on the flat, meant we were a little later getting away than was ideal. About 10.30pm actually. But at least no waterproofs were needed.
Cycling along with Ian, you learn that he's not one for stopping, so apologies for the lack of photos at this early stage of the day (or in fact later on as well... ahem)
We pressed on and reached Longtown in about an hour, which of course meant finding the public toilets for Mr McDonald. I'd have taken a picture to set the scene, but well, you know, I suspect there are laws and all that.
We stopped at the Gretna Bakery on the main street and got some nice Steak and Onion pies for later and then set off again.
First snag of the day as we missed a route 7 sign a few miles up the road and only twigged when we got to the busy A7, so we turned back and managed to get on the obscured cycle path. We did an extra mile by accident. Curses.
Blimey. Look. A picture!
Only about 2 hours into the day's cycling and on a stretch of old railway line near Westlington, we remembered to get out the camera. It's got to be packed away when cycling 'cos it's too big to go in a pocket and pedal comfortably. The next trip needs a slimmer camera.
Just past this point we found a rather confusing route 7 signpost and ended up deviating from our original planned route. Sustrans need to do a bit of work here. In fact, they need to do a lot of work.
So instead of heading south towards Carlisle, we were heading west towards the M6 for a while, though after crossing it, we did turn south and followed some incredibly straight roads past the Kingmoor railway yards. Not wildly exciting this stretch to be honest. The route 7 signs were ancient, so it was probably the original route.
And then we trundled through the suburbs of Carlisle, through a park, across a bridge, along a footpath / cyclepath or two and then the route 7 signs ran out and route 72 ones started. Arsebiscuits.
Ian's fancy SatNav meant we knew roughly where to go, but not quite how to get there because it wasn't fancy enough.
Anyway, for future reference, if you're on Bridge Street heading west, turn left onto Viaduct Estate Road, which is where we went wrong due to missing signs.
Of course, when we found Route 7 again, sod's law ensured it was closed and being dug up, so we had to find our own way across the river. Should have turned right over Nelson Bridge, but we went straight on and got very lost for ages before we found the riverside route again. We lost an hour in total which wasn't great. Looking back I should have had loads of photos of us looking flustered and lost. Oh well.
It was time for lunch.
You can click on this majestic panorama to get the full impact of Mr McDonald's fine physique.
Nice spot to eat though. Them pies from Longtown were excellent.
So, after the obligatory bog stop in a Dalston pub by you know who, nothing to do with the pies mind, we kept cycling along lots of minor country roads, with trees and grass and sheep and cows and stuff. And, er, not many pictures.
It did start to gradually go uphill all the time, and with the headwind it was harder going than expected.
Look at these two chancers.
We weren't as happy as the pictures show if I remember and it was after 5pm by this time, but we stopped for a snack and to ring ahead to the B&B at Little Salkeld just to let them know we were actually going to turn up at some point.
Penrith was still to come, but once we got to the next village of Skelton, it was mainly downhill for a good way.
Under the M6 and it was into Penrith and the delights of Fell Lane. Quite steep and half a mile long.
I got up there a few minutes before Ian. Here he comes. Slightly blurry, but it was getting quite gloomy and I was breathing hard.
(Due to the climb and not the subject matter)
It's quite a spectacular view from the road at the top though.
Look at that. Best click it to get the bigger one. We were quite lucky with the weather really.
6.15pm by now though, so it was darker than the pictures show. Bike lights were on.
We still had about 7 or 8 miles left to go, and there was a couple of nasty hills to get up, but the Bank House Farm B&B at Little Salkeld was reached about 7.15pm. Had the place to ourselves too.
Quick shower and we were very kindly driven to the Shepherds Inn pub at Langwathby. Great place it was, fantastic food, a good pint and lots of banter with the locals. They even called the B&B to pick us up at the end of the evening. We liked that.
He's a professional photgrapher you know.
Gretna to Little Salkeld - 55 miles approx
133 miles running total
A cold and frosty morning greeted us when we managed to get out of the very comfy beds at Surrone House and downstairs for a nice cooked breakfast. I suspect the cold weather and the fact we only had about 55 miles to do today, mainly on the flat, meant we were a little later getting away than was ideal. About 10.30pm actually. But at least no waterproofs were needed.
Cycling along with Ian, you learn that he's not one for stopping, so apologies for the lack of photos at this early stage of the day (or in fact later on as well... ahem)
We pressed on and reached Longtown in about an hour, which of course meant finding the public toilets for Mr McDonald. I'd have taken a picture to set the scene, but well, you know, I suspect there are laws and all that.
We stopped at the Gretna Bakery on the main street and got some nice Steak and Onion pies for later and then set off again.
First snag of the day as we missed a route 7 sign a few miles up the road and only twigged when we got to the busy A7, so we turned back and managed to get on the obscured cycle path. We did an extra mile by accident. Curses.
Blimey. Look. A picture!
Only about 2 hours into the day's cycling and on a stretch of old railway line near Westlington, we remembered to get out the camera. It's got to be packed away when cycling 'cos it's too big to go in a pocket and pedal comfortably. The next trip needs a slimmer camera.
Just past this point we found a rather confusing route 7 signpost and ended up deviating from our original planned route. Sustrans need to do a bit of work here. In fact, they need to do a lot of work.
So instead of heading south towards Carlisle, we were heading west towards the M6 for a while, though after crossing it, we did turn south and followed some incredibly straight roads past the Kingmoor railway yards. Not wildly exciting this stretch to be honest. The route 7 signs were ancient, so it was probably the original route.
And then we trundled through the suburbs of Carlisle, through a park, across a bridge, along a footpath / cyclepath or two and then the route 7 signs ran out and route 72 ones started. Arsebiscuits.
Ian's fancy SatNav meant we knew roughly where to go, but not quite how to get there because it wasn't fancy enough.
Anyway, for future reference, if you're on Bridge Street heading west, turn left onto Viaduct Estate Road, which is where we went wrong due to missing signs.
Of course, when we found Route 7 again, sod's law ensured it was closed and being dug up, so we had to find our own way across the river. Should have turned right over Nelson Bridge, but we went straight on and got very lost for ages before we found the riverside route again. We lost an hour in total which wasn't great. Looking back I should have had loads of photos of us looking flustered and lost. Oh well.
It was time for lunch.
You can click on this majestic panorama to get the full impact of Mr McDonald's fine physique.
Nice spot to eat though. Them pies from Longtown were excellent.
So, after the obligatory bog stop in a Dalston pub by you know who, nothing to do with the pies mind, we kept cycling along lots of minor country roads, with trees and grass and sheep and cows and stuff. And, er, not many pictures.
It did start to gradually go uphill all the time, and with the headwind it was harder going than expected.
Look at these two chancers.
We weren't as happy as the pictures show if I remember and it was after 5pm by this time, but we stopped for a snack and to ring ahead to the B&B at Little Salkeld just to let them know we were actually going to turn up at some point.
Penrith was still to come, but once we got to the next village of Skelton, it was mainly downhill for a good way.
Under the M6 and it was into Penrith and the delights of Fell Lane. Quite steep and half a mile long.
I got up there a few minutes before Ian. Here he comes. Slightly blurry, but it was getting quite gloomy and I was breathing hard.
(Due to the climb and not the subject matter)
It's quite a spectacular view from the road at the top though.
Look at that. Best click it to get the bigger one. We were quite lucky with the weather really.
6.15pm by now though, so it was darker than the pictures show. Bike lights were on.
We still had about 7 or 8 miles left to go, and there was a couple of nasty hills to get up, but the Bank House Farm B&B at Little Salkeld was reached about 7.15pm. Had the place to ourselves too.
Quick shower and we were very kindly driven to the Shepherds Inn pub at Langwathby. Great place it was, fantastic food, a good pint and lots of banter with the locals. They even called the B&B to pick us up at the end of the evening. We liked that.
He's a professional photgrapher you know.
Sunday, 11 October 2009
National Cycle Route 7 - Gatehouse to The Black Horse
Tuesday 6th October 2009: Day 1
Gatehouse to Gretna - 78 miles approx
A wet and miserable start to the day and after breakfast and packing and getting everything sorted, it's almost 10.15am before the pedalling starts in earnest.
A snap from the church wall at Borgue with the self timer. Look at that lovely weather. Still smiling though, despite the grey skies. The rain was that fine drizzle most of the time with the occasional heavier shower. Could have been worse though, and the wind was light.
Kirkcudbright.
Here you can see Ian posing by the harbour. He's been hanging around the docks for years of course. He's crossing his legs already and we're only 14 miles in.
Having spent the previous week in Egypt, Ian was to become increasingly reliant on these. Not so much spending a penny, more a few pounds.
The cycling cap under that helmet was great in the rain, as were the overshoes.
Endura Luminite Overshoes for those that are interested. Ian coveted them.
But 14 miles in by midday wasn't quite the speed we needed to keep up, so it was off again along the B727 to Gelston and Castle Douglas.
Somewhere between Kirkcudbright and Gelston, we spotted this.
I'm not sure what Ian's attempting to show, but I suspect he's exaggerating an awful lot.
Unless he's just had a dump.
Castle Douglas. 1.30pm. 25 miles in.
Is there a better place to have a lunchtime pasty in the rain, than a bus stop?
We ploughed on along the old military road towards Dumfries, which was a suprisingly hilly route, with the bit through Haugh of Urr in particular being a bit of a climb. Basically, it was slow going. Ian's not the quickest uphill, and the wet weather gear was getting a bit damp and sweaty which started pulling at my knee, so we weren't exactly flying along.
Now I'd been scouting ahead on the internet before we left, and there's a cafe in Dumfries called the Tree House Cafe which was supposed to be bike friendly and it was just off the route. Ideal spot for a meal and a coffee we thought.
Could we find it? We even asked directions, only to finally stumble upon it after half an hour of searching. Closed. Much swearing.
So, it was a stop at Greggs and a street bench.
No sign of toilets and then to top it all, Ian got a puncture somehow.
He seems quite happy about it though.
By this time it was 4.30pm and we'd only done half of the day's mileage in 6 hours.
But then, our luck changed. Some posh 20p a go toilets were found, and we hit the next section along the Solway Firth which was lovely and flat.
Here's Ian in front of Criffel. 5.20pm
The rain had stopped too. There was even the occasional flash of blue sky. We raced on along the flat roads at a good speed. Yay for those low resistance tyres.
6.30pm near Powfoot, about 55 miles in.
Starting to get dark, so we stopped to put on some lights. The temperature was starting to drop off too.
Look at that sunset though!
Does this look like the face of a man who's stopped in every public toilet for that last 55 miles?
Well, darkness fell shortly afterwards which sort of spoils the photo taking, but we pedalled on through Annan, and eventually made it to Gretna at about 8.15pm.
Here's an internet picture of our accomodation for the night, Surrone House, in Gretna.
The owner, Christine, was great, and as we were the only guests, despite the late hour, she happily made us a fantastic dinner which we were more than ready for.
The room was very nice as you can see.
(You'll pay for this shot Mr Photgrapher!!!)
We retired to the Crossways Inn just along the road for a couple of pints before giving up for the night.
We'd done 78 miles, 4 steak slices, 2 pasties, 3 doughnuts, 6 Cadbury's mini rolls and lots of liquid by this point. Day 2 will follow soon.
Gatehouse to Gretna - 78 miles approx
A wet and miserable start to the day and after breakfast and packing and getting everything sorted, it's almost 10.15am before the pedalling starts in earnest.
A snap from the church wall at Borgue with the self timer. Look at that lovely weather. Still smiling though, despite the grey skies. The rain was that fine drizzle most of the time with the occasional heavier shower. Could have been worse though, and the wind was light.
Kirkcudbright.
Here you can see Ian posing by the harbour. He's been hanging around the docks for years of course. He's crossing his legs already and we're only 14 miles in.
Having spent the previous week in Egypt, Ian was to become increasingly reliant on these. Not so much spending a penny, more a few pounds.
The cycling cap under that helmet was great in the rain, as were the overshoes.
Endura Luminite Overshoes for those that are interested. Ian coveted them.
But 14 miles in by midday wasn't quite the speed we needed to keep up, so it was off again along the B727 to Gelston and Castle Douglas.
Somewhere between Kirkcudbright and Gelston, we spotted this.
I'm not sure what Ian's attempting to show, but I suspect he's exaggerating an awful lot.
Unless he's just had a dump.
Castle Douglas. 1.30pm. 25 miles in.
Is there a better place to have a lunchtime pasty in the rain, than a bus stop?
We ploughed on along the old military road towards Dumfries, which was a suprisingly hilly route, with the bit through Haugh of Urr in particular being a bit of a climb. Basically, it was slow going. Ian's not the quickest uphill, and the wet weather gear was getting a bit damp and sweaty which started pulling at my knee, so we weren't exactly flying along.
Now I'd been scouting ahead on the internet before we left, and there's a cafe in Dumfries called the Tree House Cafe which was supposed to be bike friendly and it was just off the route. Ideal spot for a meal and a coffee we thought.
Could we find it? We even asked directions, only to finally stumble upon it after half an hour of searching. Closed. Much swearing.
So, it was a stop at Greggs and a street bench.
No sign of toilets and then to top it all, Ian got a puncture somehow.
He seems quite happy about it though.
By this time it was 4.30pm and we'd only done half of the day's mileage in 6 hours.
But then, our luck changed. Some posh 20p a go toilets were found, and we hit the next section along the Solway Firth which was lovely and flat.
Here's Ian in front of Criffel. 5.20pm
The rain had stopped too. There was even the occasional flash of blue sky. We raced on along the flat roads at a good speed. Yay for those low resistance tyres.
6.30pm near Powfoot, about 55 miles in.
Starting to get dark, so we stopped to put on some lights. The temperature was starting to drop off too.
Look at that sunset though!
Does this look like the face of a man who's stopped in every public toilet for that last 55 miles?
Well, darkness fell shortly afterwards which sort of spoils the photo taking, but we pedalled on through Annan, and eventually made it to Gretna at about 8.15pm.
Here's an internet picture of our accomodation for the night, Surrone House, in Gretna.
The owner, Christine, was great, and as we were the only guests, despite the late hour, she happily made us a fantastic dinner which we were more than ready for.
The room was very nice as you can see.
(You'll pay for this shot Mr Photgrapher!!!)
We retired to the Crossways Inn just along the road for a couple of pints before giving up for the night.
We'd done 78 miles, 4 steak slices, 2 pasties, 3 doughnuts, 6 Cadbury's mini rolls and lots of liquid by this point. Day 2 will follow soon.
National Cycle Route 7 - Gatehouse to The Black Horse
Well, after a not inconsiderable blogging break, mainly due to no one taking cameras out on the bikes with them, it's time for Dunk and Mr McDonald's jaunt along a good chunk of National Cycle Route 7, starting in southern Scotland, near Gatehouse of Fleet and finishing back at The Black Horse three days later.
Monday 5th October 2009: Day 0
Bikes and gear loaded up into Dunk's car and driven to Gatehouse. A variety of pies and pasties bought at Tesco's on the way, and then it's time to admire the local scenery.
You can tell he's wondering if this trip is a good idea.
Our resident photographer for hire showing off again. Definite calm before the storm, those rain clouds are looming.
The evening was spent in The Masonic Arms in Gatehouse. A spot of fish and chips, and the odd pint.
Tenants. Scottish lager. What could possibly be wrong with that.
Dunk doing his best Paul Newman impression. Ian was allowed to win a game just to get the trip off on the right foot. He'll claim he was the superior player, but it's not true. Just luckier.
So, all ready for an early start in the morning.
Monday 5th October 2009: Day 0
Bikes and gear loaded up into Dunk's car and driven to Gatehouse. A variety of pies and pasties bought at Tesco's on the way, and then it's time to admire the local scenery.
You can tell he's wondering if this trip is a good idea.
Our resident photographer for hire showing off again. Definite calm before the storm, those rain clouds are looming.
The evening was spent in The Masonic Arms in Gatehouse. A spot of fish and chips, and the odd pint.
Tenants. Scottish lager. What could possibly be wrong with that.
Dunk doing his best Paul Newman impression. Ian was allowed to win a game just to get the trip off on the right foot. He'll claim he was the superior player, but it's not true. Just luckier.
So, all ready for an early start in the morning.
Friday, 10 July 2009
Consett, Knee Bother - 19th June 2009
(approximately 40 miles)
Another bike ride that's been slow to make it onto the blog. More dodgy pictures have surfaced, so.....
Cast your minds back to June 19th, and it's just Ian and Dunk out again, as Jim and Chris had delved into the bag of excuses once more.
Just a gentle ride was planned, as it was blowing a gale again, and my knee wasn't what it should be, plus I had new cycling glasses to try and get used to. Odd distortions from the prescription lenses you know.
Along the Quayside by Scotswood Business Park, and the heavens opened. Just a shower, so we hid behind a building and let it blow over. Note the stylish headgear and aforementioned shades.
So, it was along the Newcastle side of the river, over the Scotswood Bridge, and onto the Derwent Walk.
Action shot on the Derwent Walk at Rowlands Gill.
And here'sGeorge Clooney Dunk at Lintz Green Station. Too cool for school.
Actually, the new glasses were performing pretty well. No flies in the face or watery eyes. Result.
Sadly, the dodgy knee eventually gave up the ghost at Consett Steel Works, rather badly actually, and of course the furthest point from home. We limped very slowly to the tearoom at Lydgetts Junction.
Ian puts on a brave face while I load up with drugs. Ahhhh, emergency Ibuprofens.
Actually, he's probably admiring himself in the reflection on the new shades.
Toastie!
Cheese and Ham. Lovely.
Tucking into a rather large piece of Banoffee Gateaux, somewhat drowned in cream. Which is a good thing. Can't have Ibuprofens on an empty stomach you know. The Hownsgill Tea Room is very good, dead cheap and big helpings.
Note, still wearing the new glasses. DId I mention I was trying out some new glasses?
Used to have hair before wearing the cycling helmet you know.
Just west of Annfield Plain, and the drugs are working as long as I took it slow. We had fiddled with the seat height as well, which also seemed to help.
We pressed on until past Stanley when Ian decided to take us on a detour to avoid any uphill bits and save the knee.
A few hairy moments crossing dual carriageways, Ian racing on ahead so much that I got lost near Pelton, nasty rush hour traffic in Ouston and a few grumpy moments down towards Lamesley, and then up the old Bowes Incline to the Angel.
And then to top it all a puncture. Back wheel of course. Not my day. Ian fixed it double quick (well, much quicker than I would). I had paid for the food though, so he earned it.
So with that, it was back to the pub. 40 miles. Just taking it easy apparently.
(There might be a Google Earth file at some point of this route)
Another bike ride that's been slow to make it onto the blog. More dodgy pictures have surfaced, so.....
Cast your minds back to June 19th, and it's just Ian and Dunk out again, as Jim and Chris had delved into the bag of excuses once more.
Just a gentle ride was planned, as it was blowing a gale again, and my knee wasn't what it should be, plus I had new cycling glasses to try and get used to. Odd distortions from the prescription lenses you know.
Along the Quayside by Scotswood Business Park, and the heavens opened. Just a shower, so we hid behind a building and let it blow over. Note the stylish headgear and aforementioned shades.
So, it was along the Newcastle side of the river, over the Scotswood Bridge, and onto the Derwent Walk.
Action shot on the Derwent Walk at Rowlands Gill.
And here's
Actually, the new glasses were performing pretty well. No flies in the face or watery eyes. Result.
Sadly, the dodgy knee eventually gave up the ghost at Consett Steel Works, rather badly actually, and of course the furthest point from home. We limped very slowly to the tearoom at Lydgetts Junction.
Ian puts on a brave face while I load up with drugs. Ahhhh, emergency Ibuprofens.
Actually, he's probably admiring himself in the reflection on the new shades.
Toastie!
Cheese and Ham. Lovely.
Tucking into a rather large piece of Banoffee Gateaux, somewhat drowned in cream. Which is a good thing. Can't have Ibuprofens on an empty stomach you know. The Hownsgill Tea Room is very good, dead cheap and big helpings.
Note, still wearing the new glasses. DId I mention I was trying out some new glasses?
Used to have hair before wearing the cycling helmet you know.
Just west of Annfield Plain, and the drugs are working as long as I took it slow. We had fiddled with the seat height as well, which also seemed to help.
We pressed on until past Stanley when Ian decided to take us on a detour to avoid any uphill bits and save the knee.
A few hairy moments crossing dual carriageways, Ian racing on ahead so much that I got lost near Pelton, nasty rush hour traffic in Ouston and a few grumpy moments down towards Lamesley, and then up the old Bowes Incline to the Angel.
And then to top it all a puncture. Back wheel of course. Not my day. Ian fixed it double quick (well, much quicker than I would). I had paid for the food though, so he earned it.
So with that, it was back to the pub. 40 miles. Just taking it easy apparently.
(There might be a Google Earth file at some point of this route)
Friday, 3 July 2009
Four One Get Fat On Fish - 12th June 2009
(approximately 36-ish miles)
It's been a bit quiet on the cycling front for a while. Various excuses offered, from injury, to work, to redecorating the ladies toilets. Some are perhaps more convincing than others.
Anyway, a disc of photos has mysteriously found it's way onto the internet at last, so......
It's June 12th, a hot sunny day, and the four usual suspects set out from the car park of The Black Horse, and head through Birtley to the railway line, before barrelling along to the coast at Sunderland.
Ian remembered he had a cameraphone with him at this point, and clambered up an embankment by the National Glass Centre to take this picture. An odd looking ship.
Just off to the left of this picture, a couple of young ladies scurried past a moment later, no doubt overcome by the acres of Ian's belly flesh that could be seen. We pray for rain sometimes and the waterproofs.
Jim, our resident Doctor Doolittle works his magic a little further along the riverfront at Sunderland.
Surprisingly, they didn't stay that long, and hurried away.
Kate Winslett has let herself go.
We pressed on to the seafront, and turned north for a mile or two, before stopping for a spot of nosh at Latimers Shellfish Deli near Whitburn.
Chris has just seen the previous picture.
Kate Winslett has really let herself go, again.
Actually, Jim was gorging on a smoked mackerel with black pepper sarnie he managed to cobble together himself. Rather good stuff actually.
Mmmmmm, mackerel.....
The remains of Dunk's traditional carrot cake.
To be fair, Ian did press the shutter on his cameraphone before any had been eaten.
In the carpark at Minchella's next door, we stumbled across this scene of horror. Didn't put anyone off the ice creams though.
And with that, Ian and Chris fled back to the Black Horse at breakneck speed, hence the lack of further photos, leaving Jim and Dunk to meander back at a more sedate pace. Especially up Leam Lane bank. That was very sedate.
There may not be a Google Earth route for this ride, as they take ages to do and I'm feeling quite lazy in this hot, humid heat.
It's been a bit quiet on the cycling front for a while. Various excuses offered, from injury, to work, to redecorating the ladies toilets. Some are perhaps more convincing than others.
Anyway, a disc of photos has mysteriously found it's way onto the internet at last, so......
It's June 12th, a hot sunny day, and the four usual suspects set out from the car park of The Black Horse, and head through Birtley to the railway line, before barrelling along to the coast at Sunderland.
Ian remembered he had a cameraphone with him at this point, and clambered up an embankment by the National Glass Centre to take this picture. An odd looking ship.
Just off to the left of this picture, a couple of young ladies scurried past a moment later, no doubt overcome by the acres of Ian's belly flesh that could be seen. We pray for rain sometimes and the waterproofs.
Jim, our resident Doctor Doolittle works his magic a little further along the riverfront at Sunderland.
Surprisingly, they didn't stay that long, and hurried away.
Kate Winslett has let herself go.
We pressed on to the seafront, and turned north for a mile or two, before stopping for a spot of nosh at Latimers Shellfish Deli near Whitburn.
Chris has just seen the previous picture.
Kate Winslett has really let herself go, again.
Actually, Jim was gorging on a smoked mackerel with black pepper sarnie he managed to cobble together himself. Rather good stuff actually.
Mmmmmm, mackerel.....
The remains of Dunk's traditional carrot cake.
To be fair, Ian did press the shutter on his cameraphone before any had been eaten.
In the carpark at Minchella's next door, we stumbled across this scene of horror. Didn't put anyone off the ice creams though.
And with that, Ian and Chris fled back to the Black Horse at breakneck speed, hence the lack of further photos, leaving Jim and Dunk to meander back at a more sedate pace. Especially up Leam Lane bank. That was very sedate.
There may not be a Google Earth route for this ride, as they take ages to do and I'm feeling quite lazy in this hot, humid heat.
Saturday, 9 May 2009
A New Cafe In Consett - 8th May 2009
(Approximately 40 miles)
Dunk and Ian out on the bikes today. Jim and Chris had better plans.
Blowing a gale from the west, so we decided to head towards the Derwent Walk as that was likely to be a bit more sheltered.
So, it was down through Gateshead and onto the cycle path that runs along the Quayside.
Rain!
Ian decided to put on his waterproofs at this time, which was a good idea, as his cycle top was a bit small. Too much bare skin. Not what you want to see.
The Wild Man Of Dunston lurches out of the undergrowth.
This was behind the Rocket and following an old Garden Festival path, but the route was blocked by a security gate, probably because the staithes had burnt down on the other side.
So, it was down an embankment to get back on track.
Ian fell off at this point he says. Missed that. Curses.
Rattling along the Derwent Walk.
National Cycle Route 14 you know. All leafy and green at this time of year.
Gravity in action (Downhill)
Look at him go.
Gravity in action (Uphill)
Look at him not go.
Actually, something snapped in the back axle at this point, so he had to take it easy after this.
Was making some very odd noises... and so was the bike (Ba-doom-tish)
Anyway, we soon made Consett.
Tea! Toasty!
A sign at Lydgetts Junction guided us to the newly opened Hownsgill Tea-Room.
They serve anyone, as you can see.
Banoffee Gateaux with extra squirty cream.
Lovely.
Dunk taking a mucky picture.
In reality, texting Chris to inform him of the rather windy conditions on route. Glad we weren't heading up onto the moors to Parkhead Station like he was later on.
Ian requires a haircut. Here he is leaving the new tea-room.
Tea, bottled water, 2 toasties, and 1 large bit of cake came to £6.95 which was very good.
Recommended.
Refueled, and with the strong wind behind us, Birtley was reached in no time.
Look you can see the Angel in the distance.
And there's Dunk cycling around the base of it.
A professional took this. You can tell. He's available to do weddings and portraits.
A good ride, that.
Dunk and Ian out on the bikes today. Jim and Chris had better plans.
Blowing a gale from the west, so we decided to head towards the Derwent Walk as that was likely to be a bit more sheltered.
So, it was down through Gateshead and onto the cycle path that runs along the Quayside.
Rain!
Ian decided to put on his waterproofs at this time, which was a good idea, as his cycle top was a bit small. Too much bare skin. Not what you want to see.
The Wild Man Of Dunston lurches out of the undergrowth.
This was behind the Rocket and following an old Garden Festival path, but the route was blocked by a security gate, probably because the staithes had burnt down on the other side.
So, it was down an embankment to get back on track.
Ian fell off at this point he says. Missed that. Curses.
Rattling along the Derwent Walk.
National Cycle Route 14 you know. All leafy and green at this time of year.
Gravity in action (Downhill)
Look at him go.
Gravity in action (Uphill)
Look at him not go.
Actually, something snapped in the back axle at this point, so he had to take it easy after this.
Was making some very odd noises... and so was the bike (Ba-doom-tish)
Anyway, we soon made Consett.
Tea! Toasty!
A sign at Lydgetts Junction guided us to the newly opened Hownsgill Tea-Room.
They serve anyone, as you can see.
Banoffee Gateaux with extra squirty cream.
Lovely.
Dunk taking a mucky picture.
In reality, texting Chris to inform him of the rather windy conditions on route. Glad we weren't heading up onto the moors to Parkhead Station like he was later on.
Ian requires a haircut. Here he is leaving the new tea-room.
Tea, bottled water, 2 toasties, and 1 large bit of cake came to £6.95 which was very good.
Recommended.
Refueled, and with the strong wind behind us, Birtley was reached in no time.
Look you can see the Angel in the distance.
And there's Dunk cycling around the base of it.
A professional took this. You can tell. He's available to do weddings and portraits.
A good ride, that.
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