30th March
Wainwrights Coast to Coast walk is something that I have wanted to do for many years but for various reasons I have never managed to accomplish it. I would still love to do it, but I am not sure that I am capable any longer and I would hate to start, and fail in the attempt. However, There is an alternative open to me though, that is to cycle Coast to Coast and the decision was made last year to do it sometime during 2012. I hope to be going with John Leeman and we have now started to make our preperations. It is now the end of March and at the moment we are thinking of June for our trip, so far we have aquired maps etc and putting our kit in order. After some consideration we have decided that we will take tents with us which will add considerably to the weight we will be carrying. The last time I rode a fully laden touring bike was back in about 1965, so, after loading my bike with tent , sleeping bag, and an assortment of junk to simulate the weight. I set of on one of my usual training routes and I was pleasantly surprised at how well the bike handled. I covered the 18 miles well within my average time.
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2nd April
I loaded up again and accompanied by John, also similarly loaded we set out on the same training ride, only this time stopping en-route and put up the tents before continuing on our way.
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6th April
Another loaded run out, this time to Ravenscar along the old railway.
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11th & 12th April,
Loaded camping gear for an overnight stay at Hinderwell as part of our preperations.
6th April
Another loaded run out, this time to Ravenscar along the old railway.
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11th & 12th April,
Loaded camping gear for an overnight stay at Hinderwell as part of our preperations.
The date for our trip has been provisionally set for May 28th. That means that I will need to step up my training a bit. We have also decided on our route which we estimate to be about 165 miles starting at St Bees and finishing in Whitby.
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4th May
As I write it is 3 weeks, 2 days & 23 hours before we set off for the C2C (but who's counting). I have been out and done few miles almost every day for the last couple of weeks or so but I feel that I am not putting in as many miles as perhaps I should. The weather has not been very kind though as it has been quite cold at times with some rain which unfortunately has made my cycling a bit of a chore. I am feeling fitter than I have been for a long time but I am taking a day or two off before I go out with John again, hopefully, this weekend.
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6th May
Only about 3 weeks to go. We have decided that we will use a taxi to take us to St Bees. It will be a lot more convenient and when everything is taken into consideration, it will not be a lot more expensive than using the train.
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7th May
Taxi Booked ! Just hope that the weather is kind to us.
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20th May
John and I took our last ride out together before we set out for the C2C. Our days run was a mere 25 miles but we climbed a total of 2001 ft which is actually just over 60ft higher than Tan Hill Inn which is the highest pub in England and more importantly, it is on our route..
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24th May
Today I loaded the bike with everything but the tent and went off to do a few miles on what must have been the warmest day so far this year. I treated the ride as a warm up for next week and deliberately kept my speed down to conserve energy. In addition I decided that I would not consider that hills were a challenge and resolved to walk up if the going got too tough. As it happened after the first couple of miles I forgot all that and just enjoyed the day.
Am I ready for next week ? the answer must be I don't know. but I will know this time next week. I intend to do another run out either tomorrow or Saturday and spend Sunday servicing the bike and probably repacking everything yet again.
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28th May, The Day Arrives
The journey there
I should really have had an early night before our trip but I had to collect my sister in law from Newcastle airport after her holiday in China. As a result it was after 12-30 before I got to bed for what I hoped would be about 4hrs sleep before the alarm was to wake me at 5 am. unfortunately, this was not to be, I spent the entire night (or what was left of it) tossing and turning and dreaming of ,would you believe it, Hot Chocolate Cake & Carnation Cream. Why that I have no idea, but it kept me from sleeping for more than a few minutes. I was up and about at around 4-45 in a sort of daze, drinking copious amounts of coffee while I made a last check on weather forecasts etc before going down to the garage to check that the Zimmer (my bike) was properly loaded and ready to go. By this time it was about 5 -30 but there was not a sound from my companion (John) who has a holiday home next door, I thought about giving him a knock but had another coffee instead. 5-45, still no sign and the taxi was due at 6-15. I was starting to think that he had slept in so I knocked a couple of times, checked my bike (again) and at 6-00 I had just made up my mind to break down the door if necessary when I heard water running down the bathroom drain. At least he was up. A couple of minutes later there was a cheery 'Ayup' from John as he came in for a bacon butty. At 6-15 we went out to wait for the taxi. As we waited John told me that when he checked his bike before our trip he found that it had a puncture, that was quite a coincidence because I had found a cut in the sidewall of my rear tyre the day before and had to fit a replacment. 6-15 came and went with no taxi, 6-30, still no taxi, Thought perhaps he had gone to fill up before leaving. 6-45 feeling a little uneasy still no taxi, but at 6-55 All was forgiven, the taxi came around the corner in fine style, we quickly loaded and were soon on our way. There was very little traffic so we made excellent time untill near Appleby on the A66 there was a terriffic BANG as the front offside tyre blew. Our driver 'Pete' brought us safely to a halt at the roadside and we all piled out to change the wheel. The way things had started, I was half expecting to find the spare flat too, but all was well , we had a 'skinny' spare and once fitted,we were on our way again. Pete diverted to Penrith to find a tyre depot and after a quick tour around some very unattractve looking houses we found what we were looking for and after half an hour or so we completed the rest of the journey without incident. The photo's in this report are a joint effort taken by John and myself.
28th May, The Day Arrives
St Bees to Braithwaite
Distance 27.6 miles
Terrain Mainly country lanes with some old rail tracks
Weather Bloody Hot
After an eventful start to the day, we arrived at St Bees at a little after 10am. Pete stood by until we had the bikes ready to roll and took a couple of photo's of us before he left for home. When he pulled out of the car park, we knew that now we were committed. We then went along to the beach to find the obligatory pebble to take with us and took a few more pics before turning our backs on the Irish Sea and headed inland at a slow steady pace. in front of us was about 20 uphill miles to the top of Winlatter Pass. After only 1.2 miles John told me that my back tyre was looking a bit soft, and yes, I had a puncture. It didn't take long to change the tube and soon we were back on the road steadily climbing away from the coast. after a little while we left the road to join cycle route 71 At this point, it was the track of an abandoned railway and served to keep us away from traffic for a while. By now it was almost mid day and the temperature was in the upper 70s but we just took it steady and kept plugging away. Lakelands mountains began to show themselves and we really felt now that we were on our way. After a while we had a a photo stop at Loweswater when a Herculese aircraft flew overhead so low that we could almost count the rivets on the hull. How can anything so big and cumbersome look so majestic and manage to stay airborne at such a slow speed ? Lunch was planned at the Wheatsheaf at Low Lorton and boy, were we ready for a pint. Then disaster struck. The bloody pub was shut, there we were, sweat pouring from us, tongues hanging out and gasping for breath. (Have you ever seen grown men cry?) A resident on a nearby camp site told us that there was a village store just up the road so after what seemed an eternity we found a large wooden hut which was obviously the shop and fortunately, it was open. Instead of a nice bar snack and a pint of ale we had to make do with a cheese and onion sandwich sat one the front step of the store. While there we fell into conversation with an old chap who lived nearby. He clearly had a sense of humour and exchanged a few friendly insults with us then told us that perhaps he should get his old bike out to go to the shop. We asked him what make his bike was and how old was it. He said it was a BSA and as for its age he "said what is 15 from 82, I was 15 when my father bought it for me." Now there's a bike for a collector !
After our 'lunch' we began the last bit of climb for the day and as we neared the top of the pass we were overtaken by a group of cyclists but I was gratified that they were not travelling a great deal faster than us even though we were carrying a full load of camping gear. As each one passed us they said "keep going, nearly at the top" Once they had passed they turned into a cafe (wimps) while we began our descent into Braithwaite. For those that have not tried it there is nothing quite as exhilarating as sitting on a heavily laden bike screaming downhill at about 40mph, cursing the car in front for not going faster and hoping that the brakes will slow you enough to get round the next bend. Breaking hard to get below the speed limit we entered Braithwaite and freewheeled through the village until we arrived at the Scotgate Holiday Park and there we decided to call it a day. After booking in we pitched the tents and had a well earned and very much needed shower in the very smart amenity block. My son and his family live not too far away from Braithwaite so I went off to spend some time with them. John stayed behind and went to a nearby pub for a meal. I returned with my Grandsons and found John contemplating the inside of his eyelids and gently snoring. Stuart, the younger boy wanted to wake him up but William had a better idea, take his Photo. So at his insistence that is exactly what I did. After I had been given a little pep talk from my son David they went off home while John and I made our way to the Royal Oak for a couple of pints of good ale before returning to the tents for a good nights sleep.
Terrain Mainly country lanes with some old rail tracks
Weather Bloody Hot
After an eventful start to the day, we arrived at St Bees at a little after 10am. Pete stood by until we had the bikes ready to roll and took a couple of photo's of us before he left for home. When he pulled out of the car park, we knew that now we were committed. We then went along to the beach to find the obligatory pebble to take with us and took a few more pics before turning our backs on the Irish Sea and headed inland at a slow steady pace. in front of us was about 20 uphill miles to the top of Winlatter Pass. After only 1.2 miles John told me that my back tyre was looking a bit soft, and yes, I had a puncture. It didn't take long to change the tube and soon we were back on the road steadily climbing away from the coast. after a little while we left the road to join cycle route 71 At this point, it was the track of an abandoned railway and served to keep us away from traffic for a while. By now it was almost mid day and the temperature was in the upper 70s but we just took it steady and kept plugging away. Lakelands mountains began to show themselves and we really felt now that we were on our way. After a while we had a a photo stop at Loweswater when a Herculese aircraft flew overhead so low that we could almost count the rivets on the hull. How can anything so big and cumbersome look so majestic and manage to stay airborne at such a slow speed ? Lunch was planned at the Wheatsheaf at Low Lorton and boy, were we ready for a pint. Then disaster struck. The bloody pub was shut, there we were, sweat pouring from us, tongues hanging out and gasping for breath. (Have you ever seen grown men cry?) A resident on a nearby camp site told us that there was a village store just up the road so after what seemed an eternity we found a large wooden hut which was obviously the shop and fortunately, it was open. Instead of a nice bar snack and a pint of ale we had to make do with a cheese and onion sandwich sat one the front step of the store. While there we fell into conversation with an old chap who lived nearby. He clearly had a sense of humour and exchanged a few friendly insults with us then told us that perhaps he should get his old bike out to go to the shop. We asked him what make his bike was and how old was it. He said it was a BSA and as for its age he "said what is 15 from 82, I was 15 when my father bought it for me." Now there's a bike for a collector !
After our 'lunch' we began the last bit of climb for the day and as we neared the top of the pass we were overtaken by a group of cyclists but I was gratified that they were not travelling a great deal faster than us even though we were carrying a full load of camping gear. As each one passed us they said "keep going, nearly at the top" Once they had passed they turned into a cafe (wimps) while we began our descent into Braithwaite. For those that have not tried it there is nothing quite as exhilarating as sitting on a heavily laden bike screaming downhill at about 40mph, cursing the car in front for not going faster and hoping that the brakes will slow you enough to get round the next bend. Breaking hard to get below the speed limit we entered Braithwaite and freewheeled through the village until we arrived at the Scotgate Holiday Park and there we decided to call it a day. After booking in we pitched the tents and had a well earned and very much needed shower in the very smart amenity block. My son and his family live not too far away from Braithwaite so I went off to spend some time with them. John stayed behind and went to a nearby pub for a meal. I returned with my Grandsons and found John contemplating the inside of his eyelids and gently snoring. Stuart, the younger boy wanted to wake him up but William had a better idea, take his Photo. So at his insistence that is exactly what I did. After I had been given a little pep talk from my son David they went off home while John and I made our way to the Royal Oak for a couple of pints of good ale before returning to the tents for a good nights sleep.
Braithwaite to Appleby
Distance 42.6 miles
Terrain Country lanes, Old Railway, Rough track
Weather Bright and sunny but not quite as warm as yesterday
We expected todays ride to be tough and we were not to be disappointed. After a light breakfast we struck camp, loaded our bikes and were on our way following cycle route 71 to Keswick where after passing through the town centre we rejoined the old railway and headed east along what must have been an astounding route to take when the trains ran this way. The track crosses and recrosses the river Greta time after time and every way you look the views are fantastic. We followed the track to Threkeld stopping from time to time for a photo stop or simply to pause and enjoy the scenery. We left the track and followed the main road for a little way before turning off on a lane for a mile or so to the start of the Old Coach Road which promised to be, shall we say, interesting. Almost from the start I was on foot and taking my bike for a walk although John seemed to be managing a bit better than me. His bike has a lower gear ratio than mine but in all honesty I couldn't have ridden up that hill in a month of Sundays with the weight I was carrying. Not only was the road steep, the surface consisted of loose stones, a little smaller in size than that of ballast on railway lines which made it difficult for us to get any traction with our road tyres. I suppose if we had knobblies fitted it would have helped but in my case I would have still been walking. Even then it was difficult, with all the weight over the back wheel, the front wheel was so light that it simply took no notice of me and wandered all over the place and in addition to struggling uphill I was also fighting to keep the bike upright. What made it all worthwhile though were the views as we gained height. I think we spent as much time stood staring as we spent climbing. In actual fact the climb did not go on for a great distance, probably just under two miles or so but in that distance we gained something in the order of about 1200ft. After this climb the road was a lot more level and in my opinion the surface was a lot better too, although potholes abounded and were not always easily avoided. After about 5 miles we arrived at the end of the Coach Road and were once more on country lanes, best of all we had a few miles of freewheeling before us and so began another glorious downhill dash. By now we were looking for somewhere to have a spot of lunch and when we reached the village of Dockay we decided to call at the Royal Hotel for refreshments. The barmaid was a very pleasant Polish girl and she quickly took our order and said she would bring it out to us. Personally I don't think she wanted me sweating all over her nice clean floor. Once outside we fell into conversation with a couple and when we we proudly told them that we had cycled over the Old Coach Road, we were met with blank looks, I dont think they had ever heard of it. The gentleman offered to take a photo for us as they left and we then enjoyed a very nice sandwich with our drinks. By this stage of our C2C I think my legs belonged to somebody else because when I had been sitting for a while they simply refused to work for me when I tried to move and cocking my leg over the saddle was at times quite amusing to watch. when we left the Royal we had a few more miles downhill to the shores of Ullswater. The road was almost traffic free with a good surface so we cracked on and absolutely flew along. As we were descending a view of the lake opened up which was breathtaking. I wanted to stop and take a photo but at the time we were traveling at close to 40mph and John was close behind me. While I was thinking how to stop safely, we flashed past a group of trees and the opportunity was gone and there was no way that I was going to stop, and then climb back up the hill again. As we approached the Junction with the road which runs alongside Ullswater, a group of cyclists on expensive looking road bikes passed in front of us travelling in the same direction. After we had been following for a while I realised that we we were actualy gaining on them and was just wondering if I had the nerve to actually overtake them when I noticed that one of the riders glanced over his shoulder and saw us creeping up on them. Thirty seconds later they had left us standing. So much for out moment of glory. After Pooley Bridge the terrain became undulating with comparitively short climbs and what seemed even shorter descents. By the time we had crossed over the M6 time was getting on and we thought it was time to look for somewhere to camp for the night, but the sites John had marked on his map seemed to be none existant, at one stage I was a good way behind and when I caught up with him he was in a farmyard asking a farmer the way to a particular site that we were considering only to be told that we had passed it way back there up the hill. We asked about alternative sites but I think the farmer confused himself as much as he confused us with his directions. We carried on to Appleby and a few miles beyond untill we saw a sign for the 'Wild Rose Holiday Village' near a village called Great Ormeside. By this time we thought that enough was enough and booked in. We were pleasantly surprised to be charged only £5 each and were directed to a pleasant area close to the ammenity block which was spotlessly clean but not as palatial as the previous site. Unfortunately the site retaurant was not open so we paid a visit to the mini market where we bought some food to keep body & soul together. Afterwards we had a stroll to the bar where we had the supreme luxury of sinking into deep comfortable sofa's while we drank our bottle conditioned ales before heading back to the tents for the night.
Terrain Country lanes, Old Railway, Rough track
Weather Bright and sunny but not quite as warm as yesterday
We expected todays ride to be tough and we were not to be disappointed. After a light breakfast we struck camp, loaded our bikes and were on our way following cycle route 71 to Keswick where after passing through the town centre we rejoined the old railway and headed east along what must have been an astounding route to take when the trains ran this way. The track crosses and recrosses the river Greta time after time and every way you look the views are fantastic. We followed the track to Threkeld stopping from time to time for a photo stop or simply to pause and enjoy the scenery. We left the track and followed the main road for a little way before turning off on a lane for a mile or so to the start of the Old Coach Road which promised to be, shall we say, interesting. Almost from the start I was on foot and taking my bike for a walk although John seemed to be managing a bit better than me. His bike has a lower gear ratio than mine but in all honesty I couldn't have ridden up that hill in a month of Sundays with the weight I was carrying. Not only was the road steep, the surface consisted of loose stones, a little smaller in size than that of ballast on railway lines which made it difficult for us to get any traction with our road tyres. I suppose if we had knobblies fitted it would have helped but in my case I would have still been walking. Even then it was difficult, with all the weight over the back wheel, the front wheel was so light that it simply took no notice of me and wandered all over the place and in addition to struggling uphill I was also fighting to keep the bike upright. What made it all worthwhile though were the views as we gained height. I think we spent as much time stood staring as we spent climbing. In actual fact the climb did not go on for a great distance, probably just under two miles or so but in that distance we gained something in the order of about 1200ft. After this climb the road was a lot more level and in my opinion the surface was a lot better too, although potholes abounded and were not always easily avoided. After about 5 miles we arrived at the end of the Coach Road and were once more on country lanes, best of all we had a few miles of freewheeling before us and so began another glorious downhill dash. By now we were looking for somewhere to have a spot of lunch and when we reached the village of Dockay we decided to call at the Royal Hotel for refreshments. The barmaid was a very pleasant Polish girl and she quickly took our order and said she would bring it out to us. Personally I don't think she wanted me sweating all over her nice clean floor. Once outside we fell into conversation with a couple and when we we proudly told them that we had cycled over the Old Coach Road, we were met with blank looks, I dont think they had ever heard of it. The gentleman offered to take a photo for us as they left and we then enjoyed a very nice sandwich with our drinks. By this stage of our C2C I think my legs belonged to somebody else because when I had been sitting for a while they simply refused to work for me when I tried to move and cocking my leg over the saddle was at times quite amusing to watch. when we left the Royal we had a few more miles downhill to the shores of Ullswater. The road was almost traffic free with a good surface so we cracked on and absolutely flew along. As we were descending a view of the lake opened up which was breathtaking. I wanted to stop and take a photo but at the time we were traveling at close to 40mph and John was close behind me. While I was thinking how to stop safely, we flashed past a group of trees and the opportunity was gone and there was no way that I was going to stop, and then climb back up the hill again. As we approached the Junction with the road which runs alongside Ullswater, a group of cyclists on expensive looking road bikes passed in front of us travelling in the same direction. After we had been following for a while I realised that we we were actualy gaining on them and was just wondering if I had the nerve to actually overtake them when I noticed that one of the riders glanced over his shoulder and saw us creeping up on them. Thirty seconds later they had left us standing. So much for out moment of glory. After Pooley Bridge the terrain became undulating with comparitively short climbs and what seemed even shorter descents. By the time we had crossed over the M6 time was getting on and we thought it was time to look for somewhere to camp for the night, but the sites John had marked on his map seemed to be none existant, at one stage I was a good way behind and when I caught up with him he was in a farmyard asking a farmer the way to a particular site that we were considering only to be told that we had passed it way back there up the hill. We asked about alternative sites but I think the farmer confused himself as much as he confused us with his directions. We carried on to Appleby and a few miles beyond untill we saw a sign for the 'Wild Rose Holiday Village' near a village called Great Ormeside. By this time we thought that enough was enough and booked in. We were pleasantly surprised to be charged only £5 each and were directed to a pleasant area close to the ammenity block which was spotlessly clean but not as palatial as the previous site. Unfortunately the site retaurant was not open so we paid a visit to the mini market where we bought some food to keep body & soul together. Afterwards we had a stroll to the bar where we had the supreme luxury of sinking into deep comfortable sofa's while we drank our bottle conditioned ales before heading back to the tents for the night.
Appleby to Reeth
Distance 32.2 miles
Terrain Country Lanes with some moorland
Weather Sunny at first becoming overcast and cooler.
Our third day promised to be another hard one with a climb up to Tan Hill, Englands Highest pub followed with a mainly downhill run to Reeth. After breaking camp we once again set out on undulating lanes through good farming country untill we reached Kirby Stephen where we had a stop for refreshments and a short break before tackling the climb up the Pennines which we could now see looming ahead. About half an hour after leaving Kirby Stephen I stopped after a short stiff climb & moments later John arrived and while we were looking at the distant Pennines, John asked if I could hear a hissing noise, then, we realised that he had a puncture. While he was fixing it another cyclist came along & asked it this was the road 'through the valley' We could not help because we didn'n know which Valley he meant and I dont think he knew the name of it either. Thinking about it now I expect that he meant Arkengarthdale which meant that he was certainly on the right road as we expected to pass that way ourselves later that day. After a few minutes chat we were on our way again. Gradually the lush farmland began to give way to more open country as we got higher & higher. once again I found myself walking up hills pushing the Zimmer as the road became steeper & steeper By this time there were blue skies and warm sunshine and I was glad to sit by the roadside from time to time.. We neared the top and after a series of false summits we reached the top and open moorland then a little while later we crossed the border into Yorkshire. Going was a little easier now and and we began to make better time, it was a cooler too as the sky had begun to cloud over and there was also a light wind in our faces which certainly helped to dry the perspiration. Tan Hill came into view just as we were beginning to feel hungry. When I went inside I could not believe what I saw, the place has hardly changed since I was inside last, about 40 years ago. on that occasion I was riding with the Teesside Tourist's CC. I think the only thing that was different was the dog in front of the fire had been changed. During lunch we shared a table with a couple of lads who were in the army and they told us that they were checking a route for an endurance competition in a few weeks time. I seem to remember that they said that there were four hundred entries so it will be a good day for those taking part. When we went outside again it was certainly cooler and and the cloud cover was becoming thicker but we were not worried about that too much, our way was now downhill for the next few miles. How could it be other, we were at the highest point of our journey. It was definitely a huge milestone for us. The next few miles flew by and I had the novel experience of having to use my brakes to stop for photo,s instead of stopping for steep hills. As we passed through Arkengarthdale the light changed enough to spoil some of the pics I wanted to take but you can,t win them all I suppose. By now we were looking for a camp site for the night. Surprisingly, we didn,t see any untill we reached Reeth where, after making enquiries we found the Orchard Camping and Caravan site. We found the owner, a chap called Peter, and asked permission to camp and we were surprised to be offered the use of an old caravan for the night for only £5 each. He explained that it was actually condemned and he was waiting to have it towed away to be scrapped but when we saw inside it was clean and tidy, and only a few yards from the ammenity block. We readily accepted Peters offer and made ourselves at home for the night. We had supper at the Buck Inn where I had a very nice mixed grill and John settled for a very sorry looking portion of fish & chips. Of course the meals were helped down by a couple of pints of good beer after which we had a stroll back to our 5 star condemned caravan for a good nigts sleep.
Terrain Country Lanes with some moorland
Weather Sunny at first becoming overcast and cooler.
Our third day promised to be another hard one with a climb up to Tan Hill, Englands Highest pub followed with a mainly downhill run to Reeth. After breaking camp we once again set out on undulating lanes through good farming country untill we reached Kirby Stephen where we had a stop for refreshments and a short break before tackling the climb up the Pennines which we could now see looming ahead. About half an hour after leaving Kirby Stephen I stopped after a short stiff climb & moments later John arrived and while we were looking at the distant Pennines, John asked if I could hear a hissing noise, then, we realised that he had a puncture. While he was fixing it another cyclist came along & asked it this was the road 'through the valley' We could not help because we didn'n know which Valley he meant and I dont think he knew the name of it either. Thinking about it now I expect that he meant Arkengarthdale which meant that he was certainly on the right road as we expected to pass that way ourselves later that day. After a few minutes chat we were on our way again. Gradually the lush farmland began to give way to more open country as we got higher & higher. once again I found myself walking up hills pushing the Zimmer as the road became steeper & steeper By this time there were blue skies and warm sunshine and I was glad to sit by the roadside from time to time.. We neared the top and after a series of false summits we reached the top and open moorland then a little while later we crossed the border into Yorkshire. Going was a little easier now and and we began to make better time, it was a cooler too as the sky had begun to cloud over and there was also a light wind in our faces which certainly helped to dry the perspiration. Tan Hill came into view just as we were beginning to feel hungry. When I went inside I could not believe what I saw, the place has hardly changed since I was inside last, about 40 years ago. on that occasion I was riding with the Teesside Tourist's CC. I think the only thing that was different was the dog in front of the fire had been changed. During lunch we shared a table with a couple of lads who were in the army and they told us that they were checking a route for an endurance competition in a few weeks time. I seem to remember that they said that there were four hundred entries so it will be a good day for those taking part. When we went outside again it was certainly cooler and and the cloud cover was becoming thicker but we were not worried about that too much, our way was now downhill for the next few miles. How could it be other, we were at the highest point of our journey. It was definitely a huge milestone for us. The next few miles flew by and I had the novel experience of having to use my brakes to stop for photo,s instead of stopping for steep hills. As we passed through Arkengarthdale the light changed enough to spoil some of the pics I wanted to take but you can,t win them all I suppose. By now we were looking for a camp site for the night. Surprisingly, we didn,t see any untill we reached Reeth where, after making enquiries we found the Orchard Camping and Caravan site. We found the owner, a chap called Peter, and asked permission to camp and we were surprised to be offered the use of an old caravan for the night for only £5 each. He explained that it was actually condemned and he was waiting to have it towed away to be scrapped but when we saw inside it was clean and tidy, and only a few yards from the ammenity block. We readily accepted Peters offer and made ourselves at home for the night. We had supper at the Buck Inn where I had a very nice mixed grill and John settled for a very sorry looking portion of fish & chips. Of course the meals were helped down by a couple of pints of good beer after which we had a stroll back to our 5 star condemned caravan for a good nigts sleep.
Reeth to Stokesley
Distance 44.1
Terrain Mainly country lanes with a few miles on 'B' class roads.
Weather P***** down all day
Once again We were awake bright and early and the the first thing we noticed was that the sky was quite overcast. We had a little light breakfast before packing our bags but before we could start it began to rain, so for the first time in years I had to wear my waterproof top. After a quick stop at the village store we were once more on the road, riding in what was now becoming a steady downpour. In spite of this we were making excellent time on a good road surface with no significant hills and in addition for me at least, I was on what was almost home ground having cycled this area on numerous occasions in my younger days. Only a few minutes into the ride and not only did we have to contend with falling rain, passing traffic was kicking up a spray of water and pools were forming in the roadside but we plugged away averaging about 15 -16 mph as we flew down swaledale. As we were riding along I spotted a lamb with its head stuck in a wire fence, it had pushed its head through the mesh but because of its developing horns, it was unable to withdraw it.. Freeing the little thing only took a couple of minutes and it ran of to its mother without even saying thank you. (ungratefull little bugger). because of the rain I did not feel inclined to use the camara a great deal in case it was damaged by the wet. We did make a couple of stops for photo's in the course of the day, but not as many as I would have liked. now thoroughly soaked we arrived in Richmond where a travelling fair had been set up in the market place. We had a quick ride around to the castle walk where we took a couple of photo's and then began to look for a coffee shop, surprisingly, most were closed but we found a place in King Street run by a young bloke who told us that he enjoyed running and as we found out in the course of our conversation, he did a bit of amateur acting too. I think we would really have liked to stay there all day and keep out of the rain but after a piece of cake and a pot of tea it was time to be on our way. by now , my 'waterproof' was as wet inside as it was out and as I was soaked anyway I elected to ride clad only in T Shirt & shorts which as it turned out was actually a lot more comfortable. Fortunately it was not at all cold otherwise I think I would have been in a bit of bother. The miles began to roll away again and very soon we passed under the AI which was a great milestone for us as it meant that we were well and truly on our side of the country. from now on instead of thinking that we could do the full trip we were now certain that we would do it. There was nothing between us and Whitby now but about 45 miles of soggy roads and of course,the Cleveland Hills. A few miles after passing through the village of Scorton, John had to pull up again for another puncture. The good news was that we were ouside a pub, the Arden Arms. The bad news was it was closed. Once the puncture was fixed we were on our way again. The names were now all very familiar to me, East Cowton, Great Smeaton, Crathorne etc etc etc. By now we were having to contend with some flooding in the roadsides so instead of meandering along minor roads we decided to head directly to Angrove Park, a site on the opposite side of Stokesley to where we were. We had a little difficulty locating the site because there were no signs that we could see on the road. After arriving at reception office we were so wet even the dog wouldn't come near us because we were dripping water all over it. We rented a camping pod for the night which was something I had never had any experience of. The lady who took the payment was quite amused to be paid with two soggy £20 notes. From reception, we had a half mile ride along a farm track to the site and I have to confess, my first thought was "40 bloody quid to sleep in a bloody box in a bloody field" we were shown to our 'pod' and then we were told that we had the whole site to ourselves for the night, including the use of a large army style tent and also two tumble driers. We lost no time in unpacking our gear, some of mine was a bit damp with a few items absolutely sodden. I think John was a little worse off because he actually had to pour water from his bags. what couldn't go into the driers was spread out on the tables in the tent and left to dry while we had a shower and changed into dry clothes. At first I had thought that £40 was expensive for a pod, but when considering the facilities that were available to us and how wet we were, the alternative would have been a very uncomfortable night indeed and for that reason I think it was money well spent. By this time the rain had stopped and there were even a few spots of sunshine. Once our things were dry we took our bedding to the pod before taking a taxi into Stokesley for a couple of pints at the White Swan and an excellent meal at The Mint Garden, an Indian restaurant, before going back what our taxi driver described as a 5 star pig pen. This was a little unfair because the site, like all the others we visited was in absolutely perfect condition and spotlessly clean.
Terrain Mainly country lanes with a few miles on 'B' class roads.
Weather P***** down all day
Once again We were awake bright and early and the the first thing we noticed was that the sky was quite overcast. We had a little light breakfast before packing our bags but before we could start it began to rain, so for the first time in years I had to wear my waterproof top. After a quick stop at the village store we were once more on the road, riding in what was now becoming a steady downpour. In spite of this we were making excellent time on a good road surface with no significant hills and in addition for me at least, I was on what was almost home ground having cycled this area on numerous occasions in my younger days. Only a few minutes into the ride and not only did we have to contend with falling rain, passing traffic was kicking up a spray of water and pools were forming in the roadside but we plugged away averaging about 15 -16 mph as we flew down swaledale. As we were riding along I spotted a lamb with its head stuck in a wire fence, it had pushed its head through the mesh but because of its developing horns, it was unable to withdraw it.. Freeing the little thing only took a couple of minutes and it ran of to its mother without even saying thank you. (ungratefull little bugger). because of the rain I did not feel inclined to use the camara a great deal in case it was damaged by the wet. We did make a couple of stops for photo's in the course of the day, but not as many as I would have liked. now thoroughly soaked we arrived in Richmond where a travelling fair had been set up in the market place. We had a quick ride around to the castle walk where we took a couple of photo's and then began to look for a coffee shop, surprisingly, most were closed but we found a place in King Street run by a young bloke who told us that he enjoyed running and as we found out in the course of our conversation, he did a bit of amateur acting too. I think we would really have liked to stay there all day and keep out of the rain but after a piece of cake and a pot of tea it was time to be on our way. by now , my 'waterproof' was as wet inside as it was out and as I was soaked anyway I elected to ride clad only in T Shirt & shorts which as it turned out was actually a lot more comfortable. Fortunately it was not at all cold otherwise I think I would have been in a bit of bother. The miles began to roll away again and very soon we passed under the AI which was a great milestone for us as it meant that we were well and truly on our side of the country. from now on instead of thinking that we could do the full trip we were now certain that we would do it. There was nothing between us and Whitby now but about 45 miles of soggy roads and of course,the Cleveland Hills. A few miles after passing through the village of Scorton, John had to pull up again for another puncture. The good news was that we were ouside a pub, the Arden Arms. The bad news was it was closed. Once the puncture was fixed we were on our way again. The names were now all very familiar to me, East Cowton, Great Smeaton, Crathorne etc etc etc. By now we were having to contend with some flooding in the roadsides so instead of meandering along minor roads we decided to head directly to Angrove Park, a site on the opposite side of Stokesley to where we were. We had a little difficulty locating the site because there were no signs that we could see on the road. After arriving at reception office we were so wet even the dog wouldn't come near us because we were dripping water all over it. We rented a camping pod for the night which was something I had never had any experience of. The lady who took the payment was quite amused to be paid with two soggy £20 notes. From reception, we had a half mile ride along a farm track to the site and I have to confess, my first thought was "40 bloody quid to sleep in a bloody box in a bloody field" we were shown to our 'pod' and then we were told that we had the whole site to ourselves for the night, including the use of a large army style tent and also two tumble driers. We lost no time in unpacking our gear, some of mine was a bit damp with a few items absolutely sodden. I think John was a little worse off because he actually had to pour water from his bags. what couldn't go into the driers was spread out on the tables in the tent and left to dry while we had a shower and changed into dry clothes. At first I had thought that £40 was expensive for a pod, but when considering the facilities that were available to us and how wet we were, the alternative would have been a very uncomfortable night indeed and for that reason I think it was money well spent. By this time the rain had stopped and there were even a few spots of sunshine. Once our things were dry we took our bedding to the pod before taking a taxi into Stokesley for a couple of pints at the White Swan and an excellent meal at The Mint Garden, an Indian restaurant, before going back what our taxi driver described as a 5 star pig pen. This was a little unfair because the site, like all the others we visited was in absolutely perfect condition and spotlessly clean.
Stokesley to Whitby, Final Day
Distance 35.3 miles
Terrain Country & moorland lanes with some main roads
Weather Damp start but improved to a light overcast as the day went on.
Our last day began a little on the damp side but nothing like the previous one. There was to be no breakfast at the camp as we had not been to a shop so it was simply a quick brew, pack our gear, and head for home breaking our fast at a cafe in Canny Yatton (Great Ayton to outsiders). The rain was holding off (just) as we rode the couple of miles to town where , after a couple of photo's we set off in search in vain for a cafe that was open. It was hardly surprising that we were unable to find one as it was still only 8.30am. Our intention had been to have breakfast & head home through Kildale and then follow the Esk Valley all the way to Whitby. However because we both needed some breakfast we decided to modify our route making our way to Guisborough where we arrived with a hint of drizzle in the air. We cycled along the main street but it was apparrent that we were still a little early but we did find a small cafe (unkind people may have called it a 'greasy spoon') with sign's of life behind the counter. Both of us peered through the steamy window and John , in desperation started banging on the window shouting "what time do you open". The lady behind the counter rolled her eyes and told him that they were open and to try the door. She was also kind enough to offer to let us actually bring the Gay shopper & my Zimmer into the cafe where we could keep an eye on them but as they were again dripping dirty water all over the place we thanked her and locked the bikes outside. We ordered a pot of tea and I ordered a 'Breakfast in a bun' full of all the unhealthy things which make a good breakfast and life worth living. I am not sure what John had but it was something similar.
After we had fed the inner man we took the main Guisborough to Whitby Road but I for one was not very happy because of the traffic which seemed very heavy for the time of day, also there were quite a few heavy lorries passing and even though by this time the rain had stopped, there was still a lot of standing water on the road causing traffic to kick up a spray as they passed.. Birk Brow, one of the last climbs of the trip was too much for me so once again I dismounted while John just kept spinning away untill he reached the top. I was gutted when , about half way up the hill I met a local lad walking down and after a few minutes chat he told me that his neighbour who was over 80 cycled up every day for a cup of tea at the car park on top of the hill. When I reached the car park, John was waiting for me so we began our run down towards Lockwood Beck where we intended to turn off and rejoin our origional route at Castleton, however when we reached the junction we saw that there had been what looked quite a serious accident involving two cars. Several other vehicles were at the scene including a police car, we could also hear an approaching ambulance. Additional help was obviously not required so we did not stop. Castleton & Danby, then Oakley Walls, Stonegate, and Aislabyside. we were well and truly on the last lap now. the last climb of the journey began about half a mile from Aislaby, It isn't a big climb but it looked like a mountain to me, however I was determined that I was not going to dismount again and managed to reach the top. After passing through the village we saw our first clear view of the journeys end, Whitby was below us and only a few minutes away. It was tempting to power away down the hill but we both freewheeled into town savouring every moment. After negotiating a pedestrian infested Pier Road we arrived, after 181 miles, at the end of our journey.
Feelings? Satisfaction, sorrow that we had finished, pride, a sense of achievment, but also a sense of anti climax for some reason. Perhaps that was because I have wanted to do a C2C for so long that one of my ambitions is no longer there.
Would I do it again ? I really dont know the answer to that, I think we both had a wonderfull few days and I would not have missed it for anything. We passed through some of the most beautifull scenery in England, ate some excellent food, drank good ale (in moderation of course) and met some very nice people along the way. To do the trip again would hopefully be a pleasure but it could never be the same again. It can only be done for the first time, once.
Terrain Country & moorland lanes with some main roads
Weather Damp start but improved to a light overcast as the day went on.
Our last day began a little on the damp side but nothing like the previous one. There was to be no breakfast at the camp as we had not been to a shop so it was simply a quick brew, pack our gear, and head for home breaking our fast at a cafe in Canny Yatton (Great Ayton to outsiders). The rain was holding off (just) as we rode the couple of miles to town where , after a couple of photo's we set off in search in vain for a cafe that was open. It was hardly surprising that we were unable to find one as it was still only 8.30am. Our intention had been to have breakfast & head home through Kildale and then follow the Esk Valley all the way to Whitby. However because we both needed some breakfast we decided to modify our route making our way to Guisborough where we arrived with a hint of drizzle in the air. We cycled along the main street but it was apparrent that we were still a little early but we did find a small cafe (unkind people may have called it a 'greasy spoon') with sign's of life behind the counter. Both of us peered through the steamy window and John , in desperation started banging on the window shouting "what time do you open". The lady behind the counter rolled her eyes and told him that they were open and to try the door. She was also kind enough to offer to let us actually bring the Gay shopper & my Zimmer into the cafe where we could keep an eye on them but as they were again dripping dirty water all over the place we thanked her and locked the bikes outside. We ordered a pot of tea and I ordered a 'Breakfast in a bun' full of all the unhealthy things which make a good breakfast and life worth living. I am not sure what John had but it was something similar.
After we had fed the inner man we took the main Guisborough to Whitby Road but I for one was not very happy because of the traffic which seemed very heavy for the time of day, also there were quite a few heavy lorries passing and even though by this time the rain had stopped, there was still a lot of standing water on the road causing traffic to kick up a spray as they passed.. Birk Brow, one of the last climbs of the trip was too much for me so once again I dismounted while John just kept spinning away untill he reached the top. I was gutted when , about half way up the hill I met a local lad walking down and after a few minutes chat he told me that his neighbour who was over 80 cycled up every day for a cup of tea at the car park on top of the hill. When I reached the car park, John was waiting for me so we began our run down towards Lockwood Beck where we intended to turn off and rejoin our origional route at Castleton, however when we reached the junction we saw that there had been what looked quite a serious accident involving two cars. Several other vehicles were at the scene including a police car, we could also hear an approaching ambulance. Additional help was obviously not required so we did not stop. Castleton & Danby, then Oakley Walls, Stonegate, and Aislabyside. we were well and truly on the last lap now. the last climb of the journey began about half a mile from Aislaby, It isn't a big climb but it looked like a mountain to me, however I was determined that I was not going to dismount again and managed to reach the top. After passing through the village we saw our first clear view of the journeys end, Whitby was below us and only a few minutes away. It was tempting to power away down the hill but we both freewheeled into town savouring every moment. After negotiating a pedestrian infested Pier Road we arrived, after 181 miles, at the end of our journey.
Feelings? Satisfaction, sorrow that we had finished, pride, a sense of achievment, but also a sense of anti climax for some reason. Perhaps that was because I have wanted to do a C2C for so long that one of my ambitions is no longer there.
Would I do it again ? I really dont know the answer to that, I think we both had a wonderfull few days and I would not have missed it for anything. We passed through some of the most beautifull scenery in England, ate some excellent food, drank good ale (in moderation of course) and met some very nice people along the way. To do the trip again would hopefully be a pleasure but it could never be the same again. It can only be done for the first time, once.