Post by rayg on Jun 29, 2017 16:52:38 GMT
Left Birmingham Monday 26th June at 07.15.
Changed train at Carlisle to Whitehaven.
Arrived Whitethaven at 12 .00 dipped back wheel into the sea, got someone to take a photo with my phone as i had forgotten to take my camera. Lovely sunny day, light wind excellent for cycling, patted myself on the back for picking the right day and time to start my adventure. (clever lad ). Looking forward to more sunny days ahead. Carrying on along the route i saw amazing mountain views and i am sure it was Scarfell pike in the distance (the highest mountain in England). I Never felt better. After 21 miles the hills suddenly loomed up ahead and there was no way round, I had 3 miles of climbing on B roads and forest tracks to do. I eventually got to the top at Siskins cafe, i did not stop, but i did think if these were the easiest hills what was coming next ? I carried on along the track into the forest where i got lost. After fumbling around and going in and out of dead ends and passing the same things at least 10 times i swallowed my pride and asked a walker the way to Keswick. He led me to a tarmaced road and assured me its all down hill to Keswick. He was right (thank god). I followed his advice and ended up in a prison cell in Keswick. Yes really ! Its a old courthouse called the Justice of the Peace which Wetherspoons have taken over, i had my lunch in one of the cells (it reminded me of my youth) Lol..
I then set off for Penrith where i intended to stay and i found a idylic spot with panoramic views . I set up camp and tucked in for the night. I woke to hear heavy rain smacking down on my basha. Not a very good start. I had to set off early because i knew it was going to be a hard day.(that was a understatement). The cold wind and rain met
me as i climbed out of Penrith. ( not such a clever lad now) i got to the top of beacon hill totally knackered. It was then that the thought flashed through my head that to come was a brutal 4 mile climb up Hartside pass ! . Then i suddenly remembered i had better go back home as i had forgotten to feed the dog ( I havnt got a dog lol ! ) When I did get to the beginning of Hartside Pass it seemed like the wind and rain was worse than ever. The area was beginning to show its teeth. I started to climb, eventually after about a hour i reached the cafe, i was soaked to the skin and totally exhausted. Entering the cafe i tried to order a cup of tea but i could not speak properly, then i started shaking ,my whole body just shook. I felt foolish and i expected the waitresses to think that some idiot had just walked in (which is right anyway). But they did not look alarmed at all, they led me over to the fire, asked me if i had any dry clothes and while one of them helped me off with my wet clothes another fetched me a piping hot mug of soup. I was still shaking 10 minutes later. I began to think there was something seriously wrong with me as i could not get warm or stop shaking. Then the door opened and in walked a group of 10 cyclists. I was relieved to see that they seemed to be in the same state as me. They all came over to the fire and stripped off, but they didn't get a mug of hot soup lol ! I dried off the best i could, then left the cafe hoping to get the views i had been promised. It was still raining hard, still cold and now a mist had settled, i could only see a few yards ahead of me, but with Hartside pass behind me i was in high spirits. I cant recall much about the next leg except for the wind and the icy rain, in fact when going downhill if i stopped peddling i would stop moving, thats how bad the wind was .Got to another cafe at Allenheads called The Hemmell Cafe and got the shakes again as i sat by the fire. This time i waited for them to pass as i drank a hot cup of black coffee. Went on to Alston missing out the climb at Garrigill which they tell me is worse than Hartside pass, although shorter. Got lost in Rookhope but eventually got to Stanhope soaked to the bone again. So definately no camping for me this time, found a B & B £55 pounds (highway robbery, give me the trees any day ). Having said that The landlady took my clothes and gave me a blanket to wrap round me, dried my clothes and gave me a piping hot dinner, which they were cooking for themselves but had enough for me. In bed by 9 oclock.
Penrith to Stanhope 11 hours.
I Left Stanhope late morning, only 36 miles to go plenty of time to get there. Still strong winds and heavy rain. It was a brutal climb out of Stanhope as my legs had stopped working, but after yesterday i felt i could get through anything and i was still in high spirits. Once again as got to the top of the hills the area was covered in mist , but now and again there was a break in the mist where i would get a glimpse of the amazing views. As i got further down the mist started to clear, the rain eased and the wind dropped, then it was a lovely ride into Consett, i got lost again. I was standing looking bewildered when a shop keeper came out and asked me if i was looking for the c2c route, i said i was, she gave me a big smile and directed me back onto the route. This is how i found all the Northern people all along the way, smiling friendly and always willing to help. On one particular occasion i had stopped to ask a builder for directions, after he had given them to me he said "hold on a sec", he reached into his lunch box and handed me a small cake and said take this on your journey. How nice was that ? I truly appreciated it.
I continued on my way. When i was about 5 miles from Sunderland i met a local cyclist. He asked me if i was on the C2C. I said yes and that i was on my way to Sunderland to get the train to Newcastle. He said "Train?" dont you mean the metro ? but they wont allow your bike on the metro. The only way to do it is to go to Sunderland then cycle 10 miles into South Shields get a ferry then cycle to the main train station in Newcastle its all classed as the the C2C route, but you will never do that in time to get your train back home. The best thing you can do is to turn round cycle back up the track, keep looking to the right where you will see in the distance a monument called the Angle of the North. Cycle towards that and you will eventually get into Newcastle, and i reckon you will still have about a hour left to catch your train. So with a heavy heart i turned around and headed back, sure enough after about 10 miles i could see the monument in the distance. Then after coming from the most traffic free roads i had ever ridden, i came onto the heavy car filled roads of Gateshead and Newcastle, and so began the dodging in and out of traffic, very scary ! Finally i reached the station and was on my way home.
Although i didnt actually complete the C2C route, i did the hard bits, and as Frank Sinatra would say "I did it my Way"
The moral to this story is.. know what you are doing before you start out. Lol !!
( but then that would spoil all the fun wouldnt it. ?)
Changed train at Carlisle to Whitehaven.
Arrived Whitethaven at 12 .00 dipped back wheel into the sea, got someone to take a photo with my phone as i had forgotten to take my camera. Lovely sunny day, light wind excellent for cycling, patted myself on the back for picking the right day and time to start my adventure. (clever lad ). Looking forward to more sunny days ahead. Carrying on along the route i saw amazing mountain views and i am sure it was Scarfell pike in the distance (the highest mountain in England). I Never felt better. After 21 miles the hills suddenly loomed up ahead and there was no way round, I had 3 miles of climbing on B roads and forest tracks to do. I eventually got to the top at Siskins cafe, i did not stop, but i did think if these were the easiest hills what was coming next ? I carried on along the track into the forest where i got lost. After fumbling around and going in and out of dead ends and passing the same things at least 10 times i swallowed my pride and asked a walker the way to Keswick. He led me to a tarmaced road and assured me its all down hill to Keswick. He was right (thank god). I followed his advice and ended up in a prison cell in Keswick. Yes really ! Its a old courthouse called the Justice of the Peace which Wetherspoons have taken over, i had my lunch in one of the cells (it reminded me of my youth) Lol..
I then set off for Penrith where i intended to stay and i found a idylic spot with panoramic views . I set up camp and tucked in for the night. I woke to hear heavy rain smacking down on my basha. Not a very good start. I had to set off early because i knew it was going to be a hard day.(that was a understatement). The cold wind and rain met
me as i climbed out of Penrith. ( not such a clever lad now) i got to the top of beacon hill totally knackered. It was then that the thought flashed through my head that to come was a brutal 4 mile climb up Hartside pass ! . Then i suddenly remembered i had better go back home as i had forgotten to feed the dog ( I havnt got a dog lol ! ) When I did get to the beginning of Hartside Pass it seemed like the wind and rain was worse than ever. The area was beginning to show its teeth. I started to climb, eventually after about a hour i reached the cafe, i was soaked to the skin and totally exhausted. Entering the cafe i tried to order a cup of tea but i could not speak properly, then i started shaking ,my whole body just shook. I felt foolish and i expected the waitresses to think that some idiot had just walked in (which is right anyway). But they did not look alarmed at all, they led me over to the fire, asked me if i had any dry clothes and while one of them helped me off with my wet clothes another fetched me a piping hot mug of soup. I was still shaking 10 minutes later. I began to think there was something seriously wrong with me as i could not get warm or stop shaking. Then the door opened and in walked a group of 10 cyclists. I was relieved to see that they seemed to be in the same state as me. They all came over to the fire and stripped off, but they didn't get a mug of hot soup lol ! I dried off the best i could, then left the cafe hoping to get the views i had been promised. It was still raining hard, still cold and now a mist had settled, i could only see a few yards ahead of me, but with Hartside pass behind me i was in high spirits. I cant recall much about the next leg except for the wind and the icy rain, in fact when going downhill if i stopped peddling i would stop moving, thats how bad the wind was .Got to another cafe at Allenheads called The Hemmell Cafe and got the shakes again as i sat by the fire. This time i waited for them to pass as i drank a hot cup of black coffee. Went on to Alston missing out the climb at Garrigill which they tell me is worse than Hartside pass, although shorter. Got lost in Rookhope but eventually got to Stanhope soaked to the bone again. So definately no camping for me this time, found a B & B £55 pounds (highway robbery, give me the trees any day ). Having said that The landlady took my clothes and gave me a blanket to wrap round me, dried my clothes and gave me a piping hot dinner, which they were cooking for themselves but had enough for me. In bed by 9 oclock.
Penrith to Stanhope 11 hours.
I Left Stanhope late morning, only 36 miles to go plenty of time to get there. Still strong winds and heavy rain. It was a brutal climb out of Stanhope as my legs had stopped working, but after yesterday i felt i could get through anything and i was still in high spirits. Once again as got to the top of the hills the area was covered in mist , but now and again there was a break in the mist where i would get a glimpse of the amazing views. As i got further down the mist started to clear, the rain eased and the wind dropped, then it was a lovely ride into Consett, i got lost again. I was standing looking bewildered when a shop keeper came out and asked me if i was looking for the c2c route, i said i was, she gave me a big smile and directed me back onto the route. This is how i found all the Northern people all along the way, smiling friendly and always willing to help. On one particular occasion i had stopped to ask a builder for directions, after he had given them to me he said "hold on a sec", he reached into his lunch box and handed me a small cake and said take this on your journey. How nice was that ? I truly appreciated it.
I continued on my way. When i was about 5 miles from Sunderland i met a local cyclist. He asked me if i was on the C2C. I said yes and that i was on my way to Sunderland to get the train to Newcastle. He said "Train?" dont you mean the metro ? but they wont allow your bike on the metro. The only way to do it is to go to Sunderland then cycle 10 miles into South Shields get a ferry then cycle to the main train station in Newcastle its all classed as the the C2C route, but you will never do that in time to get your train back home. The best thing you can do is to turn round cycle back up the track, keep looking to the right where you will see in the distance a monument called the Angle of the North. Cycle towards that and you will eventually get into Newcastle, and i reckon you will still have about a hour left to catch your train. So with a heavy heart i turned around and headed back, sure enough after about 10 miles i could see the monument in the distance. Then after coming from the most traffic free roads i had ever ridden, i came onto the heavy car filled roads of Gateshead and Newcastle, and so began the dodging in and out of traffic, very scary ! Finally i reached the station and was on my way home.
Although i didnt actually complete the C2C route, i did the hard bits, and as Frank Sinatra would say "I did it my Way"
The moral to this story is.. know what you are doing before you start out. Lol !!
( but then that would spoil all the fun wouldnt it. ?)