Conclusion

Proud hubby! Thanks for your support and for following me around even though it was raining and not much fun for you. It's worth noting though that he saw fit to dip his toe in the sea at Whitehaven and again at Tynemouth just to say he'd been C2C too - even though he'd gone by car!!!!!



Thanks too to Diana & Keith who looked after us so well and even bought me a bottle of champagne in celebration and insisted on paying for fish and chips and for a lot of other things too.

And of course a big thank you to Wendy and Colin, my special friends who shared the journey with me, who reinspired my interest in cycling and who selflessly helped me to achieve my ambition - I owe you!!!

Journeys end, 149 miles over 3 days. 18 1/4 hours cycling time in terrible weather but I had a great time and would highly recommend it. So far have raised £666 for the British Heart Foundation, thanks to everbody who has contributed and shown an interest and sent me messages of support to keep me going.














Finally thanks to my lovely Dad who taught me how to ride a bike and who would have loved to hear about this journey - if not join in too! Next time could you help with some better weather?

Castles and Coast next year?????????????????????????????????????????

The end at last - arrival in Tynemouth

The Waskerley Way turned out to be the Washed Away. The cinders surface had suffered badly in the heavy rain so again time that I thought I'd be able to make up didn't happen as it was a case of picking your way a bit carefully. It was obvious that Newcastle had had bad flooding over the weekend too as the river banks were decimated and lots of people were out for a walk in the evening sunshine looking at the damage that had been done. The ride through the city centre along the riverside was nice but the last few miles were a bit lonely and the city cycle paths had a bit a broken glass around and I was praying not to have a puncture. The last 10 miles felt like the longest 10 miles ever and it would have been nice if Colin had been there for company.

Finally, I got to the sea at 7pm only to be sent along the sea front to The End sign but still no sign of Nick and Keith & Diane - where were they. Up a short, sharp incline and then......hurrah - the beach and people I recognised. Couldn't wait to get my wheel in the sea and say I'd done it!

Hurray - I'd done it

Felt fab

What a feeling!!

Never believe it'll be downhill until you get to the beach!!

Next stop Stanhope and then a bugga of a climb up Crawleyside. Could probably have walked it quicker but was determined by this time to ride the whole route. It was interesting watching the JCBs scooping all the sand off the road and putting it back in the escape lane from which it had been washed out over the previous 2 days!

Decided to avoid going through Consett and carried on via Edmundbyers giving me a fabulous downhill all the way to Shotley Bridge where there was yet another sharp hill to climb back onto the Waskerley Way which is where I last saw the 'team' until getting to Tynemouth.

Day Three. Mon 8th Sept 2008

Having dried all my clothes in front of the fire and after a lovely breakfast we headed back to Allenheads to recommence the journey by 11am. Better still it wasn't raining and even at times there was SUNSHINE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hurrah!

Scenery was lovely. Pity Col & Wen weren't there to see it.

Onward journey to Black Hill

On the continuing climb from Hartside and now alone, Nick took on the role of guardian angel and started following me in his car worried about my safety, particularly as we entered the misty realms of the highest hills. Visibility was poor in places but we had to discuss the best way of him staying close without him actually driving behind me for the next 3 hours. I felt like I was in an Alfred Hitchcock film with the constant glow of Volvo headlights learing at me from behind through the mist like a stalker!!!

Black Hill is the highest point on the ride so I had to stop for a photo. Please note the Volvo bonnet is visible in the forground as Nick had refused to get out of the car as it was raining and he might get wet so took the picture from inside the car!!! Not that I'm sore about that or anything you understand!!

Determined to get to Allenheads I rode on til 6.30 where we loaded the bike into the car and drove over to our friends Diana and Keith who live near Hexham where they were kindly looking after us for the next few days. Even the journey there wasn't without its drama as the road was flooded and the car engine cut out. Our good fortune was that a kind stranger stopped and helped us get started again, getting oil on his white work shirt in the process. Thanks to him we arrived in time for a nice bath and a lovely meal. Thanks nice man.

93 miles down 56 to go!

Arrival and departure

In the 'Go' zone and cruising to the top wondering what all the fuss was about. Pleased to report we didn't walk up after all!!



Here we are at Hartside Summit. Wet again but pleased to see Wendy and Nick and happy to be going inside for a nice cuppa.

Trying to dry off a bit and enjoying some minestrone soup in front of the fire. Sadly though this was where we said goodbye to Wen & Col who needed to be back for work the next day and thought it sensible to head home from here.

It was sad to see them go but it was already 3pm and needing to get on I set off alone with Nick keeping a close eye on me from the safe haven of his car. 70 miles down, only 80 to go!!!!!!

Can you see us?

Don't look for us on this one 'cos we're not visible!!

Great view! Did we really come all that way?!! 2 small dots in a large and impressive landscape.