A mid life crisis 2006

It all started off during the winter of 2005 sitting in the pub as you do and the C2C came into the conversation, everyone seemed up for it when full of beer, well four of us, but when it came to the cold light of day it was Alan and myself Bill who ended up doing it. We have been good friends for well over 40 years having sat next to each other in our first day at infants school, longer ago than either of us cared to remember.

So training completed during the cold winters month Good Friday morning 2006 we set off at 6am to drive to Workington with our wives Hazel and Jackie as back up to carry our gear to the respective digs. It didn't start very well as the starting point at Workington is not at all well signposted and when we did find it resembled a building site, however undetered we dipped the wheels in the Irish Sea picked up a pebble to drop in the North sea and set off.

Not for very far, 7/10th of a mile to be precise when we got lost, the signage is not good in Workington and Alan fell off his bike, told him the pedal clips were a bad idea but he would not listen, eventually we found our way to the cyclepath out of Workington and away we went on a lovely crisp spring morning.

The first part of the trip to Cockermouth went very well on some nice quiet country roads through some lovely little villages to Cockermouth for T shirt stamp no1. A reasonably easy stretch with some reasonable climbs, we carried on and eventually came to the first off road section through Wythop Woods, it states on the map 'steep descent take care' and it means it. I did not find it too bad as I have ridden motorcycles off road but Alan found it interesting to say the least when we stopped half way down he said his back wheel was trying to overtake the front one!!, and as our bikes were hybrids the tyres were not really suited to the terrain. After that, once he learned to ride standing up, the second drop was a lot easier. We then cycled along the side of Basenthwaite, lovely views, to Portinscale then onto Keswick, it was a bit surreal cycling into Keswick after having done the tourist bit many times and driving there. We met the girls and had a recharge of coffee and snacks before carrying on.

Our 1st nights planned stop was a pre-booked B&B in Greystoke the Brathen guest house, excellent, so we pressed on thinking day 1 would be reasonably flat how wrong we were. There are an awful lot of climbs we did not expect between Keswick and Greystoke and we even took the 'alternative' route through Mungrisedale, passing many pubs along the way. We kept promising ouselves a pint at the next pub but pressed on eventually deciding to wait until Greystoke, where the girls would meet us. When we arrived they were sitting on the village green, strange we thought why are they not in the pub, we were gutted it was closed until tea time so no pints for us after a hard slog. We booked in at the B&B, and its well recommended we were very well looked after in a lovely barn conversion and the food and hosts are spot on making us most welcome.

We did eventually get our well earned pint and some good home cooked food in the Boot & Shoe pub but be warned its best to pre book your meal as its only small.

Day two dawned sunny again were we lucky or what so after a hearty breakfast and goodbye's off we headed for Penrith, a nice gentle trundle throught the Cumbrian countryside for stamp no2 in the centre of Penrith, then the climbs start, up to Beacon Edge out of the town is quite a pull but the views back over the lakes are fantastic, then its a pleasant drop through nice countryside and on to Langwathby. After that its on to Little Salkeld and another steep climb out of the village but nothing compared to whats coming up. From Little Salkeld its through some lovely countryside with wonderful views across to Cross Fell, highest point in the Penines, until you eventually reach Renwick which is the bottom of the hill to coin a phrase.

After that its climb and climb up out of the village towards the top of Hartside we decided to take the rough track from half way up to the little white cottage near the summit and although this proved to be a reasonable rest as you had to push most of it, on a road or hybrid bike we would recommend the road route joining the A686 about 1 mile from the summit. As we neared the top we spotted the wives waiting so men being men we had to get on and pedal the last way, just to prove we are men!! After rest and sustinance at the cafe again well recommended and frequented by many C2C'ers and motorcyclist its the plunge down the other side to Alston and a welcome rest as you descend, we decided against Garrigill having driven it previos, but Alan has since conquered it.

Then out of Alston another steep climb and a pleasant drop to Nenthead for another stamp then from there on its one climb after another ending up in Allenheads for a drink break in another very nice little cafe. Then another steep climb out of the village then the long and relaxing decsent to Rookhope and our residence for the night at the Rookhope Inn and another well earned pint after a hard days ride which the girls had ready for us. The grubs good in the pub but be warned the full english is a whopper and took some digesting the next day, but we were made most welcome.

Last day and off we went from Rookhope straight up the off road path opposite the pub, that also proved difficult on hybrid bikes but was probably easier then the ascent of Crawleyside Bank in Stanhope where we have seen many cyclists struggling up. We then called in the cafe at the start of the Waskerley Way for a leisurely cuppa before setting off downhill to the finish. As we both know the area well the likes of Castleside, Consett, Rowlands Gill all flashed by pretty quick the cycleways are all good and off road, then its down to Gateshead and back to reality, traffic noise etc.

We crossed the Tyne at Scotswood bridge and cycled along the quayside into Newcastle, it was tempting for us to turn right there as we both live on the outskirts of Gateshead but the coast must be reached. So then on through Byker, Walker & Wallsend to N Shields. the cycleway through Walker, Wallsend etc is none too nice, and we know we are locals, our advice would be to stop on the Gateshead side and use the pedestrian tunnel at Jarrow a much nicer route.

Eventually we popped out on the fish quay at N Shields and rode the short distance to meet the girls at the official finishing point just below the statue in Tynemouth. We were tired but ecstatic at what we had achieved so to cap it off we went to the pub in Tynemouth for a celebratory pint, funny how we found plenty of space around us to drink in, must have been something to do with the aroma coming off us. We then threw the pebble into the North Sea and dipped the wheels as you do.

Would we do it again??? sure already planning for Easter 2007 if you are thinking of it, go and do it you will enjoy it, but we must admit we could not have achieved it without our backup team of Alan's wife Hazel and my wife Jackie who supported us along the way

Alan & Bill