Coast to Coast Days 5 and 6

I decided to stay a day in Keswick. The weather was glorious and it is a very nice town. I also decided to take a day off the bike and walk.

The path from the camping ground down to the town is very steep. It passed through a really great wooded area. Keswick was a classic market town. It is now a classic tourist town. There must be at least ten ‘outdoor’ shops e.g. Cotswolds similar to Kathmandu. I assume they all make money.

Pencils

One of the attractions is the Derwent Pencils Museum. I posted a comment: “who doesn’t remember owning a set of those pencils”? One of my school friends responded that she didn’t and didn’t want to be reminded of that fact. I had no response.

Bike Shops

The place has a number of bike shops. A bit like the ‘outdoor’ shops, there are possibility too many. I chatted to a 70 year old bloke in one of the shops. His grandson owns the shop and he works there part-time. Business is booming.

Tappis Place

I had a meal at a Spanish Restaurant. It was very good.

Ride out of Keswick

Finally I headed on. The route took me along the lake to the west. I came across a sailing club that seemed to be exclusively for ‘Flying 15s’. This was a class popular in the 1960’s and 70’s. I am not sure if any have been built since.

The Pleasant

I stopped for lunch at a great little country pub. The waitress picked my accent. She told me that she had spent a year in Australia, working as a nanny for a family on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. She found that being away from the Lake District made her aware of the positive things about the place. However, she said that she definitely wanted to move to Australia.

Into Whitehaven

I rode into Whitehaven. It is on the fringe of the Lake District. The contrast is stark. It is a pretty grim place.

The main industry in the area is the Sellafield Nuclear plant.

There is a bit of building boom in Whitehaven as result of the decision to move a lot of the administrative and support staff from the Sellafield site into the town.

Down to Heysham Port

Next day I took the train down to Heysham Port. The train passed the the Sellafield plant. It looked a very grim place. I end up staying in what turned out to be a relatively expensive hotel in this very ordinary town.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sellafield

On the Ferry

Soon I was finally on the ferry to the Isle of Man.

Flickr Link

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjZm8K9y

Garmin Link

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/548125538

 

 

Coast to Coast Day4

Coast to Coast Day 4

This was a short ride that began badly, but ends well.

I stayed in a really good holiday park near Penrith. I was surprised, however, that there was no place to have breakfast. I was told that my only option was to head into town, which I did. The options for breakfast there turned out to be: McDonalds, Waterstones (a Pub) and a café in Morrison’s (a low market supermarket). I took the last option. Do not go to Penrith if you can help it.

Great Countryside

I headed west to the real Lakes District. For some reason the C2C Route is now Route 71. Who knows why and who cares?

This is a beautiful part of the planet. On the route I came across lots of C2C cyclists heading East. At one point I saw a rather attractive woman in cycling gearing lying on the ground with her legs in the air. I asked her if she was ok. She relied: “I like being in this position”. All sorts of responses came to mind. Fortunately, I uttered none as her male partner appeared. They did tell me of a good place to stay above Keswick – Castlerigg Farm. I took their advice.

Barmy Evening in Keswick

I have just had a reasonable meal in a pub in town.

The Ale is Bitter End produced by a local craft brewery. It is not too bad.

Flickr Link

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjZTvWTv

Garmin Link

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/546537886

 

Coast to Coast Day3

It took me a while to leave Allenshead. The ‘Full English Breakfast’ provided by the Inn was just that- full. I also had a chat with a fellow retiree in Canberra by Skype. We all have too much time to chat.

I head west out of the town. It was a slow steady climb. At the top of a hill I came across a Dutch couple carrying even more stuff then me, including a BOB Trailer. They were heading East and hoped to do the whole route in 3 Days. Who knows what they were carrying for such a short time in the road.

At certain points on Route 7 you have the option of ‘On Road ‘ or ‘Off Road’. Given my bike was originally a Mountain Bike, I am inclined to take the ‘Off Road’ option. Yesterday that was not the best idea. Not put off, I tried to give the ‘Off Road’ option another go. As it turned out it wasn’t too bad as I descended into the village below.

The village had two things important to me – a bike shop where I was able to get a bolt to fix my front pannier rack, and a pub, for food and an Ale.

Being Heaps by some Geordies

In the pub I came across a group of blokes from Newcastle (Geordies) riding West to East. I got into a conversation with one of the blokes.

He then went over to his mates and the following ensured (the translation is included):

Geordie 1: This lad (bloke) has come from Allenshead on the Off Road track.

Geordie 2: He is daft bugger (he is a silly bloke)

Geordie 1: He is an Oz (Australian)

Geordie 2: I understand then

All Geordies: Ha Ha Ha !!!!

Geordie 1: And his Dar was a Makem (his father came from Sunderland)

Geordie 2: I doubly understand then

All Geordies: Ha Ha Ha !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

On to Penrith

After being seriously sledged by these Pommie Bastards, I headed on to Penrith. The weather was good and the countryside beautiful.

Flickr Link

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjZe9DDy

Garmin Link

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/545867610

Where did the term Mackem Come from?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mackem

 

 

Coast to Coast Day 2

I woke up to find the weather was not great. The only place for breakfast in Consett appeared to be a ‘drive in’ Starbucks. I understand why most of the Starbucks in Australia have closed down. What I don’t understand why they haven’t all closed down. The one in Consett will probably stay open. That says as much about Consett as it does about Starbucks.

I retraced a bit on my ride from yesterday. This included ridding over a railway viaduct that was built in the Victorian era. It never ceases to amaze what was built in that period. The infrastructure made Great Britain Great.

The route follows what I understand was that highest railway in England. It is a rather bleak, but interesting landscape.

I stopped in a café, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. By this time the rain was teaming down. The place was full on fellow cyclists. All were heading West to East and thought it was odd that I was heading the other way.

I decided to head out into the rain. After about 200 metres my left front pannier fell off. A small bolt was that cause of the problem. I headed back to the café. I am not the best improviser when it comes to mechanical stuff. My progress was delayed.

When I was able to continue it was really pouring. There were two options on Route 7 – one on the road, the other off road. I decided to take the latter. This wasn’t the best choice. This track was so bad I was forced to walk a lot of the way. Check out the pics!!

Two groups on MTBs heading the other way stopped and told me that I was “completely mad”. As I dropped down into little village called Rookhope, I came across a bloke on a road bike. If I am “mad”, that bloke needs to be certified. He was carrying the bike. I told him that the track only got worse. He seemed to not believe me. I am sure he will survive, but hewill rue his decision to take that option.

Rookhope has a pub and a Bunk House. The former is closed. The latter turned out to fully booked. The owner, a very earnest woman with a very active Black Labrador dog was concerned about my welfare and rang around to find me accommodation.

The result is that I am at the Allenshead Arms – well fed and my tent pitched out the back. The place is full of C2C cyclists.

Flicker Link

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjZJU9Sw

 

Garmin Link

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/544924553

 

Coast to Coast Day 1

I stayed in St Chads in Durham University for couple of days. This is the second time that I have stayed in the university. The first time was two years ago. The accommodation is in the student residences. They are really comfortable and great value.

Durham is a great town. It is built around the Cathedral and the university. There are a great pubs and places to eat.

On my second day I took the bus into Sunderland to see where my family lived. I will blog about this in another post.

Great Music

That night I spent some time in a great little pub watching a live band. The lead singer was girl with a touch of ‘Janis Joplin’. They were really good. They did a great version of the Stone’s ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’.

Yesterday I spent some time having a chat with an old mate in Canberra. We are both looking forward to a Brumbies win in the Super Rugby tonight.

Chester Le Street

I finally got on the bike and headed north to Chester Le Street. I stopped by the cricket ground. This is now a Test Match ground. It is pretty small and modern, however it is in a great location with views to Lumley Castle.

I then rode up to the Castle which has been a hotel for a long time. I can vividly recall staying there with my parents in 1977. Dad invited to dinner some blokes who worked with him when has was doing his apprenticeship in the 1930’s. As the nigh went on, and more pints of Newcastle Brown were consumed, he slowly slipped back into his Sunderland accent. At the end of the night I couldn’t understand anything that was being said.

On to the C2C Route

Leaving Chester Le Street, I got on to Sustrans Route 7 which is the ‘Coast to Coast’ Route from the East to West coasts of England. It is one of the most popular routes in the Sustans network.

By late afternoon I made it to Consett. I had a bit of difficultly find the Camping Ground suggested on the Sustrans guide. As usual I will blame the Garmin.

 

Flickr Link

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjZbqkRL

 

Garmin Link

 

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/544533717