Durham UK

Durham
I spent one night in Newcastle after arriving back in England from The Netherlands by ferry.

The next day I headed off towards Durham. I had a vague plan to ride there via Chester le Street.

After leaving the centre of Newcastle, I cross the Millennium Bridge to the Gateshead side of the Tyne River and headed west.

Good Advice from Old Mak’em Cyclists
As I was riding along, I came across a couple of old blokes on folding bicycles. We ended up having a chat. They turned out to be ‘Mak’ems, that is from Sunderland. Refer to the below for an explanation of where that expression came from.

One of them told me that he was heading to The Netherlands in a couple of days by ferry. He was going to spent 2 weeks cycling around the country.
When I told the blokes that I was heading to Durham, they told me to take the ‘scenic’ route on National Cycle Route 14. This was about twice the distance of the more direct route via Chester le Street, “but well worth the time and effort”.

Rail Trails
The National Cycle Route 14, to Durham follows three rail trails – Derwent Valley, Waskerly Way and Lanchester Way.

The lines were built to service the coal mines and industrial plants in the district, in particular the steel works at Consett.

The Consett steel works were among the first in England and they were s a major industry from the start of the Industrial Revolution through to their closure in the ‘Thatcher Years’.

The rail lines were used to transport coal to the plant from the local mines and to transport iron which had been shipped from Sweden to Newcastle. The finished steel was transported back to Newcastle and to Sunderland by train. The lines were also used for other freight and passenger services.

When the lines were closed for rail services, the local county councils had the presence of mind to convert them into bicycle and bridle trails.

There is more about the Rail Trails in the link below.

Many Dogs
As I rode along I came across lots of people walking dogs.

A couple of times I stopped to chat with the owners. One of the dogs was a Schnauzer. I like Schnauzers having owned two. They are great dogs.

This particular dog was very good example of the breed. She was real character. The owner told that he had an older Labrador who was “now too old to go on long walks”. He told me that he got the Schnauzer as a puppy and she was “brought up by the Lab and did whatever he did. This included swimming in water”. It is very usual for Schnauzers to go swimming.

Not a Schnauzer
Further along the path I came across another dog that looked like a Schnauzer. When I see one, I often say “who is a Schnauzer” just as joke.

The owner of this dog relied: “I am a not a Schnauzer. I’m a Kerry Blue Terrier me” in very strong Geordie ascent. It was a classic. I wished I had the dog and the owners voice video.

Into Durham
It was later in the afternoon when I finally rode into Durham.

The reception of the University College where I had booked accommodation was closed. I rang the Night Porter’s mobile number and he let me in.
It was some time before I actually made it to my room. The intervening time was taken up by a long discussion about motorbikes with the Night Porter. The conversation was hilarious. The Porter sounded just like Oz out of ‘Auf Wiedersehen, Pet’. He told that his “favourite bike was a Yamaha 100” which he was currently rebuilding. He had Ducati Scrambler, but he “could bond with it”.

Good to be back in Familiar Place
I like Durham. It is good to be back in familiar places sometimes.

Mark Steel’s In Town
It you haven’t listed to Mark Steel’s in Gateshead, I suggest you do. It is hilarious. The link can be found below.

Flickr Link
https://flic.kr/s/aHsmrD6MBK

Garmin Link
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/2975667222

Derwent Valley
https://www.newcastlegateshead.com/things-to-do/derwent-walk-p59981

Waskerly Way
https://www.thisisdurham.com/things-to-do/waskerley-way-railway-path-walking-and-cycling-route-p666901

Lanchester Way

Click to access RailwayPathLanchesterValley.pdf

Mark Steel’s in Gateshead