Day 3: How to get an asymmetric tan…

…cycle from west to east. We both look faintly ridiculous

Anyway, we made it. Cycled to Tynemouth and the end of our route. The photo above is of me cycling under the Tyne. Strange to think we started today in the Pennines. Done 60 odd miles today.

After getting to Tynemouth we cycled on to Newcastle and on to the Travelodge. After an hour of wandering around trying to find it, I accosted a friendly policeman who finally manged to give us the right directions. Just come back in from a much needed meal out

Tommorrow we’re meandering around Newcastle before catching the train to Carlisle and on to Penrith to collect the car.

I’ll add all the photos and more waffling on our trip when we get home. Just can’t stand typing any more on this phone. So, bye for now!

Update:

We thought this day would be easy after the previous one. And in many ways it was. The only irritation i found was the constant stopping to manoeuvre through barriers, stopping to check the route and then backtracking when we got it wrong!

Out of Rookhope we had one big hill at Stanhope but that really was the last of the biggies, before getting back onto the last of the Pennines and my favourite type of cycling:

We turned off the road onto the Waskerley Way (old railway line).

This was a bit teeth rattling so opted for a road section which took us down into the valley and unfortunately a climb back again, but it was much speedier. The Waskerely Way improved though towards Consett, where we took these photos of the Terris Novalis sculptures which overlook where the mightly Consett Steelworks were.

And

These are by Tony Cragg, nearly 7m tall and have won the Turner prize. They symbolise regeneration in an area ruined by the demise of heavy industry. They were commissioned by Sustrans.

After this, we decided to go to Tynemouth, the alternative ending of the C2C route, rather than Sunderland, as originally planned. We continued along the south bankon the Tyne, through Gateshead and on to Jarrow. Navigation here was difficult and lots of stops and starts. Sustrans seem to be redoing the route. Many a time we would find the signs but the paths would be blocked.

So lots of diversions sending us all over the place and lots of head scratching, trying to find the correct route. Still, it was great to see the Newcastle Bridges, looming into view:

Then we opted for the Tyne Pedestrian and Cycle Tunnel to get to the north side of the Tyne.

This was great! Took a bit of finding – not obvious at all, at least not at the moment. The only sign of it above ground is this tiny little building. There is a lift and also escalators to help you get down there. We took the lift down, and the escalator up. This was a bit hairaising as the escalator is very steep, very long and very slow! My hands were numb trying to keep hold of my bike. Probably absolutely fine if you have an unladen bike.

and to show you how long it was…

(Actually, just checked on wiki - it was built in 1951 and these escalators are the longest wooden escalators in the world!)

Once on the North side, everything was easy. Well signposted and we hurtled towards the finish, which is right at the end of the quayside:

Phew! Done!

Then, a cycle back to Newcastle to find our Travelodge. The route there was just excellent – one of the highlights really, at least as far as city cycling goes. Again, it follows an old railway line, But this time, it’s tarmacced and well signposted. We got to the centre of Newcastle (about 8 miles from the finish) in no time at all, it seemed. The cycle path brings you out onto the Quayside area, which is now rather smart.

However, as mentioned earlier, finding the Travelodge took about an hour of frustration! Still, once there, after a quick shower and change, it was off to eat, again!

Have to say that Newcastle is far nicer than I thought it would be. There has been a lot of regneration to the dock area. Some wonderful architecture. Friday night there is quite “interesting” Never seen so many Hen and Stag groups in one place!