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COAST TO COAST CYCLE RIDE IN AID OF WHEELCHAIR FOUNDATION

WRITTEN BY RTN. SIMON CLIFF

                                                                                            

 

 A group of 7 (4 men, 3 women) tackled the 144 mile Sustrans Coast 2 Coast cycle route from Workington in Cumbria Sunderland in Wearside in aid of the  Wheelchair foundation.

Deciding on going up the night before to get a good nights sleep and an early start was a good idea at the time but we did not expect to be sharing our hotel with a rampant (in every sense of the word) rugby club who kept us entertained in our beds till at least 4,00am! – they were still down with us at breakfast and were playing a match that afternoon – I seem to remember having that sort of stamina once!

Day 1: Workington to Greystoke - 38 miles?

Not a good weather forecast but hail was not expected but got us just outside Keswick. On the plus side, the tail wind was quite strong from the west – one reason why most do it West to east. After Keswick 3 of us did ‘the old coach road’ off-road option -very steep and very rough and very wet. I should have known better after 2 years ago but I went anyway. The others went on the slightly easier route along an old railway track. At 38 miles we expected to be near the end of day one but it seemed to go on and on. In fact it went on for another 10 miles as the mileage on the route guide is wrong. We were very pleased that the FA cup had gone to extra time so we got to see the last 30 minutes in the bar of the pub we were staying in (did I forget to mention that all our accommodation en route was in pubs!)

Day 2: Greystoke to Rookhope - 49 miles

Lovely sunshine but we missed the tailwind during the relentless hill climbs. There were so many and so long that I lost count! On the plus side, the downhills were very fast and the speed record is held by Paul Seaman at 48mph (I managed 47.5). We wanted to go back again and try for 50mph but did not have the nerve or the energy!

During the umpteen hill climbs  the beautiful lakes gave way to the bleak and spectacular north Pennines and a long gentle descent to Rookhope where we stayed at the local pub and recovered with a beer in beautiful sunshine and peace.

Day 3; Rookhope to Sunderland – 47 miles

Fantastic weather. We started the day (within 100 yards!) with probably the worst climb of all. Very steep and off road up to the top of Stanhope Moor. Once up there we had the most beautiful scenery of the whole ride following a track across the tops with Buzzards and Curlews all over the place. The route then descends slowly but surely over the next 30 or so miles through Consett and finally follows the river Wear to Roker beach at Sunderland where we all congratulated each other and rode into the sea.

7 cyclists over so many miles and not even a puncture but over £1000 raised for the Wheelchair Foundation – well worth the effort.

Thanks to all those that sent texts en route and all those who sponsored us.

If anyone wants to see more of the route look at http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk/

Simon Cliff                     Martin

Marion Milnes                Julie

Helen Plater                  Dave Parslow                 Paul Seaman