Day Four

Stanhope to Tynemouth

Aching limbs are met by a climb out of Stanhope that is both long and steep, taking you back to the top of the moors

click here if you want to get a real impression of what it's like at the top, but only if you have a broadband connection!

No pictures of the Waskerley Way across the Moor (fantastic) or the Derwent Walk as were up against a deadline for the train home. So our first stop was lunch on the quayside at Newcastle (three doughnuts each).

How we wished that the route ran from Whitehaven to Newcastle. On the stretch to Tynemouth we got four punctures, and were convinced we had missed the only train back to Cheltenham. No time to paddle in the sea, or even stop for a group picture at the sign. While Ross and Peter fetched the car Simon and I started stripping panniers, only for a man to come make us move everything to empty the bin were leaning the bikes against. Summed up our finish really.

Highlight of the Day:
Flying across the moor on the Waskerley Way, stopping only to watch a stoat with a rabbit. Seeing the transformation of the river front at Scotswood, a place where only the brave would venture in my youth.

Tip of the Day:
If you have to go on to Tynemouth, for pyshological fulfilment, allow lots of time and carry lots of tubes.

And finally:

Credits go to Ross - for driving us up to Whitehaven.

Even more so to Issy - for picking the car up and moving it to Tynemouth.

Sustrans - for the route.

Dik Stoddart - for the hugely informative C2C site, and Doug Ridgway for the Tyne crossing instructions.

And all the people along the way who smiled, made us welcome, and generally made it a rewarding experience.