Thank You’s….

Well the bikes are now being ‘looked’ at again….. cycles were definitely off my favourite list the day after the ride but time eases the pain !!

So now a few Thank You’s should be put onto this site… there are a lot and in no particular order :

Sherwoods of Darlington who provided our support van complete with AACC graphics.

Ken & Tom – who drove the vans and provided fantastic support throughout,  making the refreshments,doing hospital runs and ‘ferrying’ bikes.

Andy & Bron Huddleston for getting the bikes to & from Edinburgh & Newcastle.

Andy Parker – who organized accommodation for the ‘lads’, the van from Sherwood's and numerous other things including the water, Jaffa cakes & banana’s.

All the people who made ‘cakes’ for us – we saw some castles…..  the coast we’ll forget about…. (headwinds) but the cakes – gorgeous……

Gary Pickering for designing this years Coast, CAKES & Castles logo

CEO of HM Plant Ltd – John Jones and his wife Kath, who were at the finish to present a cheque for £1000 to the Hospice, to follow up the £1000 they donated last year and also the Durham Police Motorcycle Section who donated £500 from BikeWise (of which Chris was a great supporter) and to everyone of you who took the time and gave your money, donating either online via our just giving site or direct to us via a sponsorship form.

If there’s anyone I’ve forgotten then I do apologize and I’ve no doubt one of the team will remind me !!

Day 3

Seahouses to Newcastle - 78.56mls

The route today took us firstly from our overnight stop at the Links Hotel up to the other accommodation – the Springhill Lookout Bunkhouse
We set off about 0915hrs and started on the ‘home run’ on another beautiful sunny day. We all said last year that Chris must have been sorting out the weather for us and once again the sun shone down on us (mind you could have sorted the wind problem out as well !!)
Once again we quickly found out that the route was in no way direct ( not like the Great North Bike Ride – which had been held the previous Sunday)…. Our resident racing snake – Dave Cable had completed the GNBR the previous week from Seahouses to Tynemouth in two and a half hours !!
Well once again we were taken on every minor road that the area could find, passed Boulmer where a big yellow Search and Rescue helicopter took off and hovered overhead (we might need you later !!),  eventually into Alnmouth and then instead of taking the short cut into Walkworth, we once again had to climb and climb and climb, to a radio mast at High Buston. This little detour must have took at least an hour !! After a welcome cuppa from the support team we were off downhill to Warkworth, then Amble and then once again onto the coast and the built up area’s of Ellington, Ashington & Blyth… where we appeared to ride around every estate and kept coming back to the huge wind turbine’s on the coast. Strong headwind’s and bright sunshine don’t do a lot for us, as we battle our way up the coast via Seaton Sluice, Whitley Bay and finally into Tynemouth Priory about 1730hrs…. but not before Scott had the first puncture of the tour…….
After a brief stop we were off on the final run in, 10mls to Newcastle and the Millenium Bridge. Andy Parker’s two children joined in the fray and Andy donned his shorts and bike for the the final run in, Bob jumped onto Dave Cable’s mountain bike which was lying spare in the van. At  this point, just after we’d left Tynemouth… Paul Rogers lost his saddle when a bolt stripped.. he was forced into riding the last ten miles ‘standing up’ on the pedals (a bit like Lance Armstrong in his prime). After about an hour, with the sun setting over the Tyne Bridge we arrived at our destination.. our friends/families had been waiting patiently for between two and three hours !! Well we all had wind !! Done and ‘dusted’ Bikes into the trailer and at this point Steve Campbell injured himself just moving a bike – something in the back of his knee… off to hospital Steve !!

Absolutely shattered we all made our way home……  and the next ride ???  Watch this space….

Many Thanks to all who supported us in whatever way… The Just Giving site has made more than we ever thought possible, after last years huge amounts – so a BIG Thank You to all who donated.

Day 2

Melrose to Seahouses – 68mls

Day 2 saw us leaving Melrose after a group photo outside of the Youth Hostel, Bishop Auckland Cycling Club wished us well and told us about the first climb of the day !!  It was cool and misty as we made our way towards Newton St. Boswells, but by the time we had reached a lovely bridge at Dryburgh, the sun had come out.
By now James Morgan was coming into his own and sprinting over the top of every hill he could see – at first we thought he was acting as lead out for his dad, Dave but quickly realized that there was only one King of the Mountains in this tour…. The Polka dot jersey – awarded to James Morgan.
Shortly after this we had our first casualty of the day when Andy Parker who had been struggling at the end of day one with a knee injury, decided to call it a day and joined Ken & Tom in the vans.
We continued west via Kelso / Coldstream and made it to the coast at Berwick by lunchtime – now for the flat downhill bit !!
After losing a bit of time with a tea stop, we were then setting off on the home run to Seahouses – we now faced a strong headwind which was coming straight at us off the sea and now the terrain changed completely as we went from minor roads to a coastal footpath which wound it’s way over fields.. not what we were expecting…. slow progress was made eventually arriving at Goswick Golf Club and then crossing the A1 at West Mains (The road that leads down to Holy Island)
From here, instead of going downhill, it went uphill and uphill and uphill and uphill, until we eventually met the support team at Belford, by now we were late (about 1730hrs) and absolutely ‘cream crackered’. A ride into Seahouses via Waren Mill and Bamburgh, but enroute Bob’s bike ‘gave up the ghost’ when the freewheel broke – plenty of pedalling but no movement !!
Phone calls were made and Ken came to the rescue when he came back with the van and handed over Andy’s Parkers now spare bike, for Bob & Annie to continue onto Seahouses where they arrived about 1930hrs. The Links Hotel was a welcome sight and after getting washed up and fed it was time for us all to have an early night – the home run tomorrow.

Day 1

Edinburgh to Melrose – 57.86mls

Breakfast at St Leonards and then the rest of the team arrived from Durham. Ken Richardson driving the Sherwoods van and Tom Foster the personnel carrier .

Paul Rogers, Steve Taylor, Steve Campbell, David & James Morgan, Dave Cable & Andy Parker made up the rest of the ‘Chaingang’ for this years tour….

Up to the castle for a photo-shoot…. until some ‘jobsworth’ said that we couldn't have a group photo in front of the castle (when hundreds of tourists are taking pictures of the castle !!)

Eventually we were allowed a few minutes to get our picture (after we’d already taken a couple of unofficial one’s) – Time to leave and lo and behold we end up back at St Leonards Police Station – we’d only been staying there and none of us had seen the Route 1 sign !!

The route took us on cyclepaths through Edinburgh, via Musselburgh to Dalkeith where we took to minor roads and started climbing up and up into the Moorfoot Hills. Our first rest stop was just over the summit and then it was off and downhill towards Innerleithen…….

ACCIDENT…… Steve Taylor became the first casualty of the tour about a mile after the rest stop when he came off his bike on a downhill section and injured his right shoulder. Fortunately Tom & Ken were behind us and managed to get Steve away to hospital at Melrose and he subsequently had to return to Durham. Innerleithen then took us to Galshiels where Ken had another rest stop organized, it was here that we met Kathy Walter of Thistle & Heather Books , a keen cyclist from the Peebles area who ‘shared’ a cup of tea with us. Last few miles dropped us into Melrose where we found the Abbey but not the YHA !! Eventually we arrived and at the same time so did Bishop Auckland cycling club and Nikki Willis from the HQ Sports centre (it is a small world).

The pensioners – as Andy calls the more mature members of the ‘chaingang’, retired to the Old Abbey School B & B  (01896 823432) (highly recommended) and then we all met at the The Ship Inn for some great food and ‘banter’ about the days ride which we all agreed was fantastic

We’re on our way…..

Thursday 2nd September…. after packing the bikes into the BikeWise trailer the night before – we’re finally on our way to Edinburgh….
Anne, Lynn, Andy & Scott had done the PR ‘thing’ for Sherwoods with the new super duper van and then got onto the train at Darlington…
Annie, Bob, Neil, Gary & Simon met at Durham for the 1535hrs train from Durham to Newcastle and then onto the same train as the Darlington ‘gang’ – the 1632hrs out of Newcastle to Edinburgh Waverley.
No sooner were we on the train than the refreshments started, drinks, cake !!! enough to make a ‘fat lad’ smile lots………
Before we knew it we were at Edinburgh, I must admit that we discussed staying at Newcastle, having three nights at Mal Maison and then pedalling out onto the bridge on Sunday night !! – Pride, guilt, possibly stupidity stopped us doing that so Edinburgh it was…
Over to St Leonards Police Station, our accommodation for the night –  the staff at the ‘nick’ were superb, couldn't have been more helpful to us Sassanach’s.
We met Gordon (Flash) or should it be Flash (Gordon)…. where else but at the pub… and after about an hour 1930hrs, Andy and Bron Huddleston appeared with the trailer and our trusty ‘steed’s’.. (referred to from now as bike’s).
Andy had gone nearly as ‘fast’ as the train in his East Coast Express ‘truck’. After a quick couple of pictures they were back off to Durham and we were out on the town.
‘The Dome’ beckoned us in for a beer, or in Flash’s case a G & T….  (complete with posh finger ‘pose’), Gary & Simon were disgusted that they couldn't get served an Iron Brew with their Bacardi’s and the rest of us – well we just drank.
Next stop Tipu's Indian Lounge, 129a Rose Street (0131 226 2862) www.tippoosahib.co.uk to ‘turbo charge’ us, ready for  tomorrow. Here we met a scottish indian !! who tried to sell us everything on the menu – Gary decided that the ‘shirtlifter’ was for him….. or was it the ‘rooflifter’… same thing aren't they ??  and after a bellyful of curry Neil just had to have, a deep fried Mars Bar on the way home….
yes it definitely was ‘Fat Lad’s’ on Tour   (ladies are exempt from that quote).
A quick song from Annie (no not Annie B, Annie the musical…)

“The sun'll come out Tomorrow, Bet your bottom dollar , That tomorrow - There'll be sun!
Just thinkin' about tomorrow, Clears away the cobwebs, And the sorrow, 'Til there's none!
When I'm stuck a day, That's gray, And lonely, I just stick out my chin And Grin, And Say,
Oh! The sun'll come out Tomorrow, So ya gotta hang on Til tomorrow Come what may
Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya Tomorrow! You're always day A way! “

Last Training Ride

Scott, Ann & Annie made a big effort on Sunday and cycled 48mls around North Yorkshire, missing the rain but getting blown about…

Poor Basil couldn't cope with 48 miles, his poor little bladder was desperate after one of his longer rides. But that’s it – rest now and we’ll be raring to go on Friday morning – where’s the first cake stop ??

The Long & Winding Road

Scott & Ann

& Basil

The ‘Parkers’ recce Lancashire

We did a family training ride on our holidays. It was from Bull Beck car park which is on the A683 towards Lancaster and you ride on a disused railway line to Lancaster( the millenium bridge) and onwards to Morecambe. It was a beautiful day and the ride is a total of 20 miles and it took us about an hour each way. I had Ben who is 6 years on the "Trailgator" and Jessica who is 10 years and Gill used their own bikes.

Join us on the ride…

Well it’s almost here…. less than two weeks to go…

If you want to join us on the ride and cycle a few miles with us – then you will be more than welcome.

Our last day – Sunday 5th September takes us from Seahouses, down the Northumberland coast to Tynemouth and then on to Newcastle.

Get that bike out of the garage, get someone to drop you off and help to keep us going on our way to Newcastle.

If you want further details email : bob.brown@virgin.net

Download a sponsor form or donate online - for the Coast, CAKES & Castles Ride……

To download a sponsor form for the Coast, CAKES & Castles Ride……   Please click on the image

 

 

 

 

 

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A day in the Cleveland Hills !!

Wednesday 28th… a trip to Hutton Rudby to meet Lynn and her friend Bev.

Basil, Ann, Annie Neil & Bob met at Lynn’s and then set off in some light rain for a ride in the Cleveland Hills… well one hill anyway !!

28 mile later we’re back to Lynn’s after travelling through some beautiful countryside and villages – had a customary stop for ‘refreshments’ – well you have to.. and Neil and I even found ‘room’ for an ice cream at Suggitt’s at Great Ayton !!

View above in a larger map

The 'absolutely average' seat.....

The 'absolutely average' seat.....
Neil Taylor has bought a seat in memory of Chris, which has been placed on the raised grass area (beneath the canteen) at HQ.
The seat has been located near the old cadet reception and faces across onto the armoury door, it's tucked a little bit back towards the trees as Chris was not one for sitting out in the glaring sun !!
If you're up at HQ, take a couple of minutes to walk over and have a look.
The plaque on the seat says it all....

Yarm (& back) with the 'Flying Scott'

Ann, Annie, Scott & Bob. Sunday morning... bright and early, the anticipation of the England v Germany game in the afternoon(for the lad's) and we're off - go Basil, lead the way....
Out of Neasham and Scott becomes 'The Flying Scott' as he cruises up the hill after his epic ride up (literally) the dales a couple of days before. Through Middleton One Row and then down to Yarm for the compulsory stop at coffee @ Elliott's on the main street. Basil met a couple of 'chicks' and was impressed with a 'leggy' blonde (Alsation). No Coast or Castle's on this ride but yes.... there was CAKE...
25 miles and a bit of sunburn and we were back at Ann's and off to watch England.... Wish we'd now gone for a longer bike ride, it would have been more interesting :-)

View Track 6 in a larger map

Scorton for a beer !!

Ann, Annie, Neal & Bob cycled through the lanes around Croft to Scorton and back to Hurworth on a beautiful sunny evening. It would have been 'rude' not to stop at the Farmers Arms at Scorton as the village green and tables were just waiting for us (and Basil needed a rest from the exertions of cycling !!)
Suitably 'refreshed ' - we were off and heading back to the cottage garden at Hurworth, for a glass of sparkling Rose (complete with strawberry ) and a home made muffin (Thank You - Ann)
Mileage : 20.61mls

View Track 4 in a larger map

The Northern Rock Cyclone - Sunday 12th June

Well we did the 'short' - 33mile ride and it was great. Ivan & Diane Wood, Annie & Bob....
1015hrs from Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club. Lovely day -- cloudy/sunny., approx 3500 riders and all professionally organized with electronic tags to 'time' you in and out !!
Problem for a lot of people with parking.... The 'bumffff... you got with the ride said parking at the rugby club and then at the Great North Park which was about a mile away...  Lot's of people ignored that and parked on the verges near the rugby club and when we got back they ALL had a ticket on them !!
The ride was good with some 'steady' climbs around some beautiful lane's of Northumberland.  Great stops at Wharlton.. where the local church / school had set up a stall with water and cakes (to die for !!). The next stop was at Stamfordham and once again the village hall had the locals ladies selling their cakes and sandwiches which they'd obviously been making all week. We all agreed that it was a good event and even thought that next time we should go for the longer 63mile ride :-)
PS... Whilst we were 'working hard' on the Cake... fellow Absolutely Average cycle team member Dave Cable was 'messing around' on the 104 mile ride !! completing it in 6hrs 18mins 29seconds - well done Dave... next year we'll be chasing you !!


View Northern Rock Cyclone in a larger map

The 2nd Training Ride

The 2nd Training Ride.... Anne, Annie & Bob - from Hurworth to Yarm and back again 27mls... Obligatory stop in Yarm for Carrot CAKE, Lemon Drizzle CAKE & Toffee & Apple CAKE - with coffee (of course !!). Basil guarded the bikes whilst we indulged !!!
Some beautiful lanes around Hurworth & Neasham......... Not to mention the two deer who jumped out to look at Anne & Annie......


View Ride 2 in a larger map

Coast, CAKES & Castles - the 1st one...

Well... Here we go.... Basil 'summoned' the troops and three of us took up the call - Anne, Annie & Bob.
11am at Anne's and off we go for a nice leisurely ride around the sunny lanes of North Yorkshire - 20.4 miles later we're back at Anne's...
Basil ordered us to have a sandwich & cup of 'rosy lee' at a lovely little Tea Room at the Village Hall at Scorton. A lovely day out, made even better when we got back by Anne's homemade Blueberry muffins - well after all we are doing the Coast, CAKES and Castles ride - so it's vital that we check out some cakes before we start !!

View AACC - Coast, Cakes & Castles -1 in a larger map

C2C cheque handed over to St Teresa’s Hospice

Ann Barber hands over a cheque for £10,254.47 to St Teresa’s Hospice after the Absolutely Average C2C Tour 2009.
From L to R : Ann Barber, Jane Bradshaw (St Teresa’s Hospice), Neil Taylor, Lynn Mallison, Annie & Bob Brown