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.
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