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Day 3 Stanhope to Tynemouth, 46 miles

2008-05-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

Preparing for the last days ride.

Some essential repairs being made to the famous British Eagle before the day starts.

We set out for the last days ride across the moors and down to the coast with fine skies, good spirits and wonderful scenery.

Beautiful countryside & huge great skies but you need a bell to warn the locals of your presence.

A short clip in sunshine for a change.

Look at those leg muscles after all that riding.

Crossing the river to begin the final push.

The riverside trail was a little different to the serious off road we became used to.

Time for lunch anda little trick to make you laugh.

A final pit stop for lunch at a waterside hotel in Newcastle before the final 10mile stretch along the Tyne to the coast. The route is now a little more civilised & certainly smoother & flatter!!

Tyneside & the end of an epic ride - Congratulations

We even conquered the very final climb from the finish post to the car park - well we could hardly walk up it could we?

Ian attacks the final (unnessesary) hill

Mark does the same

The C2C challenge May 2008 for FunToGive.org

156 miles over rough & hilly terrain from West to East Coast of England. Good Fun!

Ian, Mark & Matt;thanks for you efforts over the 3 days and in fundraising. I hope we get together on subsequent challenges.

Day 2 Penrith to Stanhope, 58 miles reaching appx 2000 feet

2008-05-19T08:44:00.000-07:00

We were well impressed that Ian made it to breakfast after leaving London at 4:20am after only 1 hours sleep - now that's Rock'n'Roll! The day started well as we knocked out 11 miles in about 50 mins, a great pace........

Then disaster! Whilst chatting we'd riden due South by mistake! We realised we were around 20 miles off course........look at the faces as the reality dawns!

As the rain came down we plotted a recovery course and cycled around 15 miles at pace to get back on the correct route.

Around 2 hours later we began the 1st of two long and challenging climbs of the day - up to Hartside Pass at about 1900 feet.

Matt summits Hartside Pass the hard way!

Mark summits Hartside Pass the hard way!

After a short lunch on top of Hartside Pass we headed off through Garrigill for some more off road routes. Some tracks were so steep and rocky it became 'comedy riding time'

Matt bravely takes on the 'unrideable'

Mark attempts the unrideable

Triumphant - we made the impossible climb out of Garrigill......... Whehay!!!

Checking the route to the old mines & quarry - now where can we find some more expert off road!

The old quarry road - time for some serious off road descent. Now this is FUN!

Descending the quarry road - one handed camera man extraordinaire!

After every down comes an UP. We climbed 1.4 miles out of Nenthead towards the highest point of the ride at Black Hill, an altitude of 1,998 feet.

Summeting Black Hill. Now that was long, hard & COLD! We're still a long way from home.

Are we there yet & what's this pile of rocks for? Shall we bunny-hop it?

The route home looks long and frankly quite desolate. Are we sure this is the right direction? We have been know to make navigational mistakes.

The final (hard) climb of the day out of Rookhope and on to the Moors. It's getting late, we're tired & cold but not too far from home now.

Finally we make the B&B. There's (it's) nothing like a luxury.

After 58 miles, two climbs of nearly 1,900 feet each, some serious off road riding, a detour of around 15 miles, one puncture, a brisk north easterly and temperature of 6C we make it to the B&B at 8.30pm. A quick shower, meal and little whisky & guiness sees us all fall very tiredly into bed.

Day 1 Whitehaven to Penrith - 59 miles, highest point reached 1400 feet

2008-05-17T00:27:00.000-07:00

The NIGHT BEFORE

Being keen sportsmen we knew that preparation was all, so we headed out for a bowl of pasta at Penrith's finest italian. Several pints and a bottle of wine later we'd managed to drink away any thoughts of the pending journey and had an educational encounter with visiting Leeds Utd followers.

The DAY ITSELF
Kitted up & ready for the start - time for one quick snap.....then like speeding slugs we were gone. Well at least to the nearest public conveniences!

An hour or so in and we decide to check directions and glance at the map (read have a break!).

Now.........was it left, right or straight on over the off road section?

A short while later we suffered our first puncture and were introduced to the extreme sport of puncture repair whilst dodging speeding locals in huge 4 by 4's.....it was almost like they were aiming for the 'tourists' (they wouldn't would they ?!).

After a rather long and hard climb up to Whinlatter Pass we descended at pace through the forest and down into Keswick seeking a well earned lunch break.

We parked the now famous British Eagle with distinctive 1980's paint job, gave it water and a squish of oil as reward for the morning's efforts.

After a lunch of 'death by microwave pasta' we were raring to attack the Old Coach Road off road section................

The Old Coach Road - foolishly we smiled at the start.

The scenery was great & the track, well it's not too bad.

Do we look like we're having fun yet?

And now.....?

The phrase 'have I mentioned I hate you yet' was uttered a few times at this stage.

The summit of The Old Coach Road. A spectacular climb to appx 1400 feet into stunning scenery with not a soul in sight. We were ready for some serious off road downhill FUN!
At the end of day 1 we made it back to Penrith by 7.00pm having covered 59miles. Around 4 of those miles were covered in over 2 hours thanks to the Old Coach Road just outside Keswick. Future riders you have been warned!