The lads left their designated start point (Lat 54º48’26”N /Long 2º17’22”W - link) at 9:23 on Sunday morning, following breakfast at the Cumberland Hotel in Alston. The weather was grim! Fog/wind and a fairly consistent light rain (you know the type – the one that soaks you fairly quickly), which quickly (within a few minutes) had turned to a fairly heavy driving rain. Not nice, at all!
There was a nice fast downhill section into Allenheads, which was quickly followed by a fairly grim and steep ascent up towards Currick, and the Northumbria/County Durham border.
The weather was even worse up there!
The route from Rookhope Village was by two separate routes, on-road or off-road. The chaps decided on the latter, which was to take them across Stanhope Common and Edmondbyers Common, which is an area of moorland that is bisected by the B6278 Road form Stanhope to Consett. Unfortunately, due to a navigation faux-pas (not really helped by the fact that the Sustrans route map is not detailed enough at certain points), the on-road route was taken, which took the lads via Eastgate and Stanhope, up some seriously-steep road sections. At this point the weather was horrendous, with strong winds and constant heavy and driving rain.
At Parkhead, the route crosses th B6278 onto the “Waskerley Way” for the drop down into Consett. The weather at Parkhead was abysmal! The lads made a brief stop at the café at Parkhead, before setting off on the “Waskerley Way” proper. The route took the lads over the moor and down into Consett. It was on this section that Carl had a blow-out on his rear tyre. The lads stopped at this point to make some running repairs to Carl’s steed, and then met up with myself just to the west of Consett, at the car park at Rowley.
Here, a new tyre was also fitted, but this had caused quite a delay in the route.
After a brief stop for some lunch in Consett, the lads set off for the final 24 mile section into Sunderland.
This took the lads past various places, including Annfield Plain (not quite Anfield, but near enough for the Liverpool supporters amongst us), Stanley and No Place (did someone suggest a soundtrack of “Road to Nowhere”?).
Unfortunately. This part of the route was heavily littered with shards of glass, which led to two punctures for Pete in quick succession. Luckily, his tyres turned out not to be of the tubeless variety, and so running-repairs were possible.
As the route led the lads along the river into Sunderland, they went past the Penshaw Monument,
and on past the Stadium of Light, before leading them around the marina in Sunderland/Roker,
and to the official C2C Stamping Station, and the plaque indicating the end of the route.
Job Done!
The lads finally completed the C2C in Sunderland at approximately 18:15 on Sunday (17th August), having ridden the approximately 142 miles from Workington.
Obviously pleased at their achievement, the guys made their way to the beach between the two jetties to perform the traditional dipping of the front wheels in the North Sea.
Unfortunately, in a moment of madness, Rich decided to drive full-tilt into the surf, which swamped his bike, although I believe he really enjoyed it (looking at the expression on his face)
I'm sure I speak for all of the lads when I say we'd like to thank you for sponsoring & donating over £1100 (currently) via the Justgiving site
And on a personal note, I'd like to say a big "Well Done" to all 6 of the lads - A great achievement! I'm proud to have been associated with the whole event.
Jon
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