In an alternating pattern, last night’s bed was sooooo comfortable that it was a bind to shake a leg, or two. Two would defo be better!
And away!
Insanely fine colours, early doors!
Fall/Autumn est arrive!
Definite whiff of oven chips around here.
Today was going to be an odd one: there was the slight matter of getting across the North Yorkshire Moors (something Imwas looking forward to) followed by getting through Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Newcastle on the way to Whitley Bay. But to be fair, getting through Scarborough was as difficult as anything!
So good to get into this scenery!
Un peu de vertical, Sir?
Well then, have some more!
Encouragement from a couple of supporters.
Cue the perfect geeeetahr solo from ‘Wuthering Heights’
The moors make you work but I can only recommend them unreservedly. Totally beautiful! And with that, the task of getting through those cities loomed large.
11/10, would recommend…will return!
One-stop shop innit!
Middlesbrough could’ve been worse: here’s the Tees Newport Bridge.
The route called for a spell on the A19: not ideal but it did have a rideable shoulder so we were okay. And on to Sunderland…
That answers the question of where it begins/ends. No it doesn’t!
Friday pm on the A19 was doable. Just.
Compare and contrast. Bueno!
Sunderland does it by bridge…
Newcastle did it by ferry! Only six more miles…
This was a tough day with 107 miles forward and almost a mile and-a-half upwards. My acco was basic but the shower was great. The unexpected bonus ball was that breakfast would start at 0630… fantastic!
I was darkening the doors of McDs at 0610 in a bid to get some sort of head-start: at my speeds it’s about the only mitigation that I can conjure, hah-hah!
About as quiet as SkegVegas gets?
Yes, two hash browns. What of it, hah-hah!
And away…
There was a decision to be made: the scenic route or the slightly more direct but almost certainly busier road? I chose the latter and it was the right call, even if it meant slightly raised stress levels at times.
After Louth there would be quieter roads pretty much until the crossing of the Humber Bridge- something I was looking forward to…not only as it’s a fantastic example of engineering, but also it would mean I was over halfway point for today’s stage.
And welcome to some more interesting terrain.
Quality millinery on Eddy VI’s noggin.
St. James’ Church giving it plenty in Louth.
Rolling terrain is back in play!
I was very lucky with getting help from a decent wind outta da south for the most part…can we keep that in play for a day or two yet, please? No harm in asking/praying…
Word on the street is that there’s a bridge around here somewhere.
Well now!
This was meant to be the route after lunch, however…
After Hull there was a designated cycle route for quite a stretch: terrific..no motorists to get in the way of, right? That was true enough but the surface was a tad on the bumpy side for long stretches thanks to tree roots…so much so that I had to quit it and try some country roads that even Google was thinking twice about. In the event I had a result…they were generally smooth surfaces and only the odd vehicle.
Hmm, looks a bit lively over there. Where I’m headed!
All got a bit Lionel for a bit.
There was a decent build-up of angry looking clouds…and they were right where I was headed. Duly there was a little arcing’n’sparking followed by hailstones and then one deluge. No complaints as I’ve been lucky for a few days and there might well be a little more of that nonsense incoming.
A memorial to Halifax crews at the site of RAF Driffield.
The downpour suited some around…
It was a real tonic to stay in an apartment with a washing machine, two pubs not even 20 yard away and The World’s Finest Chip Shop a mere 50 yards away! Utter luxury, and I’m not joking. I visited the Co-op and bought some milk and cereal for tomorrow’s early nosebag…it’s a big one, so let’s see how best we can manage it.
Crashing here tonight!
Washing machine bonus ball!
Plenty of hanging space for clean Lycra!
Hunmansby chip shop is the best. No questions taken, thank you.
Rehydration protocol starts in the Cottage Inn…
And continued in the White Swan!
Where I indulged in the STP. Not remotely sorry either, hah-hah!
So that’s about it for today, although one question is where does The North begin? Is it north of The Humber? And the other thing is that the temperature drop is noticeable…and I don’t just mean because we’re going north- nope, autumn is here!
More yards gained!
And the tune is because I heard it this morning in a coffee shop in Louth this morning…it’s a thing of beauty!
