Home
Intro
Ourlinks
Contents
Galleries
Yeslands
Virtual Jon
Virtual Adam
Links

Eilands
Makes other
sites look
useful

Moments
to Keep

Celia's Story

Whitehaven to Dockray. Day 1.

Hot weather all day. Two cyclists tell us where the start is - and a postman! En route we quickly meet other cyclists starting off - especially the three from Liverpool (him with the squeaky breaks). As we fairly quickly get lost there are two women standing on a corner chatting who direct us. At Cleator Moor Jon, Michael and Eileen detour to get the first of our map stamps.

Ready to go (Jon, Kate, Celia, Michael, Eileen, Andy)

Rowrah to Lamplugh - We left the cycle track through the sculptured gate and set off on the road. It's our first hard climb out of the village. It's also our first dextrose stop!

Lamplugh to Low Lorton - We passed by Loweswater. The scenery is stunning, and so's the weather. At High Lorton Eileen persuaded the post office to open because we were desperate for suckers! She opened up especially for us - and filled our water bottles. How kind.

Low Lorton to Thornthwaite - The big climb up to Whinlatter - Lots of pushing. The track to the Visitor Centre was very exhausting. We arrived to have our dinner at 3 o'clock! This snack was the best of the C 2 C - double decker sandwiches of ham, cheese, onion and tomatoes, with 2 chocolate biscuits (wagon wheels), a drink and fruit. We had a long lunch break, we were exhausted. Our drinks bottles were very kindly refilled again (lovely cold water). We also bought hot teas, which were life saving. Out of Whinlatter Forest we had a brilliant ride down the tracks (except for the obnoxious man and woman!)

Thornthwaite to Keswick - a good ride into Keswick, but the road signs were poor. It was a good job Kate knew the way. At Keswick we managed to get on the alternative route by mistake - with hindsight it was a good move, as we missed the hard climb up to Castlerigg.

Keswick to Dockray - The OLD COACH ROAD!! Sheer hell. A major low point of the C 2 C (not literally). We each had to do it at our own pace - and on our own. I couldn't talk any more, I just had to do it. I've never been so pleased to see tarmac and a road sign in my life. The mile down to Dockray was extremely quick and steep. Michael and I were just putting our bikes away when Kate and Jon arrived. Eileen and Andy were shortly after. We thought they'd arrived really quickly. Dinner was at 9 o'clock. No time to change or wash. I had garlic mushrooms and a dip, then gammon in a cidery/treacle sauce. Michael and I shared a lemon meringue pie. We left a lot because we were all too tired to eat. We were all worried about Kate too - her asthma was bad. I slept really well - after seeing cyclists in my dreams for a while.

Dockray to Penrith. Day 2.

A lovely breakfast - poached egg, although we had to choose between cereals and fruit juice. They packed us up with tuna sandwiches and fruit for lunch. From Dockray we climbed up (!) - but then we had a lovely descent to Troutbeck. A cyclist going the other way pointed us in the right direction - and a chap with a van who was looking after a group of cyclists who were doing the C2C in one day!! He said we were very brave to do the OCR, especially with all the gear we were carrying.

Troutbeck to Penrith - On this stretch of the route we passed through some beautiful villages. A chap came out of his house to talk to us about the C2C. He told us his wife and daughter had done it - and what to avoid (pity we didn't see him the day before - he might have warned us about the OCR). At Penrith we stopped for cold drinks at the pub. Kate was feeling better than yesterday - and so they both decided to carry on the C2C with us - hurray!!

Penrith to Garrigill - We stopped for dinner at Langwathby, on the green. We bought drinks at the pub, and chocolate. They also kindly filled our water bottles as we had a climb out of Little Salkeld still to come. On the route to Hartside we detoured and decided to take the road up from Gamblesby - no more OCR! It was a very steep climb (one of Kate's spokes went when her panniers got caught in the wheel). But once we were on the A686 up Hartside we could cycle - as long as we stopped for rests. A walker near the top told us we hadn't got far to go - and only one more hill before Garrigill. At Hartside café we stopped for tea and biscuits, and a wonderful view. The descent was fantastic - wonderful and long, but not too steep. The brakes were really tested at the bottom. On Hartside top we'd met two cyclists who were doing the C2C and camping. They passed us and decided to camp at Garrigill. The last few hills into Garrigill were a bit of a killer! We arrived to find Mrs Bramwell taking her dogs for a walk. We had to have quick baths (all girlies together) to get to the pub next door before they stopped serving meals. We could all eat a bit better tonight, and had lovely chips with our meals (except Eileen). Michael and I didn't sleep very well - we woke up and put the radio on for a while - if we'd known we could have gone to see Kate and Jon, who also didn't sleep very well.

Garrigill to Castleside. Day 3.

Garrigill to Allenheads - I had a nice yoghurt for breakfast, but the sausage wasn't so good. We managed an earlier start than before though. We started off with a killer push out of Garrigill - and met the two cyclists who were camping having breakfast on the roadside. It smelt good. Kate and I were at the back when Jon suddenly passed us saying

"Morning, C to C?"

"Super, goodbye" - and he peddled off at a fast rate. Kate and I couldn't move for laughing - and Jon made it up the hill first!

The hill down to Nenthead was extremely steep - I was worried I wouldn't stop at the bottom T-junction, and so I got off and walked the last bit. My bike rims were burning hot. In the village we had our maps stamped and I had a quick go on the adventure playground. Out of Nenthead we had another climb (of course) - but it was a good one because on cycling to the top of the hill we saw a sign - Northumbria! Yes! It was followed by a great descent to Allenheads.

Allenheads to Rookhope - Allenheads have got a lovely tea room. So of course we stopped for tea, cakes and ice-creams! It was a good climb out of Allenheads. Michael was particularly good at it - the only one of us to do it in one go. The descent down to Rookhope was beautiful and exhilarating.

Rookhope to Castleside - We stopped for dinner at Rookhope - this wasn't such a good pack lunch as we were used to. Eileen scouted out the next bit of the route for us, but it was a group decision to take the disused incline. We were a bit worried in case it turned out to be another OCR. It wasn't too step or rough. At the top there were some old quarry workings which made a good place to stop. It then levelled out. The wind was fantastic - it literally blew us along - and we crossed the 100 mile barrier! Then we had a lovely road descent to get onto the Waskerley Way. Our first accident occurred here - Jon skidded off his bike - but he was ok. An easy ride to Bee Farm nr. Castleside followed. What a lovely place. We put our bikes away and Michael, Jon and I showered (not together), while Kate, Eileen and Andy had tea and biscui__. Then we swapped over.

Dinner was gorgeous. I had soup, chicken, and strawberries and ice-cream. We all then had tea/coffee and cakes! That evening we had a thunderstorm - our first rain of the C2C!

Castleside to Sunderland. Day 4. Michael's birthday!!

A lovely breakfast at this B+B. It had a great choice of cereals - I had Frosties and All-Bran. We all had full English breakfast (with a choice of two eggs), and it was the best of the trip.

We were told a quicker way back to the Waskerley Way and soon made quick progress. The day had started off grey - but it was now warm and sunny again. The real surprise of this part of the journey was the viaduct. There was no warning - we were suddenly upon it. I nearly had to get off my bike - it was so high! We then had to ride down Consett high street as we lost the route - bu we were kindly redirected. We all enjoyed getting back on as the path spiralled round and round - it was fun!

A quick route to Sunderland followed. Sunderland was very disappointing - lots of broken glass and very run down. The route through was very silly too. We went on to Seaburn do we could have our maps stamped for the last time. Eileen and Andy ran into the sea - so they've been in at both ends. We had a rushed lunch as Eileen and Andy had to get the earlier train. We relaxed by the sea a bit longer.

An uneventful ride back to Sunderland - and easily on to the train (amazing). We were relieved to be on our way back and relieved when Eileen and Andy made it onto our train at Carlisle. We got off at Parton, right next to the sea, and faced our final hill up to the hotel. What a killer! We were back in our old rooms, relieved to see our cars still there, and relieved to change into some different clothes!! We had a lovely meal at the local pub (we were the only ones in). The only accident that happened today was when we were leaving the pub. Kate slipped over! - and she wasn't drunk!

Would I do it again?

YES!! It was great fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it. But, I wouldn't do the Old Coach Road again, even with a better bike, it was hell!! The alternative route has much to recommend it. I would also recommend paying for the decent B+Bs - you need a good bed and washing facilities at the end of the day. I'm glad I did it, especially with Michael, Kate, Jon, Eileen and Andy!