I realised, whist reclining in the bath, during a one-night stay at Northcote, that I should have brought the pumice stone. Not the stone but handmade chocolates at the end of our meal. Something to entice the reader. It’s a dark grey holey piece of rock (probably actually scoria rather than pumice) and looks like… Continue reading Northcote Hotel
Category: Travel
Cycle Trip: Lincoln to Liverpool – Day 4 (The final day!)
Last orders at the Crow's Nest! John first cooked up this idea last summer. A way to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease research, and to have a bit of a challenge. When he asked who wanted to join the ‘fun’ I foolishly put my hand up . He said it would be about 30… Continue reading Cycle Trip: Lincoln to Liverpool – Day 4 (The final day!)
Cycle Trip: Lincoln to Liverpool – Day 3
If you’d told me to get on a bike again after the end of day 2 I may have told you that I was throwing in the towel. My forearms ached, my shoulders were sore and I couldn’t actually squat far down on my right leg before the pain kicked in. I won’t even go… Continue reading Cycle Trip: Lincoln to Liverpool – Day 3
Cycle Trip: Lincoln to Liverpool – Day 1
The day before, we were thinking about setting off on the first leg at just after 9. To let the rush hour pass but to make sure that we could get to the end destination while it was still light. Then as the warm, sunny evening wore on and drinks were had, we thought around… Continue reading Cycle Trip: Lincoln to Liverpool – Day 1
‘Will you cycle with us?’, they said
My idea of getting back to normal after the last few months is to fret about a bike ride. My bike when I bought it, all shiny and new. Doesn't look this clean any more. It’s the one that had been arranged by Anne’s brother John (sometimes called Jack), way back last year. It was… Continue reading ‘Will you cycle with us?’, they said
Coast to Coast Day 14 – Grosmont to Robin Hood’s Bay (15.5 miles)
This is actually the day after as, well, who has time to write when someone’s handing you a glass of champagne or three? I’ve been brought back to the west coast again in less time than the Tony Blackburn radio show. This automobile idea may just catch on. The first lot of washing is on… Continue reading Coast to Coast Day 14 – Grosmont to Robin Hood’s Bay (15.5 miles)
Coast to Coast Day 13 – Blakey Ridge to Grosmont (pron. Growmont: 13.5 miles)
It was the penultimate day! And the first day that John cracked open his bottle of suncream. All of us tramping with him lathered some liberally on our arms as hey, it was a short sleeves day! Bucolic is a word I have always had problems with, because I always forget the definition. To me… Continue reading Coast to Coast Day 13 – Blakey Ridge to Grosmont (pron. Growmont: 13.5 miles)
Coast to Coast Day 12 – Clay Bank Top to Blakey Ridge (11 miles if starting at Great Broughton)
We went to the pub today. It was only 11 odd miles away so just enough to work up a thirst. The Lion Inn sitting atop Blakey Ridge is the only habitable building for a few miles. But that doesn’t seem to stop the trade as on this Wednesday night it seemed very lively.… Continue reading Coast to Coast Day 12 – Clay Bank Top to Blakey Ridge (11 miles if starting at Great Broughton)
Coast to Coast Day 11 – Ingleby Cross to Clay Bank Top (12 ish miles)
Well who would have thunk I'd be craving a hill but it really did feel good after yesterday's interminable monotony. Our route today, after Beacon Hill with its radio station, was virtually all on the Cleveland Way, a path that, by our experience, was really well managed and well signposted. The full route is 110… Continue reading Coast to Coast Day 11 – Ingleby Cross to Clay Bank Top (12 ish miles)
Coast to Coast Day 10 – Richmond to Ingleby Cross (23 miles: long moderate)
We should have actually done a mile less today because we were staying at the top of Richmond and could cut across. So that 23 miles should have been 22. But. Oh my goodness. 25 miles! How? Well firstly I was master navigator and the last time I took the helm was day 5 so… Continue reading Coast to Coast Day 10 – Richmond to Ingleby Cross (23 miles: long moderate)
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