After a cold start week today’s weather was much milder.

I met up with Dave and Chris at our usual spot in Holywell Dene.

We took our familiar route along the old railway line then down to the promenade at Whitley Bay. From there we followed the coast along to Tynemouth where we picked up the path along the Tyne which took us along to the Hub Cycle Cafe on Newcastle Quayside.

From there we crossed the river at the Millennium Bridge which took us to the Gateshead side of the river. Here we joined NCN Route 14, the Keelman’s Way, which runs to South Shields.

For the most part the route follows the river and gives good views of the north shore.

The route leaves the river at Hebburn, close to an area known as ‘Little Aberdeen’ because it housed shipyard workers recruited from North East Scotland, and heads towards South Shields. At Jarrow there is a cyclist tunnel currently closed for refurbishment. There is however a replacement bus service which will transport bikes and their riders through the vehicular tunnel to Howdon.

Once at Howdon it is a short ride to rejoin Route 72 then on to Route 10. The ride back home was straightforward, apart from having to deal with a rear wheel puncture on Chris’s bike.

Here in the north-east of the UK we seem to have made a rapid transition from a mellow autumn to a cold winter. The temperature on Monday morning was 0° Celsius but the sky was clear and wind speed was minimal. Dave and I had planned to head north, avoiding most of the slippery and muddy paths.

We met at the bottom of The Avenue and headed along the Dunes cycle path towards Blyth. The track along the river was icy in places but the sky was blue and the sun was shining.

We continued through Bedlington, East Sleekburn, West Sleekburn and Ashington before joining the Coast and Castles Route which runs alongside the A189 Spine Road eventually taking us to the Queen Elizabeth II Country Park on the outskirts of Ashington. After a quick circuit of the lake, we headed to Newbiggin, our scheduled coffee stop.

Bertorelli’s, adjacent to the promenade in Newbiggin, is fast becoming one of our favourite coffee stops. Located in an attractive art deco building, the service is excellent and it’s perfect for a half-way break.

By now it was a glorious winter’s day and Newbiggin was looking at its best.

We left Newbiggin via Sandy Bay Caravan Park and rejoined the Coast and Castles route for a mile or so before heading into Cambois.

After passing through Cambois, Dave suggested we continue into North Blyth, once famous for shipbuilding (the first HMS Ark Royal was built at Battleship Wharf) but now known for wind turbines and the aluminium ore silos.

The diversion meant we had to double back (the ferry across the River Blyth no longer runs) to retrace our route back to Blyth harbour side.

Our final stop was for a coffee at Ciccarelli’s before heading home through the dunes and back up The Avenue.

Another day when things didn’t go as planned – but this time in a good way.

Three of my friends are away on holiday and I have the responsibility of checking on their houses. Consequently I planned a rout which would enable me to call in on the houses before I set off somewhere else.

The forecast was not particularly good. There had been an early morning frost and the rest of the day promised to be cold and cloudy.

Contrary to expectations, after lunch the sky cleared and the sun shone although it remained cold. I set off to do my duty, pausing to take a photograph of Seaton Delaval Hall along the way.

My duty done, I headed for Seaton Sluice and by chance I met up with my cycling companion Ian who was out for an afternoon ride. After a brief discussion we decided to follow the route that Ian had planned. This took us along the dunes cycle path to Blyth and then we headed through Blyth, up to Cramlington and on to Seghill.

The route was mostly cycle paths and minor roads but I completed 20 miles without picking up a puncture or getting covered with mud.

It was a beautiful autumn morning when I set off to meet Dave and Chris in Holywell Dene. The plan was for we three to meet up, cycle for a couple of hours then rendezvous with Ian for a second session in the afternoon. My day didn’t start well. I’d just joined the bridleway leading into the dene when I heard the familiar hiss, hiss from my rear tyre. That tyre had been fitted with a Slime inner tube so I was hoping the consequences wouldn’t be too serious. I carried on to the meeting place and checked the tyre. The pressure was down but the tyre wasn’t flat. I pumped it up and whilst waiting for my companions, took a few photographs.

When Dave and Chris arrived we set off along the waggonway towards Monkseaton Drive. Unsurprisingly we negotiate our way around a lot of fellow cyclists, dog walkers, joggers, and pedestrians. We then head down to the promenade at Whitley Bay and headed north towards Seaton Sluice and Blyth.

Once we reached Blyth Quayside we called in at the River Cafe for coffee and a scone. That done, we headed along the River Blyth to Furnace Bank at Bedlington then on to Low Horton. After Low Horton we followed the path of an old waggonway which is quite a technical ride because of the tree roots and bits of rock. Going through here I became concerned about the battering my rear tyre was taking.

We pressed on and cycled up Laverock Hall road towards Cramlington. We had arranged to meet Ian at 1 pm in Seghill and were falling behind schedule. We pushed on through Cramlington and past the Giant Spoon on our way to Seghill.

Once there I checked my rear tyre and is was worryingly soft so I pumped it up before we set off towards Killingworth. Heading along the track from Killingworth to Holystone I became aware that my rear tyre was now flat! I had to stop and change the inner tube. When I removed the Slime inner tube the tell-tale green spots showed four punctures in the tube.

We set off again only for Ian to meet disaster. His front tyre punctured, he lost control on a corner and came off his bike. Ian unfortunately, is the member of the team who has developed a reputation for falling off. He repaired the puncture and we headed for the Rising Sun Country Park in search of coffee and cake.

We reached the cafe in the visitor centre just as it started to rain. By the time we emerged the shower had passed so we headed off towards the Silverlink waggonway. The last part of our route took us back through Silverlink to Shiremoor and Backworth where Ian left us to head home to Seghill. Dave, Chris and I pushed on towards Holywell via East Holywell. Approaching Holywell I acquired yet another rear tyre puncture. At this point I was close to home so I walked the bike the remaining half mile leaving Dave and Chris to ride on to Seaton Sluice.

Thirty six miles in total but for me, a day dominated by punctures.