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Eileen's memories from C2C

Lowca hotel wonderful. Andy and I waiting for others. Paddled in sea. Sun going down. Hotel owners put on the hotel lights to welcome Celia, Michael, Kate & Jon - arriving in the dark. How lovely to see them - bikes and all. Let's to bed!

All ahead of us now. Excitement of finding C2C signs .... blue ones with white writing, white signs on the road... knowing we're going the right way! At least, when we eventually find our way out of Whitehaven ...

Meeting people on the way - residents, shopkeepers, van drivers ... so many helpful people with directions, words of encouragement, filling our water bottles for us ... meeting other C2C cyclists - the group of 3 (2 men, 1 woman) and the 2 campers ... what a lot of luggage ... how did they manage those hills? Do you remember the Post Office opening up for us - just because we wanted suckers (whoops, sorry, ice creams) and drinks? Well, she even filled our water bottles for free.

What wonderful views! First day in the Lake District ... such lakes, such hills, such beautiful weather. Sunshine every day...

Packed lunches so welcome ... first day ... Whinlatter about 3pm - what a long-awaited, wonderful lunch - triple decker sandwiches.

Michael's using his map ... so he might as well continue to muck his up ... no sense in us all mucking up our maps .. after all, we do have to get them stamped and claim our T-shirts off them! I'm eternally grateful, Michael.

Keswick - where are all the C2C signs? We went down some steps - perhaps didn't need to - maybe a bit lost? Nevermind - sorted out. Those steps though - ooh. I had to call Andy - couldn't hold my bike ... thought it was a gonner at one point - and me with it!

How will we ever forget the Old Coach Road! It's branded into my memory ... along with my swearing every time my pedals hit my shins .. and the one time I thought I'd have to give up ... Celia and Michael little dots in the distance (everyone for themselves by now!). Kate and Jon getting smaller too. Having to ride on rubble ... Andy playing I spy with me to keep me going ... just g, b and s (grass, boulders and sky). We'd have to hurry; the sun was going down. The last mile to Dockray - downhill ... in one minute flat. Caught the others up! Dockray hotel so beautiful and comfortable ... quarter of an hour to order dinner - it closes at 9pm... Jon remarked that Kate's salad was 'Old Coach Road Salad'... so funny but it hurts to laugh ... so tired. The bath at Dockray was so welcome (and so black once I got out). Kate suffering with asthma. First day and not so good spirits... Next day dawned and the brook was beautiful with its ducks and ducklings. Life goes on, as do we!

Second day, everything is easy after doing Old Coach Road. Uphills on tarmac a doddle... Celia very strong cyclist. Looking back at the view - how far we'd come, how well we'd done. Biggest and worst day over with. This day brightened our spirits. Chap in van waiting for his cycling friend (doing C2C in one day!) told us we had done the worst and were doing marvellously. We'd been brave to do Old Coach Road. Great news too - Kate & Jon have decided to go on with us. Gosh it's so hot! 'Specially up to Penrith. Andy and Michael help with Kate's bike. Such heros! Greystoke ... down hill like Tarzan ... drinks outside pub on village green at Langwathby ... could stay all day - no we couldn't. Have to push on.

At the Northumberland border

Hartside - up those hills - we all made it - cycling up. Well done everyone! Walked just up the last bit of rubble to Hartside café ... highest café in England. What a joy - such coffee, such biscuits. Yo! Now downhill all the way to Garrigill. The only time I ever felt cold all holiday - and it was welcome ... such speeds we made. Garrigill such a pretty little village. Altogether in one guest house - we took all the rooms! Next to the pub - George & Dragon, I think. Lovely food - lentil crumb bake for me ... yum!

So it's the third day. Do you remember cycling up (and down) to Nenthead. Going down the hill I narrowly missed a sheep ... if I'd stopped I'd have flew over the handlebars it was so steep. Playpark at Nenthead. Got stamped in the pub ... then off up the hill (again!) If we could cancel out all the ups and downs I'm sure this would've been a flat ride.

Allenheads visitor centre - cup of tea and a break. So welcome. Lunch at Rookhope. Dare we take the cycle route out of Rookhope. Not too keen on my original recky. Should we take the road? Could it be an Old Coach Road all over again. Consensus was to take the cycle route. Me ... not too keen but I agreed - and so glad I did. Such a nice route. Only rubble for the first bit I'd reckied. Look behind us at the countryside that we'd crossed. We were on the top of the world! I think we crossed the Pennines this day.

Into Castleside - with the wind ... we didn't need to pedal ... this was a free ride. Wowee! Then on a railway track - really fast. Onto our wonderful B & B. Welcomed with tea and biscuits in the lounge. One little boy, James, from Bingham, loved our bikes and my Dennis the Menace kit. Would the weather hold? Looks like we'd been so lucky this far. Then the sky goes black. James calls up to our window ... there's a storm coming! And phew what a storm. Lightning and thunder. Andy preparing his Tesco bag as a makeshift cagoule for tomorrow!

Fourth day. Sky looks dull. Think you'll need that carrier bag, Andy. Great breakfast. James watches us go. We just get going and the sky clears. Off with the cagoules (or carrier bag, Andy) and it's a hot sunny day again. We're so lucky. Off to our final destination on the C2C - Sunderland (well, Seaburn). Should be an easy day but bit nervous about catching the train back to Whitehaven. We'd had to split up so Andy and I would have to be in Seaburn for 2.30pm at the latest. Route easy - but bit boring. Made better with cow statues made out of bits of machinery from the mines and paths made more interesting by being winding - such fun. Made it for 2pm. Paddled in the sea so as to make sure we'd paddled at both West and East coasts of the C2C. Train ride back wonderful ... met up with others at Carlisle so all travelling together into Whitehaven. This bit all by the beaches. Such views. Even got off at Parton ... now just a short bike ride back to Lowca hotel. Stopped off to book our evening meal at the pub to celebrate Michael's birthday. Happy Birthday, Michael. Off to the same rooms as we started off in ... seems so long ago (and so far away) that first morning.

What a fantastic holiday. Thanks everyone!