Our trip across England C2C | ||||||||
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Why? | ||||||||
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One day I found myself browsing the book section at FW Evans. As most cyclist will tell you, the book section at any bike shop is usually the most sorry/feeble place in the whole store (if not the planet). I must have been bored, as I found myself picking up a dog-eared copy of the 2000 edition of the C2C Guide. For some reason I couldn't put it down. That type of book usually sends me to sleep, but it was different this time. Unusually for me, I bought the book and took it home. As was usual for me, I put it on the shelf, and forgot about it. A few months later I was looking for the NCN handbook, when I stumbled upon the c2c book again. I picked it up and started to thumb through. It dawned on me. Wouldn't it be a good idea to make it part of our family holiday? I have two kids, both under the age of three. I looked around our house, at the sheer carnage. I thought again, two kids, both under the age of three...I put the book down, and forgot about it. | |||||||
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One day I found myself browsing the book section at FW Evans. As most cyclist will tell you, the book section of most bike shops are an afterthought, to fill a space, usually the most sorry/feeble place in the whole store (if not the planet). I must have been bored, as I found myself picking up a dog-eared copy of the 2000 edition of the C2C Guide (remember, it was 2008). For some reason I couldn't put it down. It's the type of book that would normally send me to sleep, but for some reason it was different this time (or so I thought). Unusually for me, I bought the book and took it home. As was usual for me, I put it on the shelf and forgot about it - so much for good intentions. A few months later I was looking for my NCN handbook, when I stumbled upon the little C2C guide again. I picked it up and started to thumb through it, when it dawned on me. Wouldn't it be a good idea to somehow incorporate it into our family holiday? I sat and thought for a moment....two kids, both under the age of three. I looked around the house, the sheer carnage. Pictures of baby hippos climbing and hurling themselves from iconic northern sculpture flashed through my mind. I thought again, two kids, both under the age of three...I put the book down, and forgot about it. | |||||||
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A few months later we were invited to a wedding in Northumberland. I didn't connect the two at first. But eventually it clicked, perhaps we could combine the two, cycling holiday and somebody else's wedding? I mentioned it to my wife Janet, and she seemed up for it. After all, we had done some smaller bike rides with the kids: Brighton, Windsor, New Forest (camping!)...so none of this cycling lark was a complete mystery to us or the kids - what could possibly go wrong? | |||||||
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A few months later we were invited to a wedding in Northumberland. I didn't connect the two at first. But eventually it clicked, perhaps we could combine the two, cycling holiday and somebody else's wedding? I mentioned it to my wife Janet, and she seemed up for it. After all, we'd done some smaller bike rides with the kids: Brighton, Windsor, New Forest (camping!)...this cycling lark wasn't a complete mystery to us or the kids - what could possibly go wrong? We both took a gulp...the rest, as they say, is history. | |||||||
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So in Oct 2008 we set off on our adventure with 4 paniers, 1 chariot, 2 kids, 2 adults, 2 bikes. This is how it unfolded. | |||||||
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So in Oct 2008 we set off on our adventure: 4 panniers, 1 chariot, 2 kids, 2 adults, 2 bikes and a Wedding. This is how it unfolded. | |||||||
The plan | ||||||||
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Before we could set off, I lectured Janet on the need for a plan. I'm good at that sort of thing. The lecturing that is, not the actual planning. So here's a copy (more or less) of the itinerary which | |||||||
| Get a train to Whitehaven, from Beckenham. | ||||||||
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Cycle Whitehaven to Kewick. | |||||||
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Cycle Whitehaven to Keswick. | |||||||
| Cycle Keswick to Penrith | ||||||||
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| Cycle to Matfen Hall for the Wedding. | ||||||||
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To give you some idea, the C2C is usually attempted West to East to take advantage of the prevailing westerly winds. It's approx 130 miles (there are route options so it can vary - completed in 3-5 days. You may prefer to take longer - keep in mind that some nutters do the whole thing in a day! | |||||||
The gear | ||||||||
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4 ortlieb rear panniers (todo photo), chariot for the kids (todo photo), two entry-level Specialized Sirrus bicycles (todo photos). We had everything except the chariot. Luckily we had some friends who could help us out. Thanks go to Sam, Lyndon, Oliver and Toby for lending us their's (I hope they didn't miss it too much). | |||||||
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4 Ortlieb rear panniers (todo photo), chariot for the kids (todo photo), two entry-level Specialized Sirrus bicycles (todo photos). We had everything except the chariot. Luckily we had some friends who could help us out. Thanks go to Sam, Lyndon, Oliver and Toby for lending us their's (I hope they didn't miss it too much). I almost forgot, enough outfits for the kids to cloth them in a new outfit for each breakfast, lunch and dinner for the entire holiday. Enough nappies to cause a run on the local chemist. And barely enough clothes for Mum and Dad to beg the quiestion: were they actually intending to accompany the kids at all? | |||||||
| For navigation we used a combination of GPS, paper maps, and the C2C Guide. | ||||||||
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Our trip across England C2CWIP.... In 2008 we decided our family holiday should be a little more adventurous than normal. We did the Sea to Sea (C2C) cycle ride across the North of England. What follows is a short description of our experience.Why?One day I found myself browsing the book section at FW Evans. As most cyclist will tell you, the book section at any bike shop is usually the most sorry/feeble place in the whole store (if not the planet). I must have been bored, as I found myself picking up a dog-eared copy of the 2000 edition of the C2C Guide. For some reason I couldn't put it down. That type of book usually sends me to sleep, but it was different this time. Unusually for me, I bought the book and took it home. As was usual for me, I put it on the shelf, and forgot about it. A few months later I was looking for the NCN handbook, when I stumbled upon the c2c book again. I picked it up and started to thumb through. It dawned on me. Wouldn't it be a good idea to make it part of our family holiday? I have two kids, both under the age of three. I looked around our house, at the sheer carnage. I thought again, two kids, both under the age of three...I put the book down, and forgot about it. A few months later we were invited to a wedding in Northumberland. I didn't connect the two at first. But eventually it clicked, perhaps we could combine the two, cycling holiday and somebody else's wedding? I mentioned it to my wife Janet, and she seemed up for it. After all, we had done some smaller bike rides with the kids: Brighton, Windsor, New Forest (camping!)...so none of this cycling lark was a complete mystery to us or the kids - what could possibly go wrong? So in Oct 2008 we set off on our adventure with 4 paniers, 1 chariot, 2 kids, 2 adults, 2 bikes. This is how it unfolded.The planGet a train to Whitehaven, from Beckenham. Cycle Whitehaven to Kewick. Cycle Keswick to Penrith Cycle Penrith to Nenthead Cycle Nenthead to ... Cycle ... to Tynemouth for the completion of the C2C. Cycle Tynemouth to Corbridge Cycle to Matfen Hall for the Wedding.The gear4 ortlieb rear panniers (todo photo), chariot for the kids (todo photo), two entry-level Specialized Sirrus bicycles (todo photos). We had everything except the chariot. Luckily we had some friends who could help us out. Thanks go to Sam, Lyndon, Oliver and Toby for lending us their's (I hope they didn't miss it too much). For navigation we used a combination of GPS, paper maps, and the C2C Guide.Day 1BeckenhamReiversTODO Upload gpx files | |||||||