Tuesday 21st September 2010

Our exercise rythm has been totally broken of late. I have not cycled for what seems like weeks, and we have done precious little walking.

Yesterday I spent mostly sitting on my backside, either driving to Windsor, or waiting around Heathrow and then sitting on the plane on the way back. The weather forecast for today is good, and Kathleen does not have any doctors appointments today, so I suggest to her that we should either spend the day walking or cycling.

She opts for cycling, and I choose the route, which is to cycle along the River Tyne to Wylam. We pack a picnic and off we go.

First we head for the Tyne Pedestrian Tunnel, at Jarrow. The tunnel is elderly, having been built in the 1950's. It was once well used, mostly by shipyard workers travelling to and from work. But there are virtually no shipyards on the Tyne anymore, and the tunnel is little used and subsequently not well maintained.

It is not unusual for the ancient wooden escalators to be out of action, but there are lifts. Today however, all of the escaltors AND all of the lifts were broken down.

This meant I had to carry two bicycles down the stationary south side escalators, and then up the stationary north side escalators. By the time I joined Kathleen sitting on the wall at the north side of the tunnel, I was pretty much exhausted, and we still had about 35 miles to cycle!

We headed west along the "Hadrian's Way" cycle route, initially through non-descript streets of houses, but soon the view improved and we were cycling along the riverbank, which at this point is covered in trees.

A brief period of industry as we pass St Peters and the British Engines Factory, where brother-in-law Phill spent so many happy years being a wage slave, but soon we are on the Quayside at Newcastle. It is 11:00 and we stop for coffee, at the Pitcher and Piano.

We sit in the September sunshine for half an hour, and enjoy our coffee, whilst I eventually recover from my exertions at the Pedestrian Tunnel.

Soon we are on our way again, following the Quayside under the Tyne Bridge, and steadily west along the river. The improvements here are remarkable, it really is pleasant and we are surprised at the large number of people who like us are cycling along the river, or walking.

A brief section along a section of cycle track alongside Scotswood Road, where industry surviving on the river bank means the route must go around it, before at Newburn we are once again "in the countryside".

We pass the birth place of George Stephenson, steam engine and railway pioneer, and reach Wylam where we stop for our picnic. 

Refueled we cross the river bridge at Wylam, and head east past Wylam Railway station, back along the river towards home, following the "Keelman's Way" cycle route.

The path is initially a little narrow, which causes the first complaints from Kathleen, but soon it becomes a well surfaced and suitably wide track alongside a golf course.

At the end of the golf course the route passes through a rather difficult gate for cyclists to negotiate (another little grumble), before following the river bank along the edge of a nature reserve.

The track then rejoins the road for about a mile, as you go along this section, it is necessary to keep a sharp lookout for the blue sign directing you off to the road and back onto dedicated cycle track. I have missed this turn on previous occasions!

The weather is still superb, warm sunshine. The combination of the warmth and the need for a toilet stop, causes us to stop at a pub (The Tudor Rose) in Dunston. Not the most beatiful place, but a pleasant enough pub all the same.

Soon we are cycling along the Gateshead side of the riverbank to reach the Swing Bridge, then on past the Sage and The Baltic Centre.

The southern riverbank is a little more up and down, than the north side (another little complaint), but none the less pleasant, as you can see here as we cycle along opposite St Peters Basin towards Friars Goose Marina.

Yes, there is a Marina or two on the River Tyne, but do not get too excited, I do not think Southern France or Spain need to be too concerned for their tourist industry!

At Bill Quay, we leave the Keelman's Way cycle track and weave our way through the houses and under the Hebburn-Pelaw road to join the cycle track which is a former railway line which once took coal to Tyne Dock. This brings us to Monkton Village, from where we cycle along York Avenue then past the Prince of Wales pub, and follow the path alongside the metro line.

Soon we are home, 42 miles, and as I recall only three complaints, a good day out, rounded off with a shower and a trip to the Lakeside pub to eat.