Nenthead to Sunderland 52 Miles

Weather:- Hot & sunny (wheres my sun cream when I need it)

A long day ahead, and straight into a stiff climb (no not that way Mick follow the c2c signs) to Black Hill the highest point on the C2C just short of 2000ft in the first 2 miles of the day, at least our third night stop was at 1400ft so it was not too stiff a climb. Back onto a B road and onto Allenheads, continuing on the B road between Wolfcleugh Common and Redburn Edge onto Rookhope,(middle of nowhere the local bus only comes once a week on a Thursday) now for the last climb of any note, the off road option, a 1 mile climb back up to 1700ft above Stanhope Common. Time to relax, 38.5 miles to go but nearly all downhill. At this point we pick up the Waskerley Way, it is described as being an excellent, easy going and largely well surfaced dedicated cycle and walking trail that brings you to Consett, via Rowley and the impressive Hownsgill Viaduct before coming to Lydgetts Junction where we make our decision to finish in Sunderland and not Newcastle on this occasion. After bobbing and weaving through Consett, we pick up the Consett and Sunderland Railway Path, following this path all the way down to Sunderland, passing places such as Stanley and Beamish (but not before Pauls chain snaps again) then past the Stadium of Light, down to the promenade where we dipped our front wheel in the North Sea, fairly tired and saddle sore but with a sense of achievement. Come on Mick whats that in the bottom of your bag, its no wonder weve been calling you Barney Rubble for the past two days. I dont believe it! who would put a big rock in the bottom of your rucksack? At this point we got our transport back to Whitehaven to collect our cars using The Bike Bus who are based in Stanley.