NEWS
Tuesday March 9
* The route from Whitehaven remains pretty much the same except that the bridge over the Cocker at Low Lorton remains out of action. The diversion involves a right turn at mile marker 18 (just after the Loweswater turn-off). At the crossroads, take a left and cross the Scale bridge over the Cocker, taking you into Lortondale. This takes you up to the B5289 where you turn left again for 200m or so before hanging a right. From here you can either miss out Lorton and join the Whinlatter Pass above the village by taking a right turn at Hope Gill; or you can lose the 60m you have just climbed and go down into Lorton for refreshments.There is some signage but bad weather has slowed things down.
If you opt to continue along the B5289 into Lorton be warned that the locals drive fast along this stretch. Warning signs will be posted for the benefit of drivers.
* Now that the Goat Bridge near Papcastle is up and running you can cross Cockermouth, so the great town traumatised during this apocalyptic winter is back in action (as are the shops).
* Workington is back in action and keen to encourage cyclists. There is a footbridge and a new temporary bridge is planned once the snows have lifted. This will take until late April to complete and will have cycle lanes. However, longer term replacements for the road bridges washed away is further down the line. Since each bridge will cost around £6 million to construct (five times the County Council's annual road improvement budget) there will be a good deal of negotiating to do before funds can be released.
* WARNING: the minor road north of the river Derwent, between Camerton and Cockermouth, is being used as a rat run by local traffic, including heavy goods vehicles, to get from north Workington to south Workington, via the A595 and the Papworth bridge. It is a narrow lane so it is best to avoid peak times. This will end once the aforementioned bridge is opened in late April.
Also, be aware that local train services along the coast between Sellafield and Maryport are currently oversubscribed owing to road closures so there is little room for bikes. You might have to think of alternatives.
*All routes west of Keswick are in action though the destruction of the small bridge at Braithwaite means that diversions will be necessary for the foreseeable future.
WEATHER:
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_weather.html
2010 C2C Challenge
I can confirm that the 2010 challenge will take place on July 17 & 18. Our chosen charity this year is the RNLI. Numbers will be limited so register now by going to the Home Page and clicking on the Challenge banner. Here you will find details and a registration form which will allow you to book your places online. We have had to put the fee up this year to £75, having slightly misjudged the time, effort and costs involved in the undertaking. However, we feel that it still represents great value for money.
Last July 200 of you took part. If interest is sufficient we will consider doing a challenge in the spring as well so watch this space.
New Year C2C T-shirt offer
Reduced from £9.99 to only £6.99. Avaliable in all sizes.
For further merchandise offers, please see home Home Page.
Jesmond Northern Counties School is setting out on March 22nd to tackle the route over five days. There will be four teachers and ten students, all of whom are hearing impaired. One of them is also visually impaired with cerabal palsy, and will be doing the route on a tandem. Please get in touch with the site if you would like to support this venture in any way. Or contact Kerry Moore: kmoore@northern-counties-school.co.uk.
Good Samaritan
A group of cycling students from Newcastle University had a lucky encounter on Sunday 7 March as they neared Consett on the home run of their 2-day C2C adventure. Having survived deep snow on the higher sections of the route and all the way up the Rookhope Incline, just when all looked set for a leisurely downhill cruise to the finish line, one of the team suffered a burst tyre.
The situation looked grim as they had no spare and all the shops were closed. However, in Castleside they encountered David Gray setting off on a gentle ride up to Parkhead cafe and asked him if there were any bike shops open locally. Being a former Newcastle University student himself and the founder of the C2C while with Sustrans he was honour-bound to help, so he turned round and brought them back to his home where he was able to fix them up with a new tyre from his own supply. David has many such spares as he now runs Chain Events (www.chain-events.co.uk) which organises rides and Challenges on the C2C, W2W, Reivers and Hadrians cycleway etc for those who just want to cycle without all the hassle of hiring transport, back-up, luggage carriage etc.
Incidentally , David resumed his journey across the moors but ran into deep snow above Waskerley so returned home by road. He trusts the students made it to their lectures on Monday morning!
Pedal Power
I am delighted to welcome Pedal Power to the website. Run by Ian Rochester from Amble in Northumberland, they will be renting out bikes and organising transport and packages for the C2C, Hadrian's Cycleway, Coast & Castles plus the Reivers route. www.pedal-power.co.uk. 01665 713448. For further information, see Cycle Hire.
Coast to Coast Travel
Another newcomer I am delighted to welcome aboard for 2010 is Alan Grimes, who has a 15-seater minibus and bike trailer for 14 cycles. Alan's happy to transport bags as well as bikes and is flexible and willing to ferry people on all three Coast to Coast routes (C2C, Reivers and Hadrian's) plus Coast & Castles. Based in South Shields, he can be contacted on 07766 075135 or 0191 423 0703. alan_grimes_17@msn.com
Flood Appeal
Thank you for your donation for the flood appeal. The proceeds will be sent to the county council's appeal fund.
Snapshots of a weekend to remember
Loads more pictures have just been downloaded onto the C2C Challenge Flickr site. Many thanks to Oliver Dixon and John Grimshaw for sending in so many great shots in the last week or so. And thanks to everyone else, too. Shame there weren't more taken when the weather picked up on Sunday afternoon, following a lousy start to the day out of Alston. More than 200 set off and all but a handful of you completed the ride. Well done everyone and keep your eyes open for more Challenges.
'Coast to Coast Cycle Routes.' Autumn discounts for book coming soon. Watch this space. Last year's book now includes Hadrian's Cycleway. Jointly written by Mark Porter and John Grimshaw, founder of Sustrans, the addition of Hadrian's Cycleway to the book means you now get the big THREE coast to coast routes between TWO covers. Now available on this website for £9.99. Home Page.
Photos welcome! Keep those C2C photos rolling in. Any that get used in the book will earn the photographer a free copy. Pictures of Hadrian's Cycleway would be especially welcome as we have just added it to the Coast to Coast Cycle Routes book for 2009.
Leadgate leads the way
Self help success! After many years of vandalism, neglect, urban decay (and even distrust of Sustrans), local folks have taken matters into their own hands and adopted the route as it passes through the village. Sq Leader David Shields has led the way with the installation of seats, planting of shrubs, clearing of debris, mowing, trimming, draining, sweeping etc. David's Pied Piper act has led to local folks and businesses donating time, labour, machinery and materials. Former troublemakers and vandals have been brought on side to help with this rejuvenation project. Old wooden railways sleepers have been chopped for kindling and sold back at a nominal price to raise funds. Sustrans have helped meet costs and have been able to supply hand tools and donate materials.
Berrier Hill Wind Turbines
As many of you may know there are plans afoot to erect several 100 metre high wind turbines on the top of Berrier Hill, just above Greystoke (at Tarzan's old castle). These will be very eye catching just as you enter the Lake District National Park, on the boundary of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. I am interested to canvass your views on this. Do let me know if you are for or against this project.
Personally, I have nothing against wind turbines so long as they are not detrimental to their surroundings. In this case, there is an overwhelming argument that they will be, as this is one of the most spectacular and sweeping views of the Western Lakes, unavoidable if you are coming in off the M6 and down the A66 Penrith-Keswick road.
If you object, then I would refer you to www.blencathra.net, where your views will go alongside those of local worthies such as Lord (Melvyn) Bragg, Sir Chris Bonington and Doug Scott.
The nine turbines will be at the foot of Blencathra and will provide, we are assured, enough energy to power all of Greystoke some of the time. And possibly even the Wordsworth Museum at Grasmere. So long as no-one puts the kettle on.
Weather reports
Check out the weather conditions on the route. Peter Mathews from Allenheads has just written in to say that he has set up a weather station in Allenheads which will broadcast weather reports for the area. His reports are updated every 15 minutes and could come in most handy. allenheads.myzen.co.uk.
Rubbish!
As you cycle the route and stop for a buttie or a drink please make an effort to put your rubbish in a bin - if there is no bin then carry it with you until you find one. Parts of the route during the summer were becoming despoiled with empty Lucozade bottles, plastic sandwich containers and the like. Not only is it disrespectul to the people who have to live along the route but its also just plain bad manners - rant over!
