After a wet night, the morning started with drying out the tents before packing up. The plan today was to cycle the 16 miles from the campsite where we were leaving the cars, to Hexham. There we’d pick up a train to Newcastle then head for the coast.
It was 16 very undulating miles through desolate but very pretty scenery. This wouldn’t be pleasant on a wet and windy day, but we were lucky to have sun and blue skies. Along the way we got our first glimpse of the Tyne, which we would catch up with again in Newcastle.
The train journey was trouble free and we were soon looking forward to finding a Greggs for cheap tea and bacon roll in Newcastle. The North East being the home of Greggs, it was no surprise to find one right outside the station. We passed on this one and ended up taking a break opposite the Baltic Gallery and Newcastle’s famous bridges. Sadly the bacon roll was not to be, as we missed the 1100 cut off.
From the city centre we made our way out on cycle paths to the coast and Tynemouth. Defying expectations the town and surrounding resorts were bustling, well heeled areas.
Perhaps a bit too well heeled as one potential lunch stop was offering fish finger sandwiches (on artisan bread) for £15, we opted to get something from the local co-op, but found a Greggs instead. They offered fishfinger sandwiches snd tea fir £5 !
We had planned on heading to a campsite west of Morpeth for the night, but this involved a 10 mile detour and an additional 10 miles the following day. So after scouring the internet we found a good deal in a pub undergoing renovation fairly close by,
Bikes stacked in the unused restaurant, we headed for the local Italian. Missing out on a cheap early evening deal by 5 minutes. It was one of those days. Tomorrow is up the coast again, with campsite booked just outside Bamborough.
Steady Pedals 