Monday

• Parkhead Station -> Tynemouth
• 64km 6hrs

Parkhead had kindly arranged a tyre, so fitted that before breakfast and used the original spoke punctured tube. I think the spare tube that had been fitted at Garrigill was fine, but its valve seemed to release air at awkward times, usually when stopped. We are now a good 14 miles behind schedule and with a train to catch too, so an early start at 8.30 and its off down the Waskerly way and with a gentle downhill we are soon steaming through Consett missing the stamping point, and onto dismantled railways for a long spell of fast speed averaging 15km/h.

However once into the environs of Newcastle it all slows down badly: junctions, not terribly effective signing and sudden gradients. Not to mention very tired cyclists. The original plan had been to get to the end and cycle the 10miles or so back in plenty of time but the last stretch just seem to drag on and on. Made it to the rather disappointing endpoint (what no band?!) at about 2.30pm.

A quick breather then back into Tynemouth for the metro station and russle up a taxi capable of two laden bikes for a high speed dash to Newcastle station to catch the 15:23. Made it with 13 minutes to spare, normally more than enough but a tight margin after several days travel.