Cycling the C2C, Day 5

We had a relaxing evening in the Punchbowl Inn in Edmunbyers yesterday evening, thinking we only had a short day remaining.  We may have been a little less relaxed had we realized that we would cover 60 miles on the final day, albeit most of it down hill.  The day again started and remained warm and sunny; what a wonderful few days of weather we have had.  Our first task today was to get back on route, which we did at Shotley Bridge/Consett, although we did become somewhat misplaced for a short period.  Once we found the route though, it was fantastic; well-surfaced disused railway and all downhill to Sunderland.  Magic.  We had only one or two brief stops to admire the trail-side sculptures before enjoying the ride along the banks of the River Weir into Sunderland and the finish at Roker.  And what a finish: a superb view out over the sea through the mouth of the harbour and a beautiful polished black marble sculpture for the finish point.  After tea and cake in a local cafe all that remained was to ride along the sea front to South Shields, cross the Tyne via shuttle bus ( the pedestrian/cycle tunnel is shut for refurbishment), and then along the river to the Tyne Bridges and the station.

A wonderful few days.

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Trail side sculpture.

Trail side sculpture.

 King Coal.

King Coal.

The first view of the River Weir

Approach to Sunderland along the river.

Approach to Sunderland along the river.

Approach to Sunderland along the river.

Approach to Sunderland along the river.

The finish.

The finish.

The finish.

South Shields.

The Tyne Bridges.