Monday
21st November Light to very
strong NE – E (50mph)
Cold,
very icy morning, cloudy and showers before very heavy rain
The
owner of the Island View bed and breakfast, Chiswick is an
ex-squaddie who left the Marines after being injured by a land mine
whilst on tour. I listen to his tales over breakfast, taking the meal
slow as there is thick frost outside and I don't want to set off
before some of it has melted. I have no intention of cycling down the
A1 with ice on the roads.
I
take the country lanes and find the Sustrans cycle route 1. Now I
know what to expect as I cycled this way north back in July. I know
that really there isn't a cycle path, just a muddy field with cows
and a narrow strip of frozen mud along low sand dunes.
Avoiding large
cow pats I push the bike for a few miles, stopping to photograph a
stonechat and a pale goose amongst a large flock of pink-footed geese
and greylags.
A
gravel path that is cycle-able has a dyke alongside it. A little egret
flies out of and a kingfisher darts down the middle; both are birds I
haven't seen for months and are great to see.
Two
young people are sampling the water from a larger water course
further along the path. Working for the Environment Agency they are
checking for nitrate levels in the water. Too high they say and with
the number of cows, sheep and other crop levels around the area it is
easy to see why.
Carrying
on along I am stopped by a lady out walking a small, friendly dog.
“Are you The Biking Birder?” She asks. Hence I meet Julie, out
celebrating her birthday no less. Julie tells me that Ian, her
husband will be disappointed to not having met we as he is a birder.
She also says that we have met before, back in January at Dart's Farm
on The Exe Estuary. It is such a cheer me up moment. Happy birthday
Julie and thanks.
The
route takes me past Budle Bay where there are a number of duck and
gulls to see. Then over a hill before a downward plunge into
Bamburgh.
Maybe my favourite castle view from the top, Bamburgh
Castle looms large in front of me and the quickly passing shower with
hail no way diminishes the magnificent scene.
Through
Seahouses with The Inner Farnes beyond a white-capped seascape; the
wind has been strengthening throughout the day and is now very
strong. Coming from my left side, from the east, the going gets very
tough.
Fifteen
miles to go to my abode for the night I cycle hard and after drinking
a whole litre of pure orange juice I find that it all becomes a bit
easier!
Rain
starts to fall heavily but finding a cycle path for the last three
mile stretch from the Alnmouth turn to Warkworth means I can cycle
safely in the dark and the rain. Reaching The Sun Hotel I may be
soaked but I am so happy. Over forty miles . . . Go Gary!
41.14
miles 1355 feet elevation up 1415 down
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