Weekend = Sat - Evans Store Ride, Sun - local walk

Me and Angus had pre entered the Evans Cycles Store Ride - road ride of 32 miles over to the coast and back. I had found the event by accident on the internet and due to no advertising including none in the store the turn out was low. We set off just after 8.30am and followed the very well marked out route (see photo below) the sun was shinning most of time but there was a very cold strong nnw wind. We had a fantastic tail wind all the way down the coastal road but head wind coming back in. We took it pretty steady and finished in 2hrs 3 mins, the distance was 31.28miles with around 2500ft of climbing. There was hot drinks before we started, two lots of High 5 goodies, maps and when you signed back in we got the two £5 off vouchers. Not bad for £9.75!
Once back home it was on with some outside jobs - grass cutting, gardening, washing vehicles etc and before you knew it was time to go out for some tea and a drink in the sun.

 

Not many walks this week, just one on Thursday for nearly a couple of hours so time to catch up and get a long one in whilst the weather is still fantastic. Me & Angus headed off out before 9am and kept it all local on mainly footpaths / bridleways etc. After nearly 7 miles Angus turned off and headed home, I kept on my planned route and headed down towards Durham to complete 11.25 miles in 3hrs 24mins. I did not realise just how far I could get stringing local off road loops together with less than 0.50 a mile of tarmac footpath next to a road during the whole walk. The tracks were quiet to start with but busy'ish by the time I got back in. Below are a few pics, enjoy the weather, more soon -

 

stream bed bone dry at the chicken farm woods

could have done with a cuppa from the dli café

still knocking down the police hq

the comms mast all on its own now

skid pan is still there

old police training sign for pursuit driving

old 4 cross in Foresters Way 

jumps are still there

old railway crossing at Frankland

old line to West Rainton direction

Alt Berg boots were spot after nearly 4 hrs in them

time to let the fresh air into them