Newcastle by accident!

After reading Bungles' last post I got a bit down myself to be honest. I can fully understand where he is coming from. Trying to arrange things for a group of people is exceptionally difficult. Everyone has different ideas and commitments , work and family as well as financial constraints. I have tried to arrange meets with just three people and found it was next to impossible!
I thought about it for a while and I can honestly say that I think he has done the right thing.I hope you come back to biking soon Mr.Bungle but only when it's right for you.
One of the big problems I face when it comes to getting out on my bike is that I am at work 3 out of every four weekends. I get days off in the week and ten days off evey five weeks but Mayhem (Martin) works Mon. to Fri. I also have friends from work who ride but are on different shifts to me and so getting out in a group is VERY difficult to sort. As a consequence of this I have found myself going out more and more on my own. When I get days off I see if my missus is working and if she is I take off.
Last Sunday was a really nice day and I was on morning shift. Instead of finishing at 2pm I wangled an early finish and got away for 12. Mayhem was available and we took off on the bikes at 12.30. We had a blast down through the Lakes and went over Kirkstone pass and up Hartside(it was foooking chilly up there and blowing like hell). We then went back down Hartside to Penrith and back over Kirkstone into a lowering sun which was interesting to say the least! Windermere back to Workington was accomplished as the sun set and we put the bikes to rest in near darkness.Just 177 miles covered but it was fantastic. My but the nights are cutting in!
Today (Friday) I got up early(day off,missus at work) and thought that the weather looked just about good enough for a run off. I got out the winter cordura jacket though. The temperature has definitely dropped to Autumnal freshness around here. Where to go? I had all day so I got togged up and i-Podded and Pointed the 'Bird towards Carlisle. Had an absolute blast on the A66 to Cockermouth and then the A595 to"The Border City". Getting through Carlisle can be a pain at the best of times but there was an accident which caused massive tailbacks.I filtered with care and got out to the McDonalds where I stopped for breakfast and ciggie.While smoking and finishing my coffee I thought about my last attempt to get round Kielder Water which was foiled by a road being closed. I decided to try again.
Getting onto the A7 I trundled along to Canonbie and turned onto the B6357. This was one of the best ideas I've had in ages. What an awsome road.Decent road surface for the most part and plenty of twisty bits as well as changes in elevation. The scenery is majestic too. Think I've just found another road to add to my "must do as often as possible" list! I cracked on along this road and eventually came to a junction where I turned right. I imediately recognised the new road and realised I was on the A6088 which is part of a run Mayhem and I have done many times. It takes you out onto the A68 at Carter Bar which is the border of England and Scotland. The 6088 is a cracking road as is the A68. I was getting low on fuel and knew that there was a petrol station about 5 miles along the 68 . I pulled in at Carter Bar for coffee and obligatory ciggie.
Carter Bar A68






From here I thought I would get onto the Kielder road which is just after the Petrol station at Byrness but this was not to be. The fuel station had gone bust and I was on fumes! I carried on along the 68 but knew from experience that there were no fuel stops before Hexham which was way further than I would manage. I had never been on the A696 before but figured there would be a fuel station somewhere so I turned onto it and kept going. After passing through Otterburn(no petrol) I saw a sign that said "Border Riever Shop and Petrol 8 miles". Huge sigh of relief! I carried on and got to the station at Kirkwhelpington where I filled the bike to the gunwhales with fuel and then did a double take at the price. £1.29.4 a liter! Cost me £27 to fill up. No wonder it was called the "Border Riever", Dick Turpin would have been proud of the guy that owns this spot! The cashier explained that it was the only fuel between Jedburgh and Ponteland and therefore he could charge what he wanted. Got to say that if I'd noticed before I had filled up I would have only put a tenner in and filled up in Ponteland!
Anyway, tank brimming and ready to boogie I got back on the road and carried on the 696 to Ponteland. Nice road with lots of lovely sweeping fast bends and I really enjoyed the ride. I started to get the feeling that I kind of recognised the road and then I saw a hotel called The Highlander. Suddenly it dawned on me that I had been in that hotel for my brothers' Wedding reception. Next thing I know I am on familiar roads into Newcastle. I didn't hang around and got myself out on the A69 and as soon as I figured a route ,got onto the A695 for Hexham from where ,via theB6035, I could get onto the brilliant A686 for Alston. This scenic and challenging road also incorperates Hartside where I stopped for another coffee and fags.







Hartside and Cafe.

I like Hartside but it is tricky and also bloody cold no matter what time of year you are there. I took my time down to Penrith and thought about just blasting along the A66 to Workington. Still plenty of daylight left so I decide to go over the Kirkstone Pass to Windermere , Again. I love that road and it is so much more interesting than the A66! Windermere along to Ambleside and Keswick was tricky too because the road surface is poor and it was very busy. The road was slightly damp although it was not raining until I got to Keswick. It was a quick blast to Workington after that as it was getting very wet and a bit dark. All in all a very satisfying ride even though I was on my own. Around 260miles of some of the best roads you can get. Thats why I do it.
I swear I will get round Kielder Water one day!