A day trip down to Whitby and back out Trail Running 5k

 

Yesterday me, Jane And Arran were all off work so we had a trip down to Whitby. The A19 was to too bad going down but the weather was unreal, the temperature was down to 1.5 degrees and lashing rain. The rain cleared a little when we arrived thank the lords. It was lovely and quiet and called in past Spoons for breakfast. We had a walk up the 199 steps and had a good walk around the old and new town sides. Called in past the amusement arcades when it was lashing down again before having a walk along the pier, the wind was unreal, fresh does not describe it. We even had hail at one point. Angus siad it was snowing at Barnard Castle where he was working. Called in past the Magpie takeaway for some chips but they were nowt owt overs, it was also a small portion which cost £3.50. 

On the way back I called in past Wheelbase at Stockton but did not get anything. Most of the stock has been moved out ready for Leisure Lakes stock to arrive. 

Boyo spending some of hard (cough) earned cash! 

Today I was feeling tired after yesterdays full day out and weather beaten again, forecast was overcast / cloudy and cold for today. I defrosted the car as the overnight rain had frozen for Jane to go to work. There was a lovely sunrise and it stayed sunny so I jumped in my van and parked up at Diggerland, Langley Park and hoped onto the old railway line towards Lanchester for a 5k trot. It was lovely and quiet and hardly seen a sole and the sun was still shinning. Slight headwind coming back in towards Langley Park but no where near as bad as the 30+mph winds at Consett on last weeks run. Within half an hour of getting back in the heavens opened again and clouded over.

My time is dropping - 37.21mins, I checked back on my Garmin and in 2023 I did the same route with Jane in 34.45 and in 2021 it was 37.31. Steady away and I am going to keep plugging away and try and get nearer the 35mins mark. 

Defo time to get my new trainers broken in I think! 

Todays out n back 

Last weeks route at Consett, had to turn back at the start due to ankle deep mud and water. 

Wheelbase Cycles Closing down at Go Outdoors Stockton - Sale

 

Well that did not last long, and they have closed down in Coventry as well. On the other hand its the same group that owns Leisure Lakes so its not really closing just changing name from Wheelbase to Leisure Lakes. 

A hilly local road route in wintery conditions - Cannondale Synapse Neo

 

I did plan a route in upper Weardale but the forecast was the temperature felt like minus - 4 degrees this morning so knocked that on the head and stopped local. 

Well I do question myself at times, this is what I was thinking after three miles on the bike this morning with the Garmin reading 1 degrees and freezing cold rain blasting straight into my face with a near 20mph northerly head wind. Why pay for a facial when you can get one for free at the back end of April. After a few more miles of being weather beaten I was going to give up and head back but I decided to keep going. The rain stopped and it got slightly warmer by a couple of degrees so all was well. I headed for the hills as they say and wanted to get a few thousand feet of climbing in, not a problem in Co Durham! I have done all the roads, country lanes etc before just joined them all up for a hilly medium length loop. There was very little traffic on the roads so that was a bonus. I was under dressed on the top half and was feeling the cold for most of the ride. The Cannondale Synapse Neo went well and so did my legs after a good few miles before they warmed up. Once back at the start I had a hail shower white stuff beating off my helmet and jacket. Below are a few snaps from the ride inc the route map. All in 37.25 miles with just under 3700ft of climbing and an ave speed of 14.2mph. Enjoy and hopefully more soon - 

Out n back on the C2C in a right old mixed bag of weather

 

I did not manage to get out yesterday as it was near continuous rain all day here in Durham. The forecast was looking dry for today so drove over to Stella Gill to pick up the old railway line, C2C and headed to Cosnett. It was overcast, cloudy and under three degrees. On the plus side I had a canny strong tail wind blowing me all the way up. By the time I reached the other side of Consett the sun came out and the temperature shot up making it much more pleasant ride. I went straight on at the crossroads and turned at Whitehall picnic area. It was still sunny and was heading mainly downhill but had the strong headwind now. I just reached Greencroft and the heavens opened and the temperature plummeted again. The last five miles was flat out into the driving rain and freezing cold. There was very few others out so had some lovely long stretches of track to build up some speed. By the time I got back to my van it had stopped raining again. I was wet and cold at this point so called it a day. All in 30 miles in 2hrs 13mins, ave 13.5mph with 1200ft of climbing. 

I called in past BMW Building Products for a price on a couple of windows and a doorset. It has been a while since I have bought any upvc windows or composite doorsets, no doubt the prices have gone through the roof!