A sunny & windy loop from Bishop Auckland mainly using the old railway lines with Jane

After a very busy and hot day of working from home yesterday it was time to get out and enjoy some fresh air. We had to call in past and see John at the House of Smudge gallery,  Bishop Auckland re our new painting so dropped some shopping off at Janes mum and dads then drove straight through to Bishop to park up. From there we headed straight along the old railway line on the bikes to Brandon then down the hill and under the viaduct to Croxdale. Picked up the back road to Tudhoe village then through Spenny to pickup the old railway line back to Bishop. It was lovely and sunny but the wind was back yet again. The lines have dried out lovely now and are very dusty in places and getting narrow. The lines were not that busy but there was quiet a few dog walkers out and about. Once back in Bishop then called through the market place for a takeaway breakfast from Fifteas tea rooms and sat on the bench next to the church in the blazing sunshine. We then nipped up the street to the House of Smudge then back to the van. Below are a few snaps from the 19.1mile ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon-

stop littering luv

come on you can get there, watch your back and knees hun!

Sunny local spin to Durham etc n back on the Specialized Creo SL

A very early morning spin in the sun and it was lovely. The wind has finally died down and was a much more pleasant ride. After yesterdays / last nights rain the woods are still muddy and the Gravelking tyres were slipping and sliding on the corners. It was all quiet on my route down to Durham, around Durham, through Houghall woods, around Maiden Castle, up and down the trod, back around Durham, around Frankland then back home. All in 17.25miles in 1hr 25mins with 850ft of climbing. Below are a few snaps from the ride, enjoy and hopefully more soon -

Four old railway lines from Consett - 40 mile Gravel ride on the Creo SL

I was up in the Consett area and had the bike in my van so thought of doing this rather silly route. I parked up at Delves Lane and joined the old railway line to Lydgetts Junction. I then turned left and dropped down the line to Lanchester then back up. Turned left and went up the old line to Rowley then back down. Turned left and went down the old railway line - Derwent walk then tuned and come back up then turned left and down the old railway line to Tanfield Lea then back up again = 40.2 miles with just under 2000ft of climbing in 2hrs 55 mins. The lines were very busy with other users and was very stop / start / slow down / speed up on all four lines. The wind was strong again making it hard work but the sun was mainly out. The temperature was a lot cooler than Fridays 60 miler. Below are a few snaps from the ride inc a short video clip at the bottom, enjoy and hopefully more soon -