Epic 20 Mile Bike Ride from Seaham to Hartlepool and a Red Thai Curry, with my Best Buddies.

Today I enjoyed an epic 20 mile bike ride from Seaham to Hartlepool, via South Hetton and Shotton Colliery.
I also knocked up a red thai curry half way round, just to keep us fuelled up.

If you’d like to help us along with our travels, you could consider buying us a coffee, or a beer at this link below.
buymeacoffee.com/SilverFoxes
Contact: mickgant@icloud.com.

#michaelgant #mickgant #travel #food #thai #curry #bike #bikeride

So, here we are at Heartpool train station just before our epic rise to see him. There’s four of us. We all crocs. We’ve got me with a dodgy Steve Stop moving. We got We got me with a dodgy heart. Steve’s just had his kidney ripped out. Wayne’s broke his leg and his foot. Where did you break? And Crimo had a bad thumb a few years ago. And I’m the oldest. He is the oldest to be fair. He is in his 70s and we’re going down to Wayne who’s almost 50. So wish us luck. It’s about I think we might be doing about 18 miles by the time we get home. We’re going to stop for a carry halfway there. [Music] [Music] Come on. We said we know we know bother as well, didn’t we? Long ago never to believe what a man says to Thank you very much. Good night. Is that a snow plow on the bottom? So, we have a plan and Wayne’s going to lead the way. Apparently, he’s the leader and I’m coming up the rear. Mrs. So sorry. You’ll be getting me banned off YouTube, man. Apparently, you got 7 seconds before you swear. Oh, we’re fine then. In the first seven seconds when you get demonetized. No, as long as you tell them that you’re going to swear. Okay. Cuz I mean that one where I was um nearly got run over. I swore about 12 times in the first seven seconds. But it’s not as warm as I thought it was going to be. That was one that changes by the second though, doesn’t it? I’m expecting this one to say go straight on. Steve, we got to come back on our We want a road. Coming back on ourselves on the right hand side. I think I’ll be putting me jacket on. Creo’s freezing in the background. He said there you’ve put your jacket on, haven’t you? Incoming. people on the left. Hello. Hello there. Well, I’m absolutely freezing cold. Flashing boy. Thank you. Thank you. Do you think it’s going to get sunny in a minute or do I need to put me jacket on? Can I have me jacket wearing, please? No, not now, mate. Which road again? Yes. Is the road we want to go down, but it’s a oneway road. Adelaide road it is. That’s better with me jacket on. Oh, I know where we are. I like it up here. the blow lounge. Are we going in? Too many. Too many. I was going to say we’re at the top of Church Street, aren’t we? Go to town center. There’s a spoon’s on the left here. I hope you’re not heading to that big bank, mate. Where? And I don’t want to be going up that big bank. This big massive one that you’re heading to. We’ll have to pick a different way. I’m not going up that way where the big massive bank on the seafront. Where the se clear on that big bank? Of course we are. Wayne, man, you’re having me life. thing is we’re downhill now. So we got to go up a different way we go. Of course we do. I want to borrow cream and big gears. Yeah. So somewhere here is a railway line. We’re going either under or over the railway line. Are we going left or right? Right. I know I can. I know I can. Here’s a train line. And that’s it. All me energy depleted. Why have we gone under the railway lines to come back under them? Well, this is should be nice to cycle. Yeah, keep going. Oh, blue sign up at the top where them people are sat. I’m zigzagging. Oh, yeah. Lots of room when you get a shot. Wish people had picked the dog muk up like Yeah. Quite a small bike that one, isn’t it? Not good. Yeah, but I’m knackered. I think I’ve been nettled as well. You can see the nettles on the side of the road here. Right, I’ve got a bit of a speed up. I’m coming through. You stay on the right, KMA. It’s just so high the other way. It’s bad enough, right? I’m going to stop for a little drink here, right? Having a drink on an uphill. I’m so unfit, but this is what it’s all about. Trying to get fit. It probably doesn’t look it, but it is uphill quite a bit. Give us a tour. Give them a shout as you’re coming through, mate. Scooter coming through. Don’t know why you can’t beat his arm like. Oh god, it’s the marb bank. Wish I’d come on the electric bike now. I’m having a rest before this one. Got hot now. Doesn’t take much when the sun comes out to get you hot. Just going to catch me breath. Then I’ll follow the boys up. That’s the exercise ring closed on me bike on me watch even now I’m going to have to walk it. Nothing left in me legs. Probably should have had more to eat for lunch but I didn’t bother because I’m coing the curry but they’ve had big meals and I think my one egg and half a slice of toast has just depleted. You can see how far we’ve actually come up. I mean, there’s the sea there. You can just about see in the background, which is sem. And although it’s not that big bank that you get when you’ve come up off the sea front, it’s just goes on forever and ever. It’s just sucked the energy out of me. These two spring chickens look fresh as a daisy. And the old one, the old guy, Creo, king of the hill, he’s off. He’s away. Well into the front. I think that was a bit steep that bit, but I’ll crack on now. We’ll have a little go. See how it goes. All right. Whenever you’re ready, boys. And we’re still going uphill, but it’s not anywhere near as bad as that last climb. I’ll show you on the map how far we’ve actually come up. And to somebody who’s a, you know, who’s a good cyclist to young and even even the older ones, it probably doesn’t seem much. But when you’re out of practice, I’m not proud. I had to walk some of it. Didn’t do too bad, though. I bailed out so far, I’m afraid. I had to stop for a little walk. Yeah. Nobody know. True. So, that’s the warm uphill. Yeah. So, what are we thinking about that hill? Did you enjoy it or beautiful? Wonderful. It was awful. It was awful, wasn’t it? And it was to warm up the bike. And did you say there’s more uphill? There’ll be a little bit uphill, but it’s not as aggressive. That one. Oh, I can do that one if I can get on me bike. I think he’s hit the top. And he’s coming up on the outside. He takes Creo on the left. He’s flying through the gears. I’m guessing that must be No, that’s the road coming out of uh see them. All right. And you know how much of a bank that is? Yeah. I think that bank was just every was a lot easier. Yeah. I don’t I think it was harder. I don’t know. We might go straight to South. Okay. I think there was a new road being built or something last time. We straight on. And that to the left is the A19, one of the main trumps going through the Northeast and Yorkshire. Well, this looks interesting. Yeah. Really? Yeah, I know. But the lights are on red. [Music] help safety advice. [Music] So, we’ve got another big bank in front of us, but we think there might be a cycle path going off to the right. Steve seems to think so. So, we will have a little look. Don’t know where the other chaps are. They look like they’re just going up the bank. There can’t be many more hills left in the country, surely. Is this the uh where you come out when you do the cross country thing? No, it depends where you’re going. No, it’s probably the time to watch what it’s time out. Yeah. Or you can go Durham and then to station town that way. I didn’t I was packing for the time I got the way thinking after his phone man she’s not too far away. It’s a when you’re knackered it’s a long way to get home from here isn’t it? Well once you’re over the the I think quite bad now I think the bike I never thought that before. Uh it is literally sitting on your bike. Very few rides. We certainly have to only at one. There’s a couple of little rides after that and then caffeine. It’s all downhill. We’re off 5 miles. All right, we’re just catching up with the red light dodges. Rest in peace, Andy. You can see the size of them gear on that Creo. No wonder he’s flying up the hills. There can’t be any more hills. Kremo was just saying how there’s a lot of building work going on building roads but where too and of course the sun’s gone in now and instantly gets freezing even though we are almost in August. I think there’s two days left in July. It must be the 30th of July I think. What’s that way? Oh, it’s very very very muddy. Me and Steve went that way and then we just walking. Very muddy. So Wayne was just saying we’ve done nearly 7 and 1/2k, but it doesn’t mean much to me. So it’s about 4 mile apparently. Oh, which one do I want to go? Left or right? Wrong choice, I think. Oh, yes. Yes. It’s like a trick cyclist that way. So, where did you get your free bike from? Uh, it was in a house back garden in Yam when your friends moved in years ago. Are we stopping for some jelly babies? It’s at the jelly baby shop. So, it’s a jelly baby time. Records from both sides. It says jelly babies on the back as well. Come on. My editor and producer and director has just told me. Oh, Prima wants some more jelly babies. They’re really nice. Stop talking. Get on with the jelly babies. Can’t believe the last time I had some. Stuck. They don’t want to come out, mate. Anyway, our red light jumping safety officer has uh been for the jelly babies to uh red light jumping safety around you. This is Does he know this is the next game? Brian, I need another. Can’t wait for that curry. Put it into your Well, you have to. I have to cook the chicken unless you want it raw. All right. Oh my goodness. Come on. sunbathing session. All right, I’m going to stick these in me gum as directed by Steven again. Might end up looking like Marlon Brando, but I’ve got no respect. Get the double blouse there’s no red light sound. That be a boss. [Applause] He fancied a bit of road. That bus driver, didn’t he? I can see another bank. So that little place where we have the stop was South Hton. Now years ago in a previous life, previous incarnation, I used to be a singer and that’s how I earned me uh money to pay the mortgage. And I’m sure I used to sing in a pub down there. I thought it was called the farmers, but could have been something else. It was a little bit lively from what I remember. But good crack. I always like playing up here. Anyway, on with the bike. Good job them jelly babies. We have a faller. Oh god. I’m all right. Don’t worry. I haven’t broke the microphone. I don’t think I’ve damaged me camera. Did you see me fall? Took the skin off me leg. Why did you fall on this flat piece of I went in there. All right. Well, that was a bit I went looking around to see if you were all right. All right. Don’t worry about me. Ironically, all that happens. I’ll tell you what I was doing cuz I was struggling up this bank. I was zigzagging. See how far we’ve done. You could do with a bigger gear on back. It’s not even as big as mine. That’s what she said. Right. I’m having a go. Keep out of the bushes. I fell off. Did you? Why? Why? For fun for clicks. Yeah. Caught me ankle on something. Six miles we’ve done. Oh, there’s a gate just when I got some speed up. You bastard. What a The gate shutter that gate there could have got some speed up. the hose. All right. Well, interesting. Like it looks like a river there, but doesn’t seem to be flowing. What’s this thing on the left then? Just a ditch. You know, the go like the wooden passageway. A little bit a bit further. I don’t know. Yeah, because it was like a slack. I mean, you went on [Applause] that one. Fanny, you want to change the battery? You have to take this off and that off. So, shot in community hubby here. I was came and videoed it when the uh the old one was getting knocked down and I came photographed it. Tell you what, I’ll say that again when I’m not scratching me knackers on this bar. So shot and hover. I came here when it was in its last days and it was uh just on the left over there. And I also came here when they were putting the fest beds in the ground to build this new one. And I’ve been up on team jobs for the Easter life. Well, we’re going to stop here and I’m going to cook a curry. That’s where it used to be. Just over there. We’re here. Still a bit temperamental them. So, I’m going to cook for the boys a nice delightful red Thai chicken curry. Well, what I want to know is when you were growing up, what was your favorite meal that your mom used to cook it? The meat, sausage, and beans and chips. That was your favorite or just what you used to get? That was my favorite. Went in. What are you cooking on now? This is called It’s the Captain Gas Party Grill. It’s not whiskey I’m putting in. It is actually some of uh Crimo’s olive oil. Go in with the chicken. You can’t actually see in the pot, but it doesn’t mirror. I’ll show you when it looks a bit better. You can tell it’s Creo’s posh olive oil, but it smells lovely. It’s not that possible. The posh olive oil would have been twice as as expensive. Not left behind. It is expensive these days. The price of olive oil has gone, you know, mental. Yeah. Because of the fires in Spain and things like that. Not to do with Brexit then even in Spain is very expensive. Why could we not have had that strapped to there like that cook? I mean next and this is the vegetables in here if you’re wondering. It’s lovely breakfast where I had me breakfast in this morning. I b up on uh porridge and fruit. That’s what me and Steve did. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Loads of uh things. What did you have in the weather spoons? Cheers. You see, I’ve had a big breakfast. Normally, I would just have a little one, but so I needed a few. You do? I This is where I need that cuz I was running out of energy there. It’s just building the fitness back up again. Yeah. But if you look at you went out and did 5 miles and you felt all eight miles, but you couldn’t imagine doing 10 miles that day. Yeah. And then here we are two weeks on and you’re doing 17 mile without even clinching. You know what I mean? Doesn’t like spicy, do you? No. So we’ve got some red tide curry paste where it’s a big strong lad. I normally get Brenda to do it. So you’re very good making that look difficult there. Smells absolutely gorgeous. So I’m going to cook this out a bit for a couple of minutes and then I’m going to add the vegetables in which are hardcooked already. So in the vegetables we have got onions, peppers, some mushrooms. We’ve got fresh garlic and we’ve got fresh ginger as well, which I did the video me chopping up earlier on just for your excitement. I’m going to shove it all in now. Looking good. Looking good. Do you know you are being watched by an exch now and we’ll give it all a good mix in. Just leave that to simmer for a few minutes. My back’s current. Is it? And I’m under pressure to get it done before they kick us out. Yeah. 4:00. Oh, yeah. We’ll bribe them with a portion. We’ll just leave that to simmer. Got any arrow or anything in your pocket? I’ve got I can get some grass shot cuz you can’t. We’ll get bad out, man. We’ll get bad. Right, we’ve got the naans and the rice on now. Two types of rice. This is Creo’s idea. So, if the burn Haven’t got enough water in the pan, by the way. Right, we’re on emergency uh carry procedures. We’re running out of time. I’m just going to shop the rice in here and it’ll this will thicken it up. Anyway, on getting rid of rubbish duties, it’s looking good now. Right, boys in, but they’ve run away. So, uh Crimo 7. We got the top chef in to uh sort it out in the end. We’ve even got a squeeze of lime. Well, we’re all eating, but there’s only me and Steve in the picture. Did you squeeze me lime in from a height? Better not put the lime on the table in case that stains it. So, was it worth it, boys? Yeah, very good. Bit of salt. Yeah, absolutely wonderful. Where can I fill up with water? advice. The hospitality never ends in here, does it? They’re not all like me, you know. So, the people at Shotton Community Hub couldn’t have been more friendly and helpful. They’ve let us use their table. Hopefully, we haven’t left too much of a mess. I don’t think we did, but it was all a bit of a rush in the end. We had to be out by 4, but very pleasant indeed. All right, we’re halfway on this epic bike ride. Hopefully that food will kick in shortly and the energy will come back to me legs. Here we go. That’s what it’s all about. I don’t know how long we’ve got left on the memory card. things. Why do they make it so difficult if it’s some bike track? I mean, that doesn’t just slow you down. It stops you. And my legs have gone now. Any momentum, my ad’s gone out my legs now. What road’s this then? And is that the 181 down there? It is the 181. Yeah. So, about 5 miles to Heartley Fool, I reckon. Hopefully, it’s all downhill. That’d be pleasant. Oh, this is better. I like the tarmac better than I do the other stuff. All right. All right. Straight on you. Just coming past on the bikes. It’s all right. Just didn’t want to scare you. That’s all. Didn’t like the motorbike, I don’t think. All right. All right. [Applause] [Applause] I’m not a fan of them things. He touched me on the way past. So, we’ve had some scramblers coming past which the one which had a combustion engine we could hear coming. But the two on the electric bikes that were behind them, little touched me as they went past. Shame I didn’t have the camera recording, though. It says it’s a multi-use track, but I’m not sure that motorbikes and electric powered motorbikes, shall we say, are allowed down here. We’ll have to look into that. So, when’s this downhill part that you’ve been telling me about? It’s just around the corner, you know. It’s all okay, Dad. Are we there yet? Come on. Let’s go. This bit does look fractionally downhill. Multi-user track. It doesn’t mention scrambler bikes. They don’t care about me. They’ve just left me at the back. I don’t mind. So, I don’t know whether I mentioned we actually on the heart to Haswell. Well, the Haswell to heart cycle route. And it’s funny enough. This bit’s not too hilly. I have been winging, but that’s just cuz I’m so unfit. Oh. Oh, big. You all right? Finally, he’s that downhill part they were telling me about. [Music] You pedal too much. You What do you mean? Well, I’ve not pedled since that last gate. I’m just keeping me legs moving. 9 and a halfk done since uh six miles. Six miles. I can work out what 10k is. 14 in total. Nice. Well, we’re nearly at the end of the heart of Haswell cycle path. Yeah, just about finished now. It’s a little campsite on the left here. I’m not sure what it’s called. Crimand Dean Farm. Crimand Dean Farm. And they have alpacas, I believe. Or is it llamas? Evening. We used to nick off from school and play around here. on the lines itself. I remember laying down on the lines with me head on the track listening to see if we could hear the trains were coming. We’d leave pennies on the track. Naughty boys. He needs that cream. Woo! Black lady, you can’t go. I’m only here for like a Right. Yep, we’re going to Weather Spoons. Come on then. So, we’re coming down King Oby Drive, but I have some very bad memories coming down here. It must be 10 years ago now. I was uh on the cycle path part and I decided to uh go across the grass. Unfortunately, I didn’t know that there was a curb underneath the grass and I hid it and I flew over the grass. landed on the concrete. Severely hurt me shoulder and me arm and me leg and me knee and me bum. And young Steve behind us, he had to uh come and help me take me to the uh hospital for an X-ray. Was somewhere down here, wasn’t it? Whatever energy I had is gone now. I was waiting for that curry to kick in the rice and the bread. If you’ve ever seen any of me uh videos about the mule on, that’s what I could do with one of them. Something’s been going on at the mighty Harley United. Oh, well I wasn’t going to go and there’s a car coming. Here we are at the spoons. We don’t know where Cremo is. Rovers and then backs. Right. Cheese lads. Really enjoyed that. Thank you very much. Absolutely enjoyed this. I’m pooped, but I’m sure I’ll make it to the cliff tonight. Cheers. Right, I’m going to call it there. I’m just about knackered. We’ve done how far Creo 18.8 18.8 miles and I’ve still got to get home. Must be another mile home just about. So, I’m going to say round that up to 20, shall we? Yeah. I might have done more than you, you know, cuz I was zigzagging a bit. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What about the miles when you fell off? I know there can as well. So, anyway, thanks for watching. I hope you enjoyed that. If you did, what do they have to do? Like and subscribe. Press the follow button. How much How much does it cost to subscribe? Free. Nothing. It’s free. There you go. So, you might as well subscribe, mind you. And we will catch you next time. Bye-bye now. Bye. Did you wink? [Music]