UP THE RIVER TYNE BY BIKE

A return to The Homeland. Heading west of Newcastle, up the River Tyne, and into Northumberland.

This is the strip we used to use to play football in the evenings and the weekends. It’s about half a mile from home. So, not quite wide enough for a football pitch, but great for like five aside. Really good. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Well, after Lee’s record fair yesterday, I’m up in Newcastle to kind of revisit some old horns and get back out on the bike. I’ve been really struggling riding this year. Just lost my mojo. And anybody who follows me on Strava will know that my mileage is way down on what it normally is. But sun’s out today. A bit windy, but it’s beautiful old horns here. On my right here is close out where the football legend Alan Shira allegedly plays his golf. Never played there. Not good enough. Coming up to Stevenson’s cottage. George Stevenson, the guy who apparently invented the steam engine. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Did you speed now? Can’t go any slower. Look at those puppies. God, it’s so nice to be out. I get up back to Newcastle about half a dozen times a year. Try and bring the bike in the summer. The weather’s not always helpful. But it’s not bad today. tough headwind, but it’ll be a tailwind on the way back. I’ve just followed the River Tine up from about 5 miles west of Newcastle. And I’m now 7 or 8 miles in, 9 10 miles actually. I’ve gone 10 miles west. So, I’m going to head north now and uh up onto the hills and then come back in with a with that tailwind. This, by the way, is the River Tine at a place called Bywell. By well, that used to be my career procurement. Did I buy well? Some would say maybe. I have to say I think when it comes to records, I buy well. What do you think? Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. All you can hear over here is the uh wind and the birds. It’s beautiful. Pretty dramatic country over there. Headed west to the penines. I’m trying to get the top of the hill, get that tailwind, and then fly back to my parents. You know, these lanes are amazing. They’re so quiet. After having a headwind for about 10 miles, gone up the hill door for away from the river time and now I’m heading east. And the only thing I’ve seen on this uh this lane which has been going over about three or four miles now, one of the cyclist and a dog walker. Awesome. Oh, look at that. Man, I’d love to live up here. Unfortunately, Jill doesn’t agree. Doesn’t share that sentiment. Oh god. Some serious fishing equipment out about here. Serious business. Heat. Heat.