23rd June 2025

Blyth - Alnmouth         50.5 kms      955'

This might look like a take it easy day. Not so. The most significant thing, for me anyway, was the strength of the wind!!!!! And as you may have guessed it was indeed, a NOSTRIL wind. I am very proud of the fact that we have made 50 plus kms when one considers, that according to the weather boffins, we had gusts of 50kms an hour. I think that is quite a lot. Just as we were coming into Alnmouth there was a hill with the wind behind - I hardly had to pedal at all.

The other, and much more pleasant aspect of today, was viewing the beautiful North East coast. For much of the route today we spent on tracks or no through roads which ran parallel to the dunes and the beaches. Despite expectations of rain, we had none and the sunshine was reasonably abundant. Did think about a paddle but didn't  want to get sand in between my toes. Nothing to do with the temperature of the water! Virtually no building development for miles but quite a few caravan sites. What a fabulous place to enjoy your holiday.

On the meet and greet front, we shared our dinner time with a group of lads who had just biked, in relays, from east to West and then turned round and ridden west to east, all to raise money for charity. Mind you, they spent a bit on celebratory drinks. A good bunch though. We also briefly encountered a gentleman bending down over his bike so we checked he was okay - which he was  - but then he spotted Al's shirt and we spent a good few minutes while he reminisced about north Wales.

This was one bit of the journey that I was really looking forward to and it has not disappointed in spite of the fight with the wind. Wouldn't really be an Old Bones journey without me moaning about a NOSTRIL wind. I suspect I  might have another go tomorrow, at moaning, I mean.