Neil, his friend Mike from California, along with Paul cycled from Newcastle to Norfolk in July this year.  Mike flew into Newcastle airport where we met him.  After assembling his bike and an eventful night in central Newcastle we headed south.  This was Mike’s first time in UK and he was surprised to see so many scantily clad young ladies! Newcastle is a mecca for hen parties

Sun July 27^th               Newcastle to Sandsend                                             69 miles

Mon July 28                 Sandsend to Beverly Y/H                                          64 miles

Tues July 29               Beverly to Woody’s Top Y/H                                      55 miles

Wed July 30               Woody’s Top to Thurlby Y/H                                       53 miles

Thurs July 31               Thurlby to Cambridge Y/H                                         55 miles

Friday Aug 1               Cambridge to Blaxhall Y/H                                          75 miles

Sat Aug 2                    Blaxhall to Hardwick  (home)                                      40 miles

Total                                                                                                                411 miles

We stayed in Youth Hostels except for one night with an elderly relative in Sands End near Whitby.  The cycling was varied. We kept off main roads and tried to use Sustrans routes. North Lincolnshire was a revelation, I thought it was flat! We managed the Humber Bridge and some off road sections.  The weather was great and the youth hostels really interesting. Beverly is an ancient priory right next to the Minster.  Woody’s top was memorable in that it was a 2 mile downhill ride to the pub, the landlord went to pick up an exhausted Mike in order fro him to play the piano in the pub.  He was planning a quiet night in. The 2 mile uphill return trip was lost in an alcoholic haze.  Mike did want to check out a typical pub!

Mike fell asleep in a pub in Thurlby! he did find the cycling tiring.  We met up with a relative in Cambridge and managed a Punt on the Cam without incident.  We had a great time and it reminded me that cycle touring in UK is fantastic.  Such varied countryside, lots of lanes. Lovely pubs.  The sorts of things you don’t get in other countries.  I will add some photos when Mike sends them to me.  He visited Stonehenge and London before flying back to California.