Thursday 6th October 2016 - Day ride along North East coast

I know it's not exactly a RADs ride but JB and I were there, the evening ride will come later...
So we had the chance to ride up the NE coast, from Amble (north of Newcastle a bit;) sun was shining and wind an easterly so we decided on Lindisfarne Castle as the aim via some of the National Cycle Network route No.1.
We started here at Amble coast...

...and worked our way along route No.1, just watch out for the guide posts when they are in the middle of the track!

We worked out way north avoiding Seahouses and Bamburgh on the way out to try and keep a direct-ish route, but to get to Holy Island you have to go via the causeway (it's tidal by the way:) but the causeway is at the north west corner so the furthest away, anyway we cris-crossed the A1 a few times ;) and made it across to holy Island in time for a late lunch (2pm-ish) after a 46 mile route, see Strava map,

First half of the day, until Strava turned off at lunch stop!

Calories for lunch!

So after lunch we cycled the extra bit to go and see the castle (it's National Trust you know;) I popped in for a quick visit while JB cycled round the grounds taking photos.

Lindisfarne Castle

Upturned boat maybe :)

Inside quite nice

NB: Lindisfarne Castle will be closing at the end of Oct 16 for major restoration:

Sunday 30 October 2016 will be the last day open to the public and the Castle will be closed until April 2018.

We did have a deadline, firstly the tide was coming in and we had to cross the causeway and second we had to cycle back and the evenings are drawing in, we may just make it...

Who need a fat bike for sand...

Danger!

more danger ;)

Stay on the road

So steady away on the way back mostly on route 1, but this time we did go past Bamburgh and Seahouses (more food time, bananas and chocolate), now it's a race against the light, sleeves on and keep going, back just before 7pm and it was getting dark.
148 KM (92 miles) could have gone further but it was getting dark! A great ride, blue skys, flat-ish roads, although the hills towards the end felt heavy!