Tyne and Wear - One Day Tour

[Graeme]

I hope this wasn't the last of the warm summer weather, but as we draw closer to September I feel that the shorts and shirt weather is starting to become less frequent. I noticed leaves on the floor today, orange/brown leaves thick on the road and in the gutter as if from nowhere. I wonder if the wind has brought a quick early leaf-fall.

I grabbed an opportunity for a one-day tour of Tyne and Wear. Up the coast from Seaham to Sunderland, across the Wearmouth Bridge, then up to South Shields and over the river on the passenger ferry. Stop for an ice-cream at Tynemouth and a pint at the Piano & Pitcher. Then cross the River Tyne three times using different bridges before heading home via the Angel of the North.

All in all a beautiful day out. I've written up the ride here with pictures.

[Peter]

Excellent, Graeme, thank you.  Wearmouth Bridge appears to have a good cycle lane on it - did you miss it?  Marsden and Shields bring back memories  of good musical nights, at the Marsden Inn in ..... Marsden and the South Tyne Folk and Blues Club at The Douglas Vaults in Shields.  Tyneside was the best blues area in Britain in the 70s!

[Graeme]

Peter - I loved your Arrivee write up of the ride home from our DIY300. Thanks for that.

Cycle route schmycle route; when there are three perfectly serviceable lanes crossing the middle of the bridge. I just needed to take one of them, and I didn't cause that much trouble I think. ;-)

[Peter]

You're welcome!  As for the cycle lane, I just wondered - I don't feel compelled to use them, either!

[D.A.L.E.]

There's cycle lanes on both sides of the bridge, but they're awful.

However.

If you'd took this underpass - https://goo.gl/maps/VX3Pz

It would have took you down and under the roundabout and dropped you on the Eastern cyclepath across the bridge. You then could have dropped down this road - https://goo.gl/maps/WbQMQ

And onto this cycle route all the way along the river to the marina via the sculpture trail/university/glass centre - https://goo.gl/maps/4ewsm

Which you can make out here -



It's my route to the seafront when not in a hurry (And is the route I meant on Strava)

[Graeme]

Oooooo... Next time. Trying to persuade some others on my course to come for a bike ride. That would be a nice way to cross the River Wear. Thanks Dale.

[D.A.L.E.]

Oooooo... Next time. Trying to persuade some others on my course to come for a bike ride. That would be a nice way to cross the River Wear. Thanks Dale.

I really don't like that roundabout/one way system. I know which lane I need to be in, just that most cars do not. It's fast though.

That Eastern cycle path continues all the way along the 1018 too, past St. Peters etc. - https://goo.gl/maps/IfGOx