We made it! And you can tell from the photo who is still fresh after the cycle and who (to quote Dad) is cream-crackered!

Firstly - a huge thank you to everyone who sent a message of support and who sponsored us - our total raised to date is over £600 for St Gemma's - and if you see this message and would like to add your pennyworth it isn't too late! Every bit helps!

Day 1: Got up early Monday morning raring to go and cycled down to Leeds  station for train to Carlisle and onto Whitehaven arriving around 1pm. Time for a quick photo, a stock up with some goodies (Haribo!) and headed off east. First 10 miles were a gentle ride slightly up, but already hoped for westerly to blow us along was in fact a strong easterly blowing us back!  However we did have to stop and apply sun lotion! Then onward into Lakes via Loweswater with stunning views, then our first big climb up through Whinlatter Pass and down a mountain trail through the forest and cruised on into Keswick. Booked into YHA and enjoyed pub grub and a good nights sleep. Travelled 31 miles.

Day 2: Stoked up by a cooked breakfast we headed out east again on old railway line seeing a red squirrel and with a few ups (hard work) and downs (speedy sections) went via Threlkeld , Greystoke (stop for a quick bite) and having left the Lake District into Penrith for a sausage sandwich lunch. Leaving Penrith we climbed up to Langwathby where the wind really set in. A farmer told us about a local effect that causes extreme wind conditions with strong easterlies - it was so strong that on some sections we had to push our bikes along the flat! And that was before ascending the Pennines! By this time sun lotion was redundant, and instead cagoules became the order of the day as clouds and visibility dropped. Hartside was an endurance push and having reached the summit we saddened to see the cafe man drive away having shut up shop! A little deterred we cycled on at what was the best pace of the day down into Garrigill where sadly our hoped for accommodation wasn't a starter and the village pub was closed being Tuesday. Jamie was appalled. Even more deterrred we headed east up yet another hill, progress  only sustained by emergency energy boost from the Haribo before finally making Nenthead, a welcoming pub with grub and a comfortable B & B. Previously and ironically we decided Day 2 would be the easiest- how wrong we were! Travelled 49 miles cumulative 80 miles.

Day 3: Filled with yet more cholesterol laden sausage and bacon we headed east again, the previous day's cloud hadn't lifted so we were spared sun burn (again!) and headed up out of Nenthead to Black Hill - the highest point on the C2C at 609m (1998 feet in old money) and over more ups and some downs to Allenheads - a break for another snack and then off again when disaster struck. David/Dad's front wheel/brake started making alarming noises. An inspection revealed that excessive braking had worn the wheel so thin that the tyre pressure forced the wheel rim to bulge out. With no bike shop for miles Dad semi-deflated tyre, disconnected front brakes and we limped on gently. After passing over Stanhope Moor in mist we started a long descent via Parkhead (inspection by fellow cyclist condemed wheel as v. dangerous) and gently again into Consett where we managed to get a new wheel and a Greggs pasty. With bike back to 100 % (even if rider worse for wear!) we headed down at a pace via Stanley, Chester-le-Street and Washington into Sunderland, cycling along Wearside before being greeted by a cheering Helen (Mum's old school friend) at the finish. Time for the photo above and then onto Sunderland station via Newcastle and York home on the train - arriving just after midnight. Total mileage for the route - 56 miles making a total of 136 for the C2C trip.

So thanks for reading, supporting and sponsoring!

Jamie and David