A family bereavement 4 days before I was set to do the challenge meant that I had to pull out of the Coast to Coast at the last minute. I am currently trying to find a new date. I would like to honour my promise to Cure Leukaemia and to all my sponsors by completing the bike challenge as soon as possible! Thank you to everyone who has already sponsored me, including Graeme Wass (£20) and Mandy Hemming (£20), and please don't stop donating to this worthy cause - your support is needed as much as ever!

   We arrive with our bikes at the meeting point in Sunderland on Thursday evening, and we leave our cars in a safe place at the finish point. We are transported with our bikes to the start in the Lakes.  On Friday, we ride from Whitehaven to Greystoke/Penrith a distance of approx 50 miles. We take on the big climb at Whinlatter. This first day of the C2C will take us through the northern section of the Lake District National Park. This is Britain's largest park, and we will be travelling past some of its most impressive peaks - Skiddaw, Blecathra and the northern reaches of the Helvelyn range. We will pedal through a great number of traditional Lakeland villages and pass through Keswick, where we will stop for lunch.

   On Saturday, we climb from Penrith to Allenheads/ Rookhope, which is a distance of approx 50 miles through the heart of the Pennines. There are climbs up Hartside, out of Garrigill and Black Hill. It is a tough day over very hilly terrain.

   Today we will encounter our biggest challenges, and as we coast down towards the river Eden from Penrith, we will see the first Pennine ridge rising up before us. The scenery takes a dramatic change now, as the sheer peaks of the Lakes become rolling valleys and open moors. We will overnight at Rookhope where we can enjoy a warm shower to ease up our muscles for tomorrow's last stint.

   On Sunday, we pedal from Allenheads/Rookhope to Sunderland. It is an approx. distance of 45 miles. We climb out of Allenheads/Rookhope and then it is level or downhill all the way to the finish. We will be able to enjoy this scenic route as it follows the north bank of the Wear, skirting Washington and passing the Stadium of Light. The finish is at the Marina at Roker, where we will take to the sea and follow tradition by dipping our wheels in the briny. We will then stay in Sunderland on Sunday night for a celebratory dinner!

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Claire