Coast to coast cycle Whitehaven to Roker (Sunderland) for NCKRF
I am a paediatric doctor but more importantly the daughter of a renal patient. My father dialyses three time a week and still works as a GP, even after a failed transplant. He is a great source of inspiration to me. So that’s what spurred me to do this crazy cycle of 144 miles, after two years of illness my self.
We (a team of four) began in Whitehaven after a 2.5 hour journey from Durham. The next morning fresh, nervous and full of energy we commenced. It was bank holiday august so we were lucky to have a glorious first day. The sun was out and the cycle paths lovely. By lunch time we were in Keswick, having witnessed the beautiful lakes of Ennerdale, Loweswater and Derwent water. Finally we finished the day in Greystoke after a few climbs but nothing too taxing. Feeling good we spruced up for a delicious country pub meal a little bit anxious of the next day ahead.
The dreaded day two then began. It started with a nice tease of a route into it with little hint of the climb to come. However and unfortunately even before that point one of our fellow team members (only 11yrs age cycling for another charity) had a very nasty skid and my input as a doctor was then required. Behind schedule and patched up to a certain extent we embarked the gruesome Hartside (580m) climb, finally reaching the top for a late lunch. Just as we thought the worst of it was over we were met with another vertical climb of 600m after Nenthead. Then as is typical of British weather it rained and rained and rained. The bleak moors added to our misery. Our brakes were burning as we cycled down. Eventually after a puncture change and low morale we reached county Durham. We warmed up with hot showers and good old fashioned English grub and slept like babies.
Day three was much better. We had only one climb and the rest was down hill. At least I kept telling myself especially with gale force winds blowing us into the road!
We cycled hard and finally reached Sunderland exhausted and depleted of energy but to the smiling faces of our loved ones especially my father which truly made this all worth while.
Thanks to my family, friends and colleagues I raised £1474 for NCKRF!
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