A Farsley 12-year-old’s bid to cycle from one coast to another to support a charity aiming to end bed poverty has started.
Jesse Carlill wants to ‘break the cycle of poverty’ by cycling 137 miles in aid of Zarach, which ensures children get the restful sleep they need by lifting them out of bed poverty. Here, mum Emily, will be writing a diary of his progress so far.
Friday
Travelled to Whitehaven from New Pudsey on the train, which was a little bit of a mission in itself … negotiating with buggies, other bikes for the spaces on the trains, rushing for the next train due to the first being delayed, carrying up and down stairs over platforms because we didn’t have time to locate and wait for the lift etc.
This definitely identified the good people from the not so good – one guy swore at us whilst the next offered to help!)
After a lovely 20-minute cycle along the coast and pot noodle tea in a Premier Inn room, it was time for an early night to get a good start on Saturday.
Saturday
Cycled back along the coast to Whitehaven harbour to the official start point of the C2C where we dipped our tyres in the Irish sea (what you can’t see from the photos is that I actually slipped right in up to my knees!) After wringing out my socks, off we went!
Just a few miles in we could see the mountains of the Lake District. The weather was lovely, the paths were good and quiet, and the scenery beautiful. After a mid morning break of the best banana cake you ever tasted (thanks to a family who waved us off), we set off towards Crummock water, following which a long climb up towards Whinlatter.
A well-deserved milkshake at the Forestry England centre at Whinlatter with two grandads who came to meet us along the way, then the fun speedy downhill towards Keswick.
We were actually staying a few miles out of Keswick at Threlkeld but it was a lovely ride along and old railway track, over lots of pretty rivers.
Approx 36 miles from Whitehaven to Threlkeld.
Sunday
Originally we planned for us to stop in Penrith. However I decided we should join day two and three together as this would total 29 miles – less than yesterday. Seemed like a good idea…
Setting off at 9.30am in the rain, we didn’t arrive at our campsite, just beyond Alston, until 7.45pm, over 10 hours later!
It was easy going initially to Penrith but from a climb out of Penrith (where the view was brilliant), it was climb after climb after climb until we reached the Hartside summit of 1600ft.
But there was still more to go! Relentless ups and downs in the increasingly bad weather. We did stop earlier in the day at a 3000 year old druid stone circle (Called Long Meg) which was cool.
Jesse has been brilliant, he struggled today and there was quite a bit of pushing due to the steep inclines and tired legs but he carries on without complaint. Enjoying a few episodes of the Simpsons to relax after a day’s cycle and he’s ready to go again!
Approximately 29 miles.
Today we are heading for Consett, another 29 miles but after an initial incline should be a bit flatter!
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