Day 5

Dear Diary...

Today is an easy day.

GPS'd our way out of Middlesbrough this morning, traversing the suburbs south of the city. Fast roads eventually with cycle-tracks made it easy and fast. Some of the local kids thought it was great fun to throw stones at us on the way to school. Did we laugh?

Reached the coast at Redcar and travelled down promenades and paths next to the coast. We stopped at Saltburn for coffee and enjoyed the view.

The hill down into Loftus is very steep and a hairpin bend at the bottom made it fun. The hills continue, both up and down, until the final run down to Staithes which is very steep. All I can smell is Rob's brakes from in front of me. When we get to Staithes I've worn at least half my brakes in the half days run.

Staithes is pretty as ever. We realise that Terry is waiting for us at the top of the village and we have entered by the back route and missed him., dohhh! There's no mobile phone signal so I volunteer to cycle up and find him. A lung busting 25% incline later I find him. Going down to return to the others I realise that I'll have to do it again as we come out!

We linger at Staithes enjoying the beer and the opportunity to chill-out.

We take our time travelling down to Whitby stopping for an ice cream at Sandsend.

We are in three different hotels tonight and Trev and I are in The Haven. Mr Negative, the proprietor is not happy to lock our bikes up and wants us to leave them in the street. Trev sorts him out and we suddenly have very secure accommodation for the bikes. The rooms are small but beautifully decorated and very good value, shame about the owner.

We all meet up and head for The Duke of York to test the beer. Refreshed we walk back to Trenchers for a knock-out fish and chip supper. Trev demonstrates his texting skills sending messages to Kath whilst wielding his knife and fork. We all look on in awe...

A couple more pints sat outside by the harbour and we admit that although it's Friday night we do have a long day ahead of us, and retire at a sensible time.

Our delightful host at the The Grey House Hotel (with her 'little devil')	Note my battered left leg!
Trev and Rob on the promenade at Redcar	Coffee stop at Saltburn-by-the-sea

Fausto is on fine form	The harbour at Staithes

	A beer on the harbour front at Staithes
	We find Terry...eventually!

Ice cream stop at Sandsend
The Haven, nice rooms shame about the owners!	Ready for a night out on the town
	The view from Ray and Rob's room
The beer was for medicinal purposes only!	'now where's that fish and chip restaurant?'
Dear Diary... Today is an easy day. GPS'd our way out of Middlesbrough this morning, traversing the suburbs south of the city. Fast roads eventually with cycle-tracks made it easy and fast. Some of the local kids thought it was great fun to throw stones at us on the way to school. Did we laugh? Reached the coast at Redcar and travelled down promenades and paths next to the coast. We stopped at Saltburn for coffee and enjoyed the view. The hill down into Loftus is very steep and a hairpin bend at the bottom made it fun. The hills continue, both up and down, until the final run down to Staithes which is very steep. All I can smell is Rob's brakes from in front of me. When we get to Staithes I've worn at least half my brakes in the half days run. Staithes is pretty as ever. We realise that Terry is waiting for us at the top of the village and we have entered by the back route and missed him., dohhh! There's no mobile phone signal so I volunteer to cycle up and find him. A lung busting 25% incline later I find him. Going down to return to the others I realise that I'll have to do it again as we come out! We linger at Staithes enjoying the beer and the opportunity to chill-out. We take our time travelling down to Whitby stopping for an ice cream at Sandsend. We are in three different hotels tonight and Trev and I are in The Haven. Mr Negative, the proprietor is not happy to lock our bikes up and wants us to leave them in the street. Trev sorts him out and we suddenly have very secure accommodation for the bikes. The rooms are small but beautifully decorated and very good value, shame about the owner. We all meet up and head for The Duke of York to test the beer. Refreshed we walk back to Trenchers for a knock-out fish and chip supper. Trev demonstrates his texting skills sending messages to Kath whilst wielding his knife and fork. We all look on in awe... A couple more pints sat outside by the harbour and we admit that although it's Friday night we do have a long day ahead of us, and retire at a sensible time.