The last morning was relatively easy, though still wet. The route is flatter and spirits high. The ride into Newcastle takes a bit of navigating, but from there it’s well signposted through to Tynemouth Pier. At the finish you feel a mix of emotions: elation, relief, satisfaction, shortly followed by a desire to do it again, only this time a bit more quickly. After all, two and a half days in the saddle does make you a bit fitter.

Coast to Coast tips
• We hired a van to carry the bikes. It’s somewhere to leave them overnight and, if your accommodation isn’t on the route, you can ferry yourself and your bikes to and from each day’s start and finish point. You do, of course, need a driver!

• Get hold of the Sustrans map. The detail is good, it makes navigating easy and will help you plan your stages.

• Get in some training on hills before you go. We are based in Peterborough, beside very flat fens, so the hills came as a bit of a shock.

• Take two water bottles on the bike. You need to drink lots of water.

• Ride from west to east. You are more likely to have back wind. Unfortunately, we didn’t!

• The off-road stretch to Hartside is tough – it’s easier (though not easy) to stick to the road route. Wearing gloves or mittens with padded palms makes life a bit better for your hands. The stony surface can be a bit tiring otherwise.

• Fit a cycle computer to your bike – they are very cheap these days and allow you to monitor your mileage, speed, average and maximum speeds so you can keep a check on your progress.

• Go at a pace that’s right for you. You want to enjoy the ride, not make it so gruelling you regret starting.

• Have fun!

Coast to coast wildlife and wonder
One beauty of cycling is that you travel fast enough to witness the diversity of our countryside, but slow enough to enjoy its wildlife. You will hear birdsong, see wildflowers, spot the occasional fox and even small mammals, writes Neil Costello. On the C2C we were piped over the moors by curlew, snipe and lapwing, and serenaded in the valleys by song thrush, blue tits and oystercatcher, while buzzards soared overhead.