A beautiful evening and this time we were reduced to two for another attempt at finding a decent off-road link between John's place and Terry's. Once again, Five-a-Side had bitten young David's ankle so he couldn't come out to play.

We started off the same way, heading south on Crammy's cycle tracks to the Bay Horse, over the road and through the field to Seghill but veering off this time to the right, westwards to Annitsford. We passed under the A19 and cut through to the B1319 at Dudley, left by this road to Burradon, then onto National Cycle Route 10 which runs behind the village. Almost immediately we turned left, eastwards on a trail passing a small pond complete with Fisher People. It led us on to a dismantled railway line on a nice bit of pleasantly fast dual/single downhill slope ending under the A19 at the A1056 roundabout at Killingworth. This was slightly off-route but pretty enjoyable.

Crossing the A1056 we stayed left on a bridleway which emerged on the B1317 between Backworth and Killingworth, then straight into the fields again on the bridleway to Holystone Farm, same as last ride. We picked up a stray from Whitley Bay just into the Rising Sun Country Park, accompanying him for a few miles until parting company on the way back to the Old Coast Road. Before that the three of us took light relief from a fast zoom down the steepish track off the top of the old Rising Sun pit heap - almost enough to get your eyes watering! (WARNING - I think these are not bridleways!). This is great as long as you don't miss the little wooden bridge at the sharp left hander below, hidden by a tree. From there we simply retraced our steps apart from a mad excursion into a field at Seghill where we were nettled to death on a virgin "footpath". We then stopped for half an hour to chat to a local retired gent who'd watched us cross the field and sat shaking his head and laughing. Why? Back to John's at dusk, another 20 miler under our wheels.

Out on the ride, and even afterwards at home IN FRONT OF HIS GOOD WIFE, John talked about maybe upgrading to a more substantial bike in the future, so he can be a bit more adventurous. More debt... It really gets under your skin this hobby of ours, doesn't it?