I like my postcards...

I like the back up on having a postcard on the handlebars with all the villages/towns I need to look out for on the way.  Its incredibly useful when your map is in your rucksack and you just want a quick confirmation that you're heading in the right direction.

So tonight was a chance for a quick refresher on the route, this website is great for that ....    http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk/the-route/ and a quick look at the road layout in certain busier stretches. 

An hour later, hey presto, the entire route reduced to villages I must aim for with accumulated miles from the start in Whitehaven in brackets to check against the on board Garmin that all is in order.

So for anyone else attempting this, here is my village checker....

Day 01

Whitehaven - Rugby Club – Corkickle – Mirehouse – Moor Row – Cleator Moor [5] – Frizington – Rowrah – Lamplugh – Loweswater [17] – Thackthwaite – High Lorton – Whinlatter – Braithwaite [27] – Portinscale – Keswick [31] – Threlkeld – Scales – Troutbeck – Greystoke [48] – Blencow – Laithes – Newton Rigg – Penrith [55] – Carleton – Langwathby [58] – Melmerby [64] – Alston [75]

Day 02

Alston – Nenthall – Nenthead [80] – Coalcleugh – Ropehaugh – Allenheads [86] – Rookhope[92] – Parkhead Station – Waskerley – Consett [111] – Blackhill – High Westwood – Hamsterley Mill – Rowlands Gill – Winlaton Mill – Swalwell – Metro Centre – Newcastle [128] – Tynemouth/Whitley Bay [140]

So its 140 miles without getting lost!  Day one likely to have more steeper climbs than Day 2. And its almost all downhill from Waskerley onwards on Day 2, can't wait for that!

Half a day at work tomorrow and then the ride up to Newcastle Central Station.

I'm hoping I've got this mileage in my legs.  Its a while since I did a big one.