Day 26: Wecome to Sunderland, you'll have a 'smashing time'

Day 26: Welcome to Sunderland, you’ll have a ‘smashing time’

Redcar, Redcar and Cleveland to Cramlington, Northumberland via County Durham and Tyne and Wear
66.93 miles (1442.77 miles cumulatively)

I hold my hands up here. I held some preconceived ideas about the North East and Sunderland especially. I am very happy to report that none of these preconceived ideas actually came true and in fact, the coastline that I cycled along could have been the Mediterranean (ok, maybe not quite, but close). However, a rather disturbing pastime became clear to me as I was cycling along many of the (mostly excellent) cycle paths. This was the rather curious pastime of smashing things. I noted toys, cabinets, tvs and lots and lots of glass. An amazing amount of glass. It was incredible. The thought that people would go down to the cycle paths and simply sit there drinking and smashing things is a great one for me. I mean I know that I am turning into a bit of a grumpy man during this cycling challenge, but come on! The phone call might go something like this:
“Alright Dave?” (I just picked this name by the way)
“Alright Stu?” (and this one)
“Ya ganna do anythink tonight?”
“Yeah, got the biggest night planned, ganna be wakad”
“Sweet! What ya doin’”
“Well, ya know that place behind the estate?”
“What, the one that smells of drains and where the flies are gathering?”
“Yeah, that’s the sweet haunt”
“Right”
“Well, we’re ganna head there and smash stuff. You in?”
“What sort of stuff?”
“You know, bottles and jars”
“Hell yeah, you want me to bring a dolls house? That’ll smash up good”
“Do it! Man this is ganna be soo cool!”
“See you there at 8? Gotta have me tea first”

I have to add here, I know my grasp of the lingo and colloquialisms are spot on, but I didn’t actually here this conversation – It’s just what I imagined!
Still, how I managed to make it through today without a puncture I will never ever know – It’s right up there with the mystery of the escaping tyre and the vanishing signposts.
Cycle England always keeps you guessing!