Pip's fancied a photo with me ready to go, but, being ready to go I was more focussed on that than on keeping the smile going until she pressed the button. Still, at least the bike looks good - two panniers and a rack-pack, containing clothes and camping stuff, plus the usual tools and extras. As light as I could manage but it still felt heavy going up those French hills!
The first step was to get to the pickup point for Bike Express, which was in Stokesley just south of Middlesborough. So, a bike ride into Newcastle and then a train to Middlesborough was the plan. I guess I could have cycled all the way there but didn't, and, in fact, since it was absolutely tanking it down when I got to Middlesborough I waited and then took a train down to Great Ayton, only about 10km from Stokesley.rnThe picture, by the way, is the bike on the train to Middlesborough, just as I was passing over the Tyne.