It was a pretty much spur of the moment decision to do this, I only bought the train ticket a week prior and hadn't done anything like this before (I'm an experienced wildcamper though), and what a great experience it was! Hard going at times, and a lot of pushing, but a great sense of achievement cycling all the way home from Berwick :)
I'm born and bred Newcastle, so I know this stretch of coastline quite well, it was great to do it on a bike though, you get to see and experience so much more. Thanks Anita :)
Fantastic cycle ride! I've just come back from North Sunderland right next to Seahouses, such a beautiful place. Previously I've camped in Wooler....Love Northumberland 😍
Morning Becks - yeah Northumberland is a special place, it's got a bit of everything - moors, mountains, coast, forests and lakes. Plus all the castles and hillforts and history. There's some lovely places to camp as well. Have a great weekend and thanks for popping a comment on :)
Brilliant and well done. For my 70th I did my first long distance trip: Hadrian’s Wall cycle path - Whitehaven to Wallsend. Over three days. Then The Yorkshire Wolds cycle way , another 3 days. All on my 22 year old Raleigh.
That's brilliant John! Well done. I used to have a Raleigh RSW 11 when I was a kid in the 70's, I loved that bike. This Halfords Carrera is quite canny mind, nice and smooth to ride with decent suspension and it didn't break the bank. I've been looking at the Hadrian's Wall cycle path, it seems like a nice route, especially for a beginner like me. Thanks John, atb DVS :)
Well done you, Donna! I'm sure you will have inspired many with your trip and I think I would like to highlight something that I have discovered doing many long-distance multi-day trips and it was great to hear it from you - "well it's been a tough day (blah blah blah) but I REALLY ENJOYED IT". There is nothing to beat that feeling of achievement when you have gone into the unknown out of your comfort zone and through the pain barrier and not only survived but relish the next tough day! 58? Rubbish - if you walked into my pub, I would ask you for ID! Thanks for sharing your lovely adventure with us 🎉
You've hit the nail on the head right there Barry - tough but enjoyable. And it's those feelings of being chuffed with myself, of what I've achieved, those are the memories which spur me on. It might take me a bit longer than other folk to do, but I know I'll get it done, and I'll just soldier on until it is done lol. I did this with a knackered knee as well - I'm on the list for a total knee replacement, so if I can do it anyone can. And p.s loving the ID comment 😂😂 cheers Barry! 🍻
Thanks Adrian 😊 Yeah we are spoilt rotten with everything in Northumberland, forests, moors, hills, mountains and the coastline is a stunner - the only thing I missed out on was a glorious sunrise, but I'm not complaining and I really enjoyed this trip. TFW and atb, Donna :)
Aw thank you Mike, I'll get a few choice ales for my next trip - which hopefully will be in about 6 weeks time (for a mutli-day one). Looking at heading out today with a tent somewhere so I'd best get the big handbag packed. Thanks again Mike X
Blimey -42 miles in a day Donna! You’re super fit. Bloody well done mate. And happy birthday! I do like seeing someone else who would rather be in a tent than at a party.😂 Really enjoyed your new adventure. Best wishes as always xxx
I'm nowhere near being fit - but I'm stubborn and I believe anything that I'm told lol - so when 'Cheers Pet' (my Sat Nav) told me I could be home in an hour and a half from the Ice Cream shop I believed her 😂 There was a lot of pushing involved on this trip, but I really enjoyed it Ruth and for me with my dodgy knee, it's the way forward at the moment. I hope things are ok with you - I'll email ya xxx
Well done Donna, To make things easier for you, They recommend not to carry anything on your back and as you say get a wind shield for cooking, but we'll done 😊
Yip, that's right about not having a bag on your back - but I struggled to fit my sleep system in my panniers, so I popped them in my Exos 38 - weight wise it wouldn't have been more than 4kg (including the bag), but still not ideal. If I hadn't have taken enough food for 4 days I could have fitted my sleep gear in the panniers lol. And I have windshields, I'd just neglected to pack one as I assumed I'd be cooking in the tent every night. Rookie errors and lessons learnt. Thanks for your comment Nigel, really nice of you to get in touch 😊 I was out last night (bikepacking) and packed differently....no bag taken 😉
I'm far from being fit Sandra - but I'm a determined lass who doesn't like to let myself down, so I knew I'd do it. In my head I expected to get back on the Thursday, so to get home on the Wednesday was a bit mad lol. But it felt great to cycle all the way back home. TFW :)
Cheers Peter ya southern pansy 😂😂 - I think 82 miles was the perfect distance for my first multi-day trip. The furthest I'd ever ridden a bike before was for 30 miles - and that was without panniers etc. So I was quite chuffed with myself on this outing. More to come I'm sure - maybe even in Europe.....now I know I can do it 😁😁
You did amazing Donna! Loved seeing the start of your journey from the metro and on the train. The images were super sharp too. My pancakes are just like yours ☺. By the time you get to pancake number 3 they usually start to resemble something edible and round (ish) x
Aw thanks Diane 😊😁 It was a bit weird leaving home and jumping on the Metro with Bike, then you can only go as far as Jesmond with a bike - so I had to cycle through town to hit the Central. Enjoyed the trip though, it was great to do something totally different for a change. Even the pancakes were totally different 🙄😂😂 hahaha, I still ate it mind 😋 X
Aw thank you - and great to hear you enjoyed the video. It took me ages to edit because I didn't take too much footage. I really enjoyed it though and I'll definitely be doing more bikepacking in future :) And e-bikes? Ok for round the doors, but not for longer distances, and they'd be even heavier to push 🙄😂
Great watch Donna, cracking little adventure there👍, some great pitches along the way too, I’ve cycled from almouth back to home a while back, it’s a good route, spot on Donna, look forward to seeing more of your bikepacking videos in the future, atb Mick 👍
I was out on Bike yesterday - nice quarry pitch in a forest, but dear me it got cold overnight, the blinking tent froze! It's almost May!! Saying that mind, I was sat outside til 9pm with just a small fire going, had a lush night. It wasn't until the early hours when the temps dropped. Loved this bikepacking trip Mick, and it was pretty spur of the moment, train ticket purchased the week before and the panniers arrived the night before I left, totes winged it lol. Definitely more multi-day trips to come, but obviously they'll have to tie-in with holiday time at work, until then I'll be using Bike as much as possible for camping due to a knackered knee. At least I'm still getting out ;-)
😁😁 A huge well done DVS x No training but still smashed it.. The trusty mountain star did you proud again. A lovley coastal route and places I've visited in the past on my motorbikes. But great to do bikepacking 😁👍 Again, Happy Birthday pet and looking forward to the next one donna x 🤗😁
Glad you enjoyed it Mike, the Northumberland Coast is amazing - and soon as I was on the road to Bamburgh that was me back on familiar turf, which was a great feeling because I was more knowledgeable about where I could pitch up. I was chuffed to bits with the miles I put in - and that included a lot of pushing lol. The Mountain Star was the perfect tent to take, it packs down so small, but it's big enough to dry gear out inside. Thanks for the birthday greetings Mike :) X
Aye lol - Blyth and Cambois aren't exactly wildcamping mecca's 😬😂😂 and it was too early to pitch up at Druridge or Cresswell, so home I went. And I'm pleased I did because the weather was horrendous on Thursday, at least I got to cycle home in sunshine Sarah. TFW xx
Cheers Paul - yeah not bad going to reach camp spot no.2 on my birthday, those skies were so moody, it looked mint. I'll defo be doing more of this in the lighter months - and the Kuiu Mountain Star was the perfect tent of choice, it packs down tiny :)
@@donnavansenior Ah you're not gonna make me buy the mountain star as well, like you did the Storm star. haha. Jokes - if it gets the DVS seal of approval it's good wiv me x
@@paulmortal7611 It's a bit of a niche tent Paul - the full mesh inner is the stumbling block, for the same money you can buy a Hubba Hubba, similar weight and pack size, but it has more solid panels in it. I was out in the MS last night and the tent froze overnight, soon as the sun warmed things back up again I was rudely awoken by some cold drips on my face😂😂 I was camped in an old quarry so no breeze at all and all that frozen condensation has to go somewhere....I love my MS - heck I have two of them, but it's no Storm Star ;-) X
Aye it was frozen windscreens in fenham last night i hear. Negative temps through tonight as well, looks like high pressure in coquetdale? Go steady my friend and stay warm x
Hi Donna, this is Ian who does the bikepacking trips with Dave(borderrambler/solobikerdave), well done on your 1st trip with the bike and happy birthday, some tough conditions you dealt with💪🏻, I’ve wanted to do NCN 1 for a while, even more so after seeing the beautiful scenery on your video!, look forward to watching your next trip🙂🚲⛺️👍🏻
Hi Ian - good to hear from you 😁 Watched Dave's video again last night, I like the look of the canal paths, but there were some proper muddy sections there that would have had me sliding off in to the canal 😂😂 This Coast and Castle route on the NCN 1 was the perfect length for a first-timer like myself - I've bikepacked before but I've not done a multi-day trip - and with those winds behind me I hit lucky with the weather on the whole. It's a mostly well kept cycle route with only a few muddy sections over grassy terrain, and the views and countryside are beautiful - with plenty of camping opportunities from Cresswell northwards. Cheers Ian, looking forward to seeing 'Hot Shots Part Deux' with you and Dave 😁
😂Thanks Donna, day 2 and 3 were mudfest 2024!, I live in Walsall so loads of canals by me, never seen the towpaths so bad, this year of virtually non stop rain has destroyed them😩, coasts and castles looks a really lovely part of route 1, all the more enjoyable with the wind in your favour👌🏻😎, I’ve watched videos of the cinder track near Scarborough so joining those 2 up would be a lovely coastal trip, high on the list of most wanted trips!🙂👍🏻
Go in dvs lass. What an absolute corker of a way to spend ya birthday. Loved this video. Smiles throughout even in the hail storm. Whatever you set your mind to marra ya just give it ya best. Big respect 🙏 to you and bike. Well done xxx
OOps, just spotted this one Emz, so excuse tardy reply rate - and it was mint to see you a few days ago 😁 Me and Bike loved this Birthday adventure, and I'll defo be doing more multi-day bikepacking trips, it was hard work, but good fun and very rewarding. Cheers marra, thanks for tuning in xxx
Soon as I re-crossed the A1 I was back on familiar turf cycling in to Bamburgh Jimmy, and it felt good to have the local knowledge for where to pitch up on night 2. It was the perfect spot to shelter from those winds. A great trip overall, even with all the uphill pushing 😁⛺
@donnavansenior treat Yourself to an e bike. Then you can get about 40 mile and find a pub charge it up. You may have to wait a couple of hours at the pub, but that's all right, isn't it? You can fly up the hills. Carry your baggage and everything. Have a look into it seriously.
@@andrewnewton23 I'd toyed with the idea, and for commuting an e-bike would be ideal - but for heading off with it strapped to the back of my Lingo, and the extra weight of one, it wouldn't be very practical, then I've got the hassle of looking for somewhere to charge it up, and in rural Scotland I think that could be almost impossible :( And you know me, I like to head off to out of the way places, usually away from people. I do like the idea of being forced to waiting a few hours at pubs mind ;)
Good way to spend your birthday Donna. You'll remember your 58th. Looked a good wee backpacking trip 🚴 I need to explore further south from Berwick. Those storm clouds 😲
Aye that was some moody looking sky! Just got the tent up in time before those hailstones rained down. Really enjoyed my 58th - and you're right, it's one I'll definitely remember for all the right reasons. Cheers Kev tfw :)
I love this video! What a great way to spend your birthday. I hope you will do some more trips like this. Oh, and good advice thrown in too - pretend you're old and infirm😂😂😂!
I usually go away somewhere for my birthday - I always take the week off work, but this birthday will defo be one to remember, and I'm still chuffed with myself for getting home a day earlier than planned. I'll definitely be doing more bikepacking Sarah, it's a great way to travel, and I was lucky to have the wind at my back those few days. TFW :)
😇 no training apart from putting 10 miles in the week prior lol. Really enjoyed this trip John, it's nice having a bike that's fun to ride (and not too bad to push) my last 2 bikes have been murder 😬😂 TFW and atb from Donna :)
Oh bless you Donna, well done indeed. First time I have come across you, a funny and entertaining watch. I'm off on a week's bike tour very soon, and I'm nearly 81!! You go for it. Oh yes, happy bekated birthday wishes from me. x
Great stuff Graham - where are you headed to? I worked with a man who was in his 80's (he was a volunteer at the hospice I work at) who would regularly go wild swimming, hiking and could do 100 miles a day on his bike. Age is just a number. Thanks for the nice comment :) X
Happy Birthday Donna. Just a little advice from a keen cyclist..no knickers under your cycling shorts. They are made to be next to the skin. Really enjoyed this video lovely...subbed! x
Hi Antonia and thanks for the shorts advice - 3 layers down there wasn't as warm as expected, and I only have the one pair of gel shorts so I was trying to make them last the trip.. thank god I got home on the Wednesday because that was them probably on their limit 🤣🤣 cheers for the sub and comment X
Thanks Anthony, it was my first time filming and editing a multi-day bikepacking trip as well 😉 and I didn't have easy access to my filming gear without stopping and unrolling panniers etc (another rookie mistake) Due to a dodgy knee I'll be using Bike more often over the lighter months - I was out on Thursday in the forests and made a few changes to my set-up which worked out well. TFW :)
Donna cycling senior happy birthday pet, that was lovely. I did walk that first bit of coast from Berwick myself last spring and……. Recently bought exactly the same panniers myself as it’s been so long since I used my old ones they had rotted away 🤣so may be out on the bike myself. All the best ❤
Great stuff Dave - and thanks for the birthday wishes - yeah those Rockbros panniers were a decent price on Amazon for the pair. They seem to be quite well made and they're definitely waterproof. Time will tell I suppose, and they look very snazzy lol. I hope you get out on your bike soon, with your new panniers and a tent :) atb from Donna X
Thanks James - I think I chose the perfect route and amount of miles for my first multi-day trip. Lessons learnt and I'll definitely be going lighter next time, so maybe less pushing 😅😁
well done Donna amazing the miles you can cover when you get your head round it 🚴💪 canny weather overall 👍 strange how I've never combined my 2 biggest passions to do a bit bike packing 🤔 happy birthday 🎈🎂
I'm surprised you've never done bikepacking mind Geordie, that'd be right up your street. I love heading out on a bike - I've not done it much (bikepacking), maybe 5 or 6 times over the last few years, but now I have a Bike that doesn't want to kill me, and a Bike that shifts gears effortlessly, looks good and is the right size for me - well I'll be doing a lot more of these trips in the lighter months. Great fun, and like you say - it's amazing the miles you can rack up with a bit of determination. Canny weather indeed with that wind behind me, it would have been a whole different story if I'd chosen to do that route the other way round. TFW Geordie :)
A grand wee video, its a shame the Beal to Seahouses route was a pain, unfortunatley there isnt a good biking alternative to crossing the A1 twice (I live just over the Border to the West of Berwick, so this is my patch) There is a lovely coffee shop in Fenwick and another in Belford, but you have to know where they are, perhaps another time. The second night at Church Cave Howick Sands is a good spot, but in the summer it must get busy, judging by the fire pits etc. I think this will be remembered as a great way to celebrate your Birthday, although it might not seem that way at the moment. I really enjoyed your video (I'm a DVS Outdoors virgin as it were), but will be looking at your back catalogue over the next few weeks. Thanks for sharing ATB Big Dave Scotland
Hi Big Dave - yeah the 2nd nights camp is somewhere I've camped before, so I knew it would be relatively safe there as the local farmer keeps an eye on the place. The fire scars are disappointing to see though, I usually tidy them all up, but I was too tired on this one. And generally I'm not someone who stops at coffee shops as I live life on a tight budget, but I did pass a few that looked nice on this trip. Maybe I should leave all the extra snacks at home and travel lighter by stopping at the coffee shops 😂 Lots of lessons learnt and looking forward to my next multi-day trip - I was back out on Bike yesterday / this morning, having a quick overnight recharge camping in a forest quarry near Kielder, damn it was cold last night! Tent was frozen 🥶 TFW and welcome aboard :)
Ahh great stuff Donna , glad it went well. It’s always good to cover the bike if rain expected. I drive trains down that coast route and I have always fancied doing the NCN 1 route , so it’s added to my list of to dos 😂 regarding food I normally take enough for 1 to 2 days and eat along the trail . Keeps weight down and sometimes you can’t be arsed to make out. Happy birthday and look forward to your next bike adventure atb Dave PS look at the stuff you didn’t use and don’t take them next time 👍👍
Yeah you'd love the NCN 1 Dave, it has better kept cycle paths than those canals you've been on lately 😂 and I think I picked a perfect length section of it for my first multi-day trip. Great info on your other vid about taking your bicycle on a train, that really helped me when I got to Newcastle Central. Packing wise I learnt loads of lessons - I had no real easy access bags to get camera's / tripods out, and it was too windy to get the TFM out, so I struggled filming 'action cycle shots' because I couldn't be arsed to get off the bike and unroll panniers etc. I'm hoping to sort that out for my next multi-day trip though, I like the look of those handlebar bags. And I took far too much food - enough for the apocalypse 😂😂 and too much water as well. I'll defo be able to lighten my load by a few kilo's next time. TFW Dave atb from DVS :)
Brilliant watch this Donna, weather looked on your side for most of the part, (always needs to rain alittle though to make you appreciate the sun) Thank you for sharing and Happy Birthday! Take care All the best D & B 👍
Thanks D&B 😁 it was a canny way to spend my birthday this year. The weather was quite acceptable for the direction I was headed in, it was lush to be outside with some sun - but if I'd been cycling into that wind I would have probably given up, crikey it was relentless for 3 days, the winds were that strong I had to pedal downhill when I was riding in to it, I couldn't freewheel. A great all-round outing and something I'll be doing more of during the lighter months. TFW :)
Happy birthday Donna!! Looked like a great trip and such a cool thing to do for yourself at your birthday 😎 That pitch on night 2 was a total winner - a fab spot to send you into the next year of life!! Well done on all the miles, enjoy that chuffed feeling 🏆🤗 x
Thanks Miriam - yeah it was a spur of the moment type of thing, I only booked the train the week before and my spanky new panniers arrived just in the nick of time the night before I left - haha, talk about living life on the edge. The pitch on night 2 is somewhere I've camped before - and it was dipped out of the wind and mostly hid from view (The Northumberland Coastal Path runs right past it). How's things with you? Are you still having treatment? X
@@donnavansenior it all worked out so well for you Donna!! Trains, bags and a working bike…woman will travel 🤩 I’m doing very well..I just got word this morning that I don’t need radiotherapy and I’m thrilled!! It turns out that I’d rather go back to work than be burnt 🤷♀️ I had my first camp in five months last Monday - feckin brilliant to be back out again!! I brought the camera too 🫢😂
@@MiriamKennedy Yey!!! That's great news Miriam, congratulations and well done and a big pat on the back for being able to move on and get back to work woohoo!! And double woohoo that you've been out with a tent and a camera. Feckin brilliant indeed 😁⛺ and I'm looking forward to seeing your video yey!!
Hi @MrTullyblue - my northern accent can sometimes be quite hard to understand, I wouldn't blame your hearing, plus with all the wind I'd give yourself a pat on the back for understanding anything I was saying haha. Thanks for watching and taking the time to pop a comment on, it's appreciated X
If you tap the top right hand side of the picture you will see a sign saying CC tap that and usually it gives you the Captions/Words , you can do this with your tv too if your friend/family shows you how to.
'Cheers Pet' was better than my GPX Viewer - until she took me up the dual carriageway just past Woodhorn in rush hour - that's where I got the 4 mile hitch from a kindly school-bus driving soul who waited for me in the layby, concerned for my safety. I tried to get him to take me further than Belington but he was having none of it 😂😂😂 Defo more adventures with Bike Sharon, this was a great trip and I loved it X
Well done! Really enjoyed the video. You've gotta laugh out loud when it goes bit wrong, as something always does, it's the only way! I wonder if a better (gas?) stove would help?
Glad you enjoyed it Chari :) And yip - I'll always laugh in the face of adversity 😂😂 A gas stove would have been a much better option for cooking outside - and a windshield would have came in handy as well lol. I'd only expected to cook in the tent, so my simple meths burner set-up was all I'd packed. Lessons learnt though and I'll be packing lighter and be better prepared for the next one. TFW :)
This looks a reet decent adventure - gonna see if the missus will let me get away for a few days this summer to try this route. Thanks for taking the time to produce and share :)
It's a cracking good route Graham - and you can add extra bits in or take them out and tailor it to your own needs. The full route runs from Tynemouth to Edinburgh, but I just fancied seeing if I could manage Berwick to Forest Hall 🚵🏼😁 TFW :)
Thank you Elisheva - and welcome aboard, I'm glad you've found my channel and I hope you get some ideas, or a little sprinkling of inspiration, to get out there and do something a bit special. Bikes are way easier than hiking lol - I've got a dodgy knee at the moment so can't hike very far with a heavy backpack on, so I sold one of my tents and bought a bike. I loved this trip and it felt amazing to cycle all the way home :)
Ah awesome video well done getting out and just doing it. It’s not easy sometimes especially with UK weather being temperamental! Great content thanks so much you do inspire!
If I'd been cycling in the other direction it would have been horrendous - as it was the winds were at my back most of the way, and the odd hailstorm or wet few hours didn't bother me too much lol. For me, the worst weather is strong winds. It's crippling. Great to be out with Bike for a few days though & I really enjoyed it. TFW and atb DVS :)
Hi Graham :) Fingers crossed you get good weather for when you do the Coast and Castles. And apologies, but I never give out my camping locations online Graham, sorry, unless it's a well know hill or whatever, I always keep my pitches quiet. There's plenty of places to pitch a tent on this coastline, heading for the dunes is always good advice - which won't be hard as the main coastal roads all go pretty close to the beaches. I winged it on the first night due to the weather, and the 2nd night I knew about that cove from previous camps there. ATB for your trip :)
Thanks Craig - and yeah, go for it! It's a lovely stretch of coastline and the coastal hiking route sticks quite coastal and doesn't head off across the A1 like the cycle route. Plenty of camping opportunities until you hit Newbiggin and Blyth lol.
Happy Birthday Donna. What a cracking little bike trip there with some pretty rugged coastline on the way. You gave yourself a birthday to remember for years to come. Looking forward to seeing your next outing. ATVB from a very hot, sunny and bloody wet Malaysia where it' it's a bit too hot to go cycling during the day and by the time it's cooled down a bit, it's pissing down with very heavy rain so I have to keep my jaunts very local. Cheers
Hi Razif, great to hear from you. Even a hot and rainy Malaysia sounds better than a cold, wet and windy Northumberland - I was out last night and my tent froze 🥶 Loved my birthday cycle though and I will definitely be doing more multi-day trips in the future, when I have a few days off work. The coastline here is amazing, and the cycle paths are on the whole pretty well kept. Ciao for now :)
Hi Donna and greetings from Cullercoats.I enjoyed that.I must have done that route many times over the years heading north and up into Scotland.I’ve never been brave enough to wild camp,always sticking to campsites. I remember that bridge section over the stream but found it better to take the alternative route,it’s longer but quicker if that makes sense. I like your style and sense of humour.looking forward to the next one .👍Allan d.
Hi Allan and thanks for that nice comment. I'm not far from you - so greetings from Forest Hall 😁. This was the first time I'd seen a lot of this route, I'm usually driving and miss all the good parts, but it's a lovely stretch of coastline - did you cycle or hike it? I'm an avid wild camper, so even though I'm careful and cautious, I'm obviously wiser and a tad braver than someone who's not used to it. For me, campsites are only something I would use if I really had to, or if I needed to use showers / laundry / electricity for charging etc. Thanks for watching Allan, atb from DVS :)
Thanks Siimz - my DJI Osmo battery ran out just before hitting Killy Lake or there would have been some Forest Hall footage on. It felt great to get back home a day earlier than expected :)
Two of my favourite Brompton and outdoors UA-cam ladies :) I've been watching Miriam Kennedy for a few years now - she was the reason why I bought a drone, the places she gets to are amazing and so is the way she films and edits her video's - she watches my video's as well and always leaves a comment. Susanna Thornton I've only just discovered in the last few months, so I've been watching a fair few of her video's as well recently - this is why I wanted pancakes on my birthday David.....because I kept seeing Susanna cooking herself pancakes every morning 😂😂 she's way better at cooking pancakes than me haha. Atb DVS :)
@@donnavansenior considering both have had cancer twice they are amazing as well as inspirational women, both Miriam and Susanna have new videos, Susannah dose a pancake with strawberries….yum……my pancakes are crap as well, and that’s doing them in the house, anyway, looking forward to seeing more bikepacking vids from you 👍
That was absolutely fantastic Donna !! Before lock down I trained and was going to do the coast and castles from tynemouth to Edinburgh but lockdown put a stop to that, then my cancer struck not long after it was all lifted, so it was a joy to watch you doing a section of it, I'll still do it one day, thanks for sharing your a true inspiration ❤❤😊
It's a great route Mick, sorry to hear you never got to do it, especially after training for it due to your cancer and the lockdowns, which are 2 things I bet you never saw coming, crikey. I'm sure you'll get it done though, and you're very knowledgeable about gear so you'd probably pack more wisely than I did 😂 I'm usually pretty good, but for a first multi-day trip on a bike I packed far too much food and water. Lessons learnt for next time. I'm looking at heading to Europe with Bike now, later in the year though. Thanks for the lovely comment Mick X
You did great. I I am also starting off with Bikepacking & finding it a learning curve. My downfall is that I cycle past a nice looking pub & end up having lunch & having more pints than I planned. And then I only end up doing 10 miles rather than your 40 😂 Did you not fancy the Xenon tent? I bought mine for use with cycle camping. I never considered using a tarp to cover the bike either! cheers for a great video
I sold my Xenon tent a few years ago - I have a problem with tents haha, always buying and selling them, it's nice to chop and change and try new ones out. I saw a Xenon ul2+ for a great price a few nights ago and was nearly tempted, but then I remembered the large footprint it has, it's a really long tent therefore it limits pitching opportunities when you're on the road. Saying that mind, I recently bought a Big Agnes Blacktail Hotel 2 and that's probably a similar length 😂😂 but it has front and rear entrances, unlike the Xenon. I'd be similar with the pub thing lol, but on this trip I was just head down and thinking about my next pitch. I know this coastline very well so I had rough ideas in my head of where I wanted to get to. TFW and enjoy your bikepacking, it's great fun and for me every outing is a learning curve at the mo :)
Those LNER trains are a right struggle to get your bike on - I just played the demure female role and asked for help 😂😂 then at Berwick I did the same because the train nearly left with me still fighting to get the bike off haha. Great fun lol.
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What a great way to spend your birthday Donna! You'll never forget your achievement.
It was a pretty much spur of the moment decision to do this, I only bought the train ticket a week prior and hadn't done anything like this before (I'm an experienced wildcamper though), and what a great experience it was! Hard going at times, and a lot of pushing, but a great sense of achievement cycling all the way home from Berwick :)
Used to go to Berwick every week with an Explorer Bus ticket , there’s nowt like the Northumberland Coast line , just beautiful.
I'm born and bred Newcastle, so I know this stretch of coastline quite well, it was great to do it on a bike though, you get to see and experience so much more. Thanks Anita :)
Fantastic cycle ride!
I've just come back from North Sunderland right next to Seahouses, such a beautiful place. Previously I've camped in Wooler....Love Northumberland 😍
Morning Becks - yeah Northumberland is a special place, it's got a bit of everything - moors, mountains, coast, forests and lakes. Plus all the castles and hillforts and history. There's some lovely places to camp as well. Have a great weekend and thanks for popping a comment on :)
Brilliant and well done. For my 70th I did my first long distance trip: Hadrian’s Wall cycle path - Whitehaven to Wallsend. Over three days. Then The Yorkshire Wolds cycle way , another 3 days. All on my 22 year old Raleigh.
That's brilliant John! Well done. I used to have a Raleigh RSW 11 when I was a kid in the 70's, I loved that bike. This Halfords Carrera is quite canny mind, nice and smooth to ride with decent suspension and it didn't break the bank. I've been looking at the Hadrian's Wall cycle path, it seems like a nice route, especially for a beginner like me. Thanks John, atb DVS :)
Well done you, Donna! I'm sure you will have inspired many with your trip and I think I would like to highlight something that I have discovered doing many long-distance multi-day trips and it was great to hear it from you - "well it's been a tough day (blah blah blah) but I REALLY ENJOYED IT". There is nothing to beat that feeling of achievement when you have gone into the unknown out of your comfort zone and through the pain barrier and not only survived but relish the next tough day! 58? Rubbish - if you walked into my pub, I would ask you for ID! Thanks for sharing your lovely adventure with us 🎉
You've hit the nail on the head right there Barry - tough but enjoyable. And it's those feelings of being chuffed with myself, of what I've achieved, those are the memories which spur me on. It might take me a bit longer than other folk to do, but I know I'll get it done, and I'll just soldier on until it is done lol. I did this with a knackered knee as well - I'm on the list for a total knee replacement, so if I can do it anyone can.
And p.s loving the ID comment 😂😂 cheers Barry! 🍻
Wow. what a mission, well done D
Thanks Shaun - I'm a pretty determined soul once there's a mission to accomplish 😁
Nice one Donna 😉👍
Thank you Jimmy 😁
Enjoyed this trip, we are so lucky up here with the coastline
Cheers
Thanks Adrian 😊 Yeah we are spoilt rotten with everything in Northumberland, forests, moors, hills, mountains and the coastline is a stunner - the only thing I missed out on was a glorious sunrise, but I'm not complaining and I really enjoyed this trip. TFW and atb, Donna :)
Spot on Donna, no better way to celebrate your bday than an adventure
Cheers Nobby, onwards and upwards after this one.....now I know I can push a bike up a hill like an old pro there'll be no stopping me 😉😁
Thanks DvS this will just about get you a fish a chip supper and a tinnny 😁
Aw thank you Mike, I'll get a few choice ales for my next trip - which hopefully will be in about 6 weeks time (for a mutli-day one). Looking at heading out today with a tent somewhere so I'd best get the big handbag packed. Thanks again Mike X
Blimey -42 miles in a day Donna! You’re super fit. Bloody well done mate. And happy birthday! I do like seeing someone else who would rather be in a tent than at a party.😂 Really enjoyed your new adventure. Best wishes as always xxx
I'm nowhere near being fit - but I'm stubborn and I believe anything that I'm told lol - so when 'Cheers Pet' (my Sat Nav) told me I could be home in an hour and a half from the Ice Cream shop I believed her 😂
There was a lot of pushing involved on this trip, but I really enjoyed it Ruth and for me with my dodgy knee, it's the way forward at the moment. I hope things are ok with you - I'll email ya xxx
Well done Donna, To make things easier for you, They recommend not to carry anything on your back and as you say get a wind shield for cooking, but we'll done 😊
Yip, that's right about not having a bag on your back - but I struggled to fit my sleep system in my panniers, so I popped them in my Exos 38 - weight wise it wouldn't have been more than 4kg (including the bag), but still not ideal. If I hadn't have taken enough food for 4 days I could have fitted my sleep gear in the panniers lol. And I have windshields, I'd just neglected to pack one as I assumed I'd be cooking in the tent every night. Rookie errors and lessons learnt. Thanks for your comment Nigel, really nice of you to get in touch 😊 I was out last night (bikepacking) and packed differently....no bag taken 😉
Well done Donna great achevment🍰🍰🍺🚴
Thanks Stuart, I was pretty chuffed with my efforts - and having the wind at my back helped as well ;-)
That was a fantastic video Donna. You made it look so easy. Well done you. You are so fit❤
I'm far from being fit Sandra - but I'm a determined lass who doesn't like to let myself down, so I knew I'd do it. In my head I expected to get back on the Thursday, so to get home on the Wednesday was a bit mad lol. But it felt great to cycle all the way back home. TFW :)
Thought I recognised that waggonway behind the estate at the end. Brilliant Donna 👍😁
I actually left that bit in just for you 😁 I knew you'd know where it was 🚲
@@donnavansenior ha great thankyou 😁
@@donnavansenior if I had of known I'd have been out fluttering a hanky in a wave hello motion 😆
@MarkSweeting_ 🤣🤣🤣
Happy birthday xx and 82 miles is a long way well done,all the best from Kent and the southern pansies 😂😂😂
Cheers Peter ya southern pansy 😂😂 - I think 82 miles was the perfect distance for my first multi-day trip. The furthest I'd ever ridden a bike before was for 30 miles - and that was without panniers etc. So I was quite chuffed with myself on this outing. More to come I'm sure - maybe even in Europe.....now I know I can do it 😁😁
You did amazing Donna! Loved seeing the start of your journey from the metro and on the train. The images were super sharp too. My pancakes are just like yours ☺. By the time you get to pancake number 3 they usually start to resemble something edible and round (ish) x
Aw thanks Diane 😊😁 It was a bit weird leaving home and jumping on the Metro with Bike, then you can only go as far as Jesmond with a bike - so I had to cycle through town to hit the Central. Enjoyed the trip though, it was great to do something totally different for a change.
Even the pancakes were totally different 🙄😂😂 hahaha, I still ate it mind 😋 X
Great way to spend your birthday. Look forward to more bike camps.
More to come Dawn, I really enjoyed doing this - and it's easier on my knees. TFW :)
Happy birthday Donna. Brilliant change of content . Loved it. You’ll be dripping in ebikes before you know it. Niiiiice! 👌
Aw thank you - and great to hear you enjoyed the video. It took me ages to edit because I didn't take too much footage. I really enjoyed it though and I'll definitely be doing more bikepacking in future :)
And e-bikes? Ok for round the doors, but not for longer distances, and they'd be even heavier to push 🙄😂
Great watch Donna, cracking little adventure there👍, some great pitches along the way too, I’ve cycled from almouth back to home a while back, it’s a good route, spot on Donna, look forward to seeing more of your bikepacking videos in the future, atb Mick 👍
I was out on Bike yesterday - nice quarry pitch in a forest, but dear me it got cold overnight, the blinking tent froze! It's almost May!! Saying that mind, I was sat outside til 9pm with just a small fire going, had a lush night. It wasn't until the early hours when the temps dropped.
Loved this bikepacking trip Mick, and it was pretty spur of the moment, train ticket purchased the week before and the panniers arrived the night before I left, totes winged it lol. Definitely more multi-day trips to come, but obviously they'll have to tie-in with holiday time at work, until then I'll be using Bike as much as possible for camping due to a knackered knee. At least I'm still getting out ;-)
@@donnavansenior nice one Donna, think I’ll have to get my bike out soon, I’ve been lazy lately 🤣
😁😁 A huge well done DVS x No training but still smashed it.. The trusty mountain star did you proud again. A lovley coastal route and places I've visited in the past on my motorbikes. But great to do bikepacking 😁👍 Again, Happy Birthday pet and looking forward to the next one donna x 🤗😁
Glad you enjoyed it Mike, the Northumberland Coast is amazing - and soon as I was on the road to Bamburgh that was me back on familiar turf, which was a great feeling because I was more knowledgeable about where I could pitch up. I was chuffed to bits with the miles I put in - and that included a lot of pushing lol. The Mountain Star was the perfect tent to take, it packs down so small, but it's big enough to dry gear out inside.
Thanks for the birthday greetings Mike :) X
Happy birthday Donna 👍looks like you enjoyed yourself 🍰🚴🚴🍺
Thank you - and yeah, apart from the crappy pancakes I had a pretty neat birthday :)
me and my son completed this back to Teesside last June from dunbar ... great adventure
That must have been great doing it with your son :)
Well done donna hreat effort and another great video
Thanks Allan. I really enjoyed this trip - but I'm pleased that wind was mostly in my back or it might have been a different story. TFW :)
Love it when i finish graft and something well worth watching 🎉🎉
Good stuff, hope you enjoyed it. I had a great time :)
Brilliant Donna !!! Divnt park up at blyth noooooo .😅
Fab video as usual xxxx
Aye lol - Blyth and Cambois aren't exactly wildcamping mecca's 😬😂😂 and it was too early to pitch up at Druridge or Cresswell, so home I went. And I'm pleased I did because the weather was horrendous on Thursday, at least I got to cycle home in sunshine Sarah. TFW xx
Brilliant as ever Donna. And what a place to pitch on your birthday. Cheers 🍻
Cheers Paul - yeah not bad going to reach camp spot no.2 on my birthday, those skies were so moody, it looked mint. I'll defo be doing more of this in the lighter months - and the Kuiu Mountain Star was the perfect tent of choice, it packs down tiny :)
@@donnavansenior Ah you're not gonna make me buy the mountain star as well, like you did the Storm star. haha. Jokes - if it gets the DVS seal of approval it's good wiv me x
@@paulmortal7611 It's a bit of a niche tent Paul - the full mesh inner is the stumbling block, for the same money you can buy a Hubba Hubba, similar weight and pack size, but it has more solid panels in it. I was out in the MS last night and the tent froze overnight, soon as the sun warmed things back up again I was rudely awoken by some cold drips on my face😂😂 I was camped in an old quarry so no breeze at all and all that frozen condensation has to go somewhere....I love my MS - heck I have two of them, but it's no Storm Star ;-) X
Aye it was frozen windscreens in fenham last night i hear. Negative temps through tonight as well, looks like high pressure in coquetdale? Go steady my friend and stay warm x
Hi Donna, this is Ian who does the bikepacking trips with Dave(borderrambler/solobikerdave), well done on your 1st trip with the bike and happy birthday, some tough conditions you dealt with💪🏻, I’ve wanted to do NCN 1 for a while, even more so after seeing the beautiful scenery on your video!, look forward to watching your next trip🙂🚲⛺️👍🏻
Hi Ian - good to hear from you 😁 Watched Dave's video again last night, I like the look of the canal paths, but there were some proper muddy sections there that would have had me sliding off in to the canal 😂😂 This Coast and Castle route on the NCN 1 was the perfect length for a first-timer like myself - I've bikepacked before but I've not done a multi-day trip - and with those winds behind me I hit lucky with the weather on the whole. It's a mostly well kept cycle route with only a few muddy sections over grassy terrain, and the views and countryside are beautiful - with plenty of camping opportunities from Cresswell northwards. Cheers Ian, looking forward to seeing 'Hot Shots Part Deux' with you and Dave 😁
😂Thanks Donna, day 2 and 3 were mudfest 2024!, I live in Walsall so loads of canals by me, never seen the towpaths so bad, this year of virtually non stop rain has destroyed them😩, coasts and castles looks a really lovely part of route 1, all the more enjoyable with the wind in your favour👌🏻😎, I’ve watched videos of the cinder track near Scarborough so joining those 2 up would be a lovely coastal trip, high on the list of most wanted trips!🙂👍🏻
Go in dvs lass. What an absolute corker of a way to spend ya birthday. Loved this video. Smiles throughout even in the hail storm. Whatever you set your mind to marra ya just give it ya best. Big respect 🙏 to you and bike. Well done xxx
OOps, just spotted this one Emz, so excuse tardy reply rate - and it was mint to see you a few days ago 😁 Me and Bike loved this Birthday adventure, and I'll defo be doing more multi-day bikepacking trips, it was hard work, but good fun and very rewarding. Cheers marra, thanks for tuning in xxx
Splendid adventure!
Belated Birthday wishes 🍻
Thanks Chris, not a bad way to spend my 58th 😁
Well done Donna that's good going recognised ya pitches happy birthday mate atvb Jimmy 😎😎👍👍🍺🍺
Soon as I re-crossed the A1 I was back on familiar turf cycling in to Bamburgh Jimmy, and it felt good to have the local knowledge for where to pitch up on night 2. It was the perfect spot to shelter from those winds. A great trip overall, even with all the uphill pushing 😁⛺
Happy Birthday, Donna brilliant video.Hope to see more of these
More to come Andrew, that's for sure. I really enjoyed this trip...and not a bad way to spend my birthday :)
@@donnavansenior I've done that route that you have just done.It's absolutely brilliant
@@andrewnewton23 apart from all the pushing it's a great route 😂 I'll know to travel lighter next time :)
@donnavansenior treat Yourself to an e bike. Then you can get about 40 mile and find a pub charge it up. You may have to wait a couple of hours at the pub, but that's all right, isn't it? You can fly up the hills. Carry your baggage and everything. Have a look into it seriously.
@@andrewnewton23 I'd toyed with the idea, and for commuting an e-bike would be ideal - but for heading off with it strapped to the back of my Lingo, and the extra weight of one, it wouldn't be very practical, then I've got the hassle of looking for somewhere to charge it up, and in rural Scotland I think that could be almost impossible :( And you know me, I like to head off to out of the way places, usually away from people. I do like the idea of being forced to waiting a few hours at pubs mind ;)
Good way to spend your birthday Donna. You'll remember your 58th. Looked a good wee backpacking trip 🚴 I need to explore further south from Berwick. Those storm clouds 😲
Aye that was some moody looking sky! Just got the tent up in time before those hailstones rained down. Really enjoyed my 58th - and you're right, it's one I'll definitely remember for all the right reasons. Cheers Kev tfw :)
I love this video! What a great way to spend your birthday. I hope you will do some more trips like this. Oh, and good advice thrown in too - pretend you're old and infirm😂😂😂!
I usually go away somewhere for my birthday - I always take the week off work, but this birthday will defo be one to remember, and I'm still chuffed with myself for getting home a day earlier than planned. I'll definitely be doing more bikepacking Sarah, it's a great way to travel, and I was lucky to have the wind at my back those few days. TFW :)
82 miles and no training, way to go Donna 😂.
Fantastic stuff 👍
😇 no training apart from putting 10 miles in the week prior lol. Really enjoyed this trip John, it's nice having a bike that's fun to ride (and not too bad to push) my last 2 bikes have been murder 😬😂 TFW and atb from Donna :)
Well done and Happy birthday 🍺 🎂
Thanks @edd8268 😁 :)
Oh bless you Donna, well done indeed. First time I have come across you, a funny and entertaining watch. I'm off on a week's bike tour very soon, and I'm nearly 81!! You go for it. Oh yes, happy bekated birthday wishes from me. x
Great stuff Graham - where are you headed to? I worked with a man who was in his 80's (he was a volunteer at the hospice I work at) who would regularly go wild swimming, hiking and could do 100 miles a day on his bike. Age is just a number.
Thanks for the nice comment :) X
Love the vid, love your enthusiasm and really love your down to earth attitude and humour 😁👍
That's a lovely comment, thanks Lee 😊😁
Happy Birthday Donna. Just a little advice from a keen cyclist..no knickers under your cycling shorts. They are made to be next to the skin. Really enjoyed this video lovely...subbed! x
Hi Antonia and thanks for the shorts advice - 3 layers down there wasn't as warm as expected, and I only have the one pair of gel shorts so I was trying to make them last the trip.. thank god I got home on the Wednesday because that was them probably on their limit 🤣🤣 cheers for the sub and comment X
That was interesting thanks for taking me with you see you soon chuck
Thanks Anthony, it was my first time filming and editing a multi-day bikepacking trip as well 😉 and I didn't have easy access to my filming gear without stopping and unrolling panniers etc (another rookie mistake)
Due to a dodgy knee I'll be using Bike more often over the lighter months - I was out on Thursday in the forests and made a few changes to my set-up which worked out well. TFW :)
awesome video,happy birthday Donna
Thank you, not a bad way to spend my birthday 😁⛺ doing the things I love x
Donna cycling senior happy birthday pet, that was lovely. I did walk that first bit of coast from Berwick myself last spring and……. Recently bought exactly the same panniers myself as it’s been so long since I used my old ones they had rotted away 🤣so may be out on the bike myself.
All the best ❤
Great stuff Dave - and thanks for the birthday wishes - yeah those Rockbros panniers were a decent price on Amazon for the pair. They seem to be quite well made and they're definitely waterproof. Time will tell I suppose, and they look very snazzy lol. I hope you get out on your bike soon, with your new panniers and a tent :) atb from Donna X
Well done Donna, nice easy going cycling.
Thanks James - I think I chose the perfect route and amount of miles for my first multi-day trip. Lessons learnt and I'll definitely be going lighter next time, so maybe less pushing 😅😁
Morning. A 'must watch' for later
Hope you enjoy it Mark :)
Happy birthday! Loved it
Thanks Michelle, and glad you enjoyed the vid :)
Brilliant video. I cycled the opposite direction last year and really enjoyed it.
It's a great route, nicely signed and the cycle paths were all in good order. I'm pleased I did it north - south though ;-)
@@donnavansenior Yeah least you were able to cycle home doing it that way 👍
well done Donna amazing the miles you can cover when you get your head round it 🚴💪 canny weather overall 👍 strange how I've never combined my 2 biggest passions to do a bit bike packing 🤔 happy birthday 🎈🎂
I'm surprised you've never done bikepacking mind Geordie, that'd be right up your street. I love heading out on a bike - I've not done it much (bikepacking), maybe 5 or 6 times over the last few years, but now I have a Bike that doesn't want to kill me, and a Bike that shifts gears effortlessly, looks good and is the right size for me - well I'll be doing a lot more of these trips in the lighter months. Great fun, and like you say - it's amazing the miles you can rack up with a bit of determination. Canny weather indeed with that wind behind me, it would have been a whole different story if I'd chosen to do that route the other way round. TFW Geordie :)
A grand wee video, its a shame the Beal to Seahouses route was a pain, unfortunatley there isnt a good biking alternative to crossing the A1 twice (I live just over the Border to the West of Berwick, so this is my patch) There is a lovely coffee shop in Fenwick and another in Belford, but you have to know where they are, perhaps another time. The second night at Church Cave Howick Sands is a good spot, but in the summer it must get busy, judging by the fire pits etc. I think this will be remembered as a great way to celebrate your Birthday, although it might not seem that way at the moment. I really enjoyed your video (I'm a DVS Outdoors virgin as it were), but will be looking at your back catalogue over the next few weeks. Thanks for sharing ATB Big Dave Scotland
Hi Big Dave - yeah the 2nd nights camp is somewhere I've camped before, so I knew it would be relatively safe there as the local farmer keeps an eye on the place. The fire scars are disappointing to see though, I usually tidy them all up, but I was too tired on this one.
And generally I'm not someone who stops at coffee shops as I live life on a tight budget, but I did pass a few that looked nice on this trip. Maybe I should leave all the extra snacks at home and travel lighter by stopping at the coffee shops 😂 Lots of lessons learnt and looking forward to my next multi-day trip - I was back out on Bike yesterday / this morning, having a quick overnight recharge camping in a forest quarry near Kielder, damn it was cold last night! Tent was frozen 🥶 TFW and welcome aboard :)
Ahh great stuff Donna , glad it went well. It’s always good to cover the bike if rain expected. I drive trains down that coast route and I have always fancied doing the NCN 1 route , so it’s added to my list of to dos 😂 regarding food I normally take enough for 1 to 2 days and eat along the trail . Keeps weight down and sometimes you can’t be arsed to make out.
Happy birthday and look forward to your next bike adventure atb Dave
PS look at the stuff you didn’t use and don’t take them next time 👍👍
Yeah you'd love the NCN 1 Dave, it has better kept cycle paths than those canals you've been on lately 😂 and I think I picked a perfect length section of it for my first multi-day trip. Great info on your other vid about taking your bicycle on a train, that really helped me when I got to Newcastle Central.
Packing wise I learnt loads of lessons - I had no real easy access bags to get camera's / tripods out, and it was too windy to get the TFM out, so I struggled filming 'action cycle shots' because I couldn't be arsed to get off the bike and unroll panniers etc. I'm hoping to sort that out for my next multi-day trip though, I like the look of those handlebar bags.
And I took far too much food - enough for the apocalypse 😂😂 and too much water as well. I'll defo be able to lighten my load by a few kilo's next time.
TFW Dave atb from DVS :)
Brilliant watch this Donna, weather looked on your side for most of the part, (always needs to rain alittle though to make you appreciate the sun)
Thank you for sharing and Happy Birthday!
Take care
All the best
D & B 👍
Thanks D&B 😁 it was a canny way to spend my birthday this year. The weather was quite acceptable for the direction I was headed in, it was lush to be outside with some sun - but if I'd been cycling into that wind I would have probably given up, crikey it was relentless for 3 days, the winds were that strong I had to pedal downhill when I was riding in to it, I couldn't freewheel. A great all-round outing and something I'll be doing more of during the lighter months. TFW :)
I enjoyed every minute well done 👏 .Happy Happy birthday 🎂 🎉X😊
Yay! Thank you 😁 I had a great time and was pleased that wind was at my back for most of it. It's definitely something I'll do again X
Happy birthday Donna!! Looked like a great trip and such a cool thing to do for yourself at your birthday 😎 That pitch on night 2 was a total winner - a fab spot to send you into the next year of life!! Well done on all the miles, enjoy that chuffed feeling 🏆🤗 x
Thanks Miriam - yeah it was a spur of the moment type of thing, I only booked the train the week before and my spanky new panniers arrived just in the nick of time the night before I left - haha, talk about living life on the edge. The pitch on night 2 is somewhere I've camped before - and it was dipped out of the wind and mostly hid from view (The Northumberland Coastal Path runs right past it). How's things with you? Are you still having treatment? X
@@donnavansenior it all worked out so well for you Donna!! Trains, bags and a working bike…woman will travel 🤩 I’m doing very well..I just got word this morning that I don’t need radiotherapy and I’m thrilled!! It turns out that I’d rather go back to work than be burnt 🤷♀️ I had my first camp in five months last Monday - feckin brilliant to be back out again!! I brought the camera too 🫢😂
@@MiriamKennedy Yey!!! That's great news Miriam, congratulations and well done and a big pat on the back for being able to move on and get back to work woohoo!! And double woohoo that you've been out with a tent and a camera. Feckin brilliant indeed 😁⛺ and I'm looking forward to seeing your video yey!!
Amazing, happy birthday - well done - im 61 and my hearing is not great, so i only understood part of what you talked about - thank you for the vid
Hi @MrTullyblue - my northern accent can sometimes be quite hard to understand, I wouldn't blame your hearing, plus with all the wind I'd give yourself a pat on the back for understanding anything I was saying haha. Thanks for watching and taking the time to pop a comment on, it's appreciated X
If you tap the top right hand side of the picture you will see a sign saying CC tap that and usually it gives you the Captions/Words , you can do this with your tv too if your friend/family shows you how to.
Super chuffed that "Cheers Pet" got you home that last day. Loved, loved, loved this one Little D! More adventures with (New) Bike required. X
'Cheers Pet' was better than my GPX Viewer - until she took me up the dual carriageway just past Woodhorn in rush hour - that's where I got the 4 mile hitch from a kindly school-bus driving soul who waited for me in the layby, concerned for my safety. I tried to get him to take me further than Belington but he was having none of it 😂😂😂 Defo more adventures with Bike Sharon, this was a great trip and I loved it X
Well done! Really enjoyed the video. You've gotta laugh out loud when it goes bit wrong, as something always does, it's the only way! I wonder if a better (gas?) stove would help?
Glad you enjoyed it Chari :) And yip - I'll always laugh in the face of adversity 😂😂 A gas stove would have been a much better option for cooking outside - and a windshield would have came in handy as well lol. I'd only expected to cook in the tent, so my simple meths burner set-up was all I'd packed. Lessons learnt though and I'll be packing lighter and be better prepared for the next one. TFW :)
This looks a reet decent adventure - gonna see if the missus will let me get away for a few days this summer to try this route. Thanks for taking the time to produce and share :)
It's a cracking good route Graham - and you can add extra bits in or take them out and tailor it to your own needs. The full route runs from Tynemouth to Edinburgh, but I just fancied seeing if I could manage Berwick to Forest Hall 🚵🏼😁 TFW :)
Just found your channel so happy birthday and brilliant vid. I'm 56 this year and might do something similar. You are inspiring.
Thank you Elisheva - and welcome aboard, I'm glad you've found my channel and I hope you get some ideas, or a little sprinkling of inspiration, to get out there and do something a bit special. Bikes are way easier than hiking lol - I've got a dodgy knee at the moment so can't hike very far with a heavy backpack on, so I sold one of my tents and bought a bike. I loved this trip and it felt amazing to cycle all the way home :)
Ah awesome video well done getting out and just doing it. It’s not easy sometimes especially with UK weather being temperamental! Great content thanks so much you do inspire!
If I'd been cycling in the other direction it would have been horrendous - as it was the winds were at my back most of the way, and the odd hailstorm or wet few hours didn't bother me too much lol. For me, the worst weather is strong winds. It's crippling. Great to be out with Bike for a few days though & I really enjoyed it. TFW and atb DVS :)
Hi Donna, you’ll have to let me know where them camping sites are has I haven’t done the route yet hoping too in a month or 2
Cheers Graham
Hi Graham :) Fingers crossed you get good weather for when you do the Coast and Castles.
And apologies, but I never give out my camping locations online Graham, sorry, unless it's a well know hill or whatever, I always keep my pitches quiet.
There's plenty of places to pitch a tent on this coastline, heading for the dunes is always good advice - which won't be hard as the main coastal roads all go pretty close to the beaches. I winged it on the first night due to the weather, and the 2nd night I knew about that cove from previous camps there. ATB for your trip :)
Happy birthday 🎉.I've often thought about getting the train up there and walking back.
Thanks Craig - and yeah, go for it! It's a lovely stretch of coastline and the coastal hiking route sticks quite coastal and doesn't head off across the A1 like the cycle route. Plenty of camping opportunities until you hit Newbiggin and Blyth lol.
@@donnavansenior yea that bottom end is not the best lol
@@craig3401 hahaha - I actually scouted out Cambois and Blyth for potential camping spots a few years ago.....and I sharp changed my mind 🙄😂
@@donnavansenior I think that was a wise choice lol
Happy Birthday Donna. What a cracking little bike trip there with some pretty rugged coastline on the way. You gave yourself a birthday to remember for years to come. Looking forward to seeing your next outing. ATVB from a very hot, sunny and bloody wet Malaysia where it' it's a bit too hot to go cycling during the day and by the time it's cooled down a bit, it's pissing down with very heavy rain so I have to keep my jaunts very local. Cheers
Hi Razif, great to hear from you. Even a hot and rainy Malaysia sounds better than a cold, wet and windy Northumberland - I was out last night and my tent froze 🥶
Loved my birthday cycle though and I will definitely be doing more multi-day trips in the future, when I have a few days off work. The coastline here is amazing, and the cycle paths are on the whole pretty well kept. Ciao for now :)
Hi Donna and greetings from Cullercoats.I enjoyed that.I must have done that route many times over the years heading north and up into Scotland.I’ve never been brave enough to wild camp,always sticking to campsites. I remember that bridge section over the stream but found it better to take the alternative route,it’s longer but quicker if that makes sense. I like your style and sense of humour.looking forward to the next one .👍Allan d.
Hi Allan and thanks for that nice comment. I'm not far from you - so greetings from Forest Hall 😁. This was the first time I'd seen a lot of this route, I'm usually driving and miss all the good parts, but it's a lovely stretch of coastline - did you cycle or hike it?
I'm an avid wild camper, so even though I'm careful and cautious, I'm obviously wiser and a tad braver than someone who's not used to it. For me, campsites are only something I would use if I really had to, or if I needed to use showers / laundry / electricity for charging etc.
Thanks for watching Allan, atb from DVS :)
Loved this Donna happy birthday 🎉🎉😊
Thanks Siimz - my DJI Osmo battery ran out just before hitting Killy Lake or there would have been some Forest Hall footage on. It felt great to get back home a day earlier than expected :)
@@donnavansenior well done it's a long ride that 👍
Nice! Well done
Thank you Jim 😁
Have a look at Susannah Thornton and Miriam Kennedy bike packing videos, loads of good advice, looking forward to more of your adventures 👍
Two of my favourite Brompton and outdoors UA-cam ladies :) I've been watching Miriam Kennedy for a few years now - she was the reason why I bought a drone, the places she gets to are amazing and so is the way she films and edits her video's - she watches my video's as well and always leaves a comment.
Susanna Thornton I've only just discovered in the last few months, so I've been watching a fair few of her video's as well recently - this is why I wanted pancakes on my birthday David.....because I kept seeing Susanna cooking herself pancakes every morning 😂😂 she's way better at cooking pancakes than me haha. Atb DVS :)
@@donnavansenior considering both have had cancer twice they are amazing as well as inspirational women, both Miriam and Susanna have new videos, Susannah dose a pancake with strawberries….yum……my pancakes are crap as well, and that’s doing them in the house, anyway, looking forward to seeing more bikepacking vids from you 👍
Well done mate.
Cheers Dave 😁
That was absolutely fantastic Donna !! Before lock down I trained and was going to do the coast and castles from tynemouth to Edinburgh but lockdown put a stop to that, then my cancer struck not long after it was all lifted, so it was a joy to watch you doing a section of it, I'll still do it one day, thanks for sharing your a true inspiration ❤❤😊
It's a great route Mick, sorry to hear you never got to do it, especially after training for it due to your cancer and the lockdowns, which are 2 things I bet you never saw coming, crikey. I'm sure you'll get it done though, and you're very knowledgeable about gear so you'd probably pack more wisely than I did 😂 I'm usually pretty good, but for a first multi-day trip on a bike I packed far too much food and water. Lessons learnt for next time. I'm looking at heading to Europe with Bike now, later in the year though. Thanks for the lovely comment Mick X
@donnavansenior bloody hell no stopping you now !! Next it'll be cycling the world !! 👍👍
You did great. I I am also starting off with Bikepacking & finding it a learning curve. My downfall is that I cycle past a nice looking pub & end up having lunch & having more pints than I planned. And then I only end up doing 10 miles rather than your 40 😂 Did you not fancy the Xenon tent? I bought mine for use with cycle camping. I never considered using a tarp to cover the bike either! cheers for a great video
I sold my Xenon tent a few years ago - I have a problem with tents haha, always buying and selling them, it's nice to chop and change and try new ones out. I saw a Xenon ul2+ for a great price a few nights ago and was nearly tempted, but then I remembered the large footprint it has, it's a really long tent therefore it limits pitching opportunities when you're on the road. Saying that mind, I recently bought a Big Agnes Blacktail Hotel 2 and that's probably a similar length 😂😂 but it has front and rear entrances, unlike the Xenon.
I'd be similar with the pub thing lol, but on this trip I was just head down and thinking about my next pitch. I know this coastline very well so I had rough ideas in my head of where I wanted to get to. TFW and enjoy your bikepacking, it's great fun and for me every outing is a learning curve at the mo :)
Respect. 🚴♂️🏕️
Thanks Frank 😁
Fancy this like, reckon I can get away with pretending I'm old and infirm at 42 lol?
Those LNER trains are a right struggle to get your bike on - I just played the demure female role and asked for help 😂😂 then at Berwick I did the same because the train nearly left with me still fighting to get the bike off haha. Great fun lol.
HaPpY Burfday Lass. 🥇
You’ll have passed through Amble ?
Yeah, passed through Amble around lunchtime last Wednesday - it was raining. Never expected to get home that same night X
@@donnavansenior
It was horrendous last Wednesday
Yer could have popped in for a cuppa ☕️
Sure I drove past you last week, you were pushing your bike up the bank out from Bedlington
Yip - that would have been me Bob, last Wednesday around 5pm ish. I didn't realise Bedlington was as hilly 😂😂
@@donnavansenior you should have got a Bedlington Terrier for company Donna. 😜
@@Anita-gp1gv lol - I'd need a bigger dog to pull me and Bike along 🤣
Hard as tribesmen feet 🐾 class
😂😂 I like that lol, cheers timbear :)
Canny crack you take care.
Cheers Kevin 😁
Your first ?
Multi day, yes. I've been out bikpacking a few times before, but only on overnighters.