Ken and Kathleen Cycling Diary

Thursday 25th June 2026 5.08 miles. Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps, semi-recumbent tandem. A much cooler day today, with sea fret rolling in from the Sea and the Humber Estuary, so, really at more typical English summer temperature, ie about 20c. "Freezing" according to Kathleen. We cycle to The Spotted Duck Tea Rooms, within Westfield Country park, on the edge of the hamlet of Fitling Wednesday 24th June 2026 5.09+6.15 =11.24 11.24 miles.  Two vintage 1947 Pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps, sejm-recumbant tandem. It is hot, 27c. Kenby Farm - Roos - Burton Pidsea - Kenby Farm. Tuesday 23rd June 2026 5.97 miles. Two vintage 1947 Pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps, sejm-recumbant tandem. It is hot, 27c. Exploring the immediate area around Kenby Farm CL. The road outside the site is actually part of a cycling bye-way circular route, but, on checking, it is 50+ miles, a little beyond our capabilities.

  Sunday 14th June 2026 12.12 miles. Boldon Colliery - Nissan - Amazon Follingsby - Jarrow - Boldon Colliery. Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps Semi-recumbent tandem. Dull, with heavy cloud, windy, not a good day, for mid June. Rounded off with a "picnic" in West Park, Jarrow. Not the best experience, park is neglected, and, infested with dogs running loose off the lead.

  Wednesday, 10th June 2026 10.94 miles. Boldon Colliery - Whitburn - Boldon Colliery.  Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps Semi-recumbent Tandem. For June, rather chilly, some some sunshine, but, also, a shower. Not even the pleasure of a coffee at Whitburn, cafe has closed and is being refurbished, before being re-openned by new owners.

  Sunday, 24th May 2026 9.91 Miles. Boldon Colliery - Jarrow - Follingsby Amazon - West Pastures - Boldon Colliery. Two vintage 1947 Pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps, semi-recumbent tandem. Beautiful day, sunny, 23c. Thursday, 28th May 2026 20.08 Miles. Boldon Colliery - Jarrow - Pedestrian Tunnel - Howden - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Colliery.  Two vintage 1947 Pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps, semi-recumbent tandem. Beautiful day, sunny, 19c. A route we have not done for a long time, and, never on the Hase Pino. An unfortunate falling off at Bill Quay, but, no harm done, except to our dignity.  

  Monday, 18th May 2026 19.78 Miles. Boldon Colliery - Whitburn - South Shields - Jarrow - Boldon Colliery . Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding a Hase Pino Steps, semi-recumbenet tandem. Mild day, sunny with cloud. A stop for coffee and bacon sandwich, at Minchella's Little Haven Cafe.  Friday, 22nd May 2026 6.5 miles. West Pasture. Two vintage 1947 Pensioners riding a Hase Pino Steps, semi-recumbent tandem. Totally disorganised, no video, no Garmin. I suppose that means, not on Strava, so, it didn't happen!

Monday 4th May 2026 10.94 Miles. Boldon - Nissan - Follingsby - Jarrow.  Calm, mild and dry, but, lots of puddles from yesterday's rain. One vintage 1947 pensioner, riding Specialised Vado 4SL e-bike. Friday 8th May 2026 16.03 miles. Boldon - Jarrow - Wardley - Washington Village - Nissan - Boldon. Two vintage 1947 Pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps, semi-recumbent tandem. A route we have not done on the Pino, for a long time. Mainly because there are two "access issues" one on Spout Lane, the other on the link between Horsley Road and Walton Road, both Washington. The "A-frame" style cycle access is far too narrow, and, we cannot get our Hase Pino through it, even a "normal" pedal cycle is a struggle. Fortunately, to there were helpful men around to give assistance, lifting the Pino over the obstruction. Coffee and cake at Washington Village cafe on the green, where we were joined by a group of 15-20 cyclists (all men of retirement age).      

Thursday, 30th April 2026  2.4 miles. Boldon Colliery. Our first outing of 2026 on the Hase Pino Steps. A very short ride, mainly to satisfy Kathleen that desfpitethe slow progress of her Alzheimer's, she can still ride as stoker on the Pino. In that respect, a success, she managed superbly, and, thoroughly enjoyed it. Unfortunately the cycle track on our regular route is closed because of road works. True to form, local council has made no provision for an alternative route. Friday, 1st May 2026 6.48 miles. Boldon Colliery - Nissan - West Pasture . Only one vintage 1947 pensioner, early morning ride. Sunny and calm, but a cool 8c. So long since I used my camera, I got the video upside down!, hopefully, I can flip it over in Youtube. 9.91 miles. Boldon Colliery - Dipe Lane - Downhill Lane - Nissan - West Pasture. Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps Semi-recumbent tandem. Beautiful sunny day, 20c.

  Wednesday, 24th September 2025 10.87 Miles. Boldon Colliery - Jarrow - Follingsby - Nissan - Boldon Colliery. Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps Semi-recumbent tandem. Bright sunny September day, 15c, with just a slight breeze. We are so engrossed in zooming along, we pass Kathleen's brother Phil in Video 5, about 1 minute in, without recognising him oops!

Sunday, 14th September 2025 10.85 Miles. Boldon - Nissan Washington - Follingsby Amazon - Jarrow - Boldon.    Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding a Hase Pino Steps semi-recumbent tandem. Pleasant September autumn morning, bright and calm, but a bit cool at 14c, what wind there is, from South, but, surprisingly cool.

Sunday 7th September 2025. 10.87 miles. Boldon Colliery - Nissan - Follingsby (Amazon) - Jarrow - Boldon Colliery.     Two vintage 1947 Pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps Semi-recumbent tandem. Dull but mild (17c), brisk wind from the South, and, just enough drops of rain to cause concern, but, it came to nothing. Monday 8th September 2025. 18.84 miles. Boldon - Whitburn - South Shields - Jarrow - Boldon. Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps Semi-recumbent tandem. Sunny autumn day, warm 17c, but, with a cloud burst just before South Shields Ferry Landing. Fortunately, overhanging trees provided some shelter. Not without its drama, another "off", I think we need to negotiate some of these pinch points on foot from now on! 😊

  Monday 1st September 2025 6.60 miles. Boldon - West Meadows - Nissan. Sunny, and 19c, but very windy, 29mph from the South. Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps Semi-recumbant tandem. No video, SD card malfunction. Thursday, 4th September 2025 13.48 miles . Boldon - Whitburn - Marsden - Boldon. Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding  Hase Pino Steps Semi-recumbant tandem. Mild 19c, but, always the threat of rain, which became actual rain when we were almost home. Coffee and Cake stop, at Whitburn Cafe. This is not a route we have done before, on the tandem, and, we managed to have our first "off", at the point where we turned off coast road, to head inland, a combination of a very tight left turn, and a hill, too much for my tandem skills. No injuries, just our dignity damaged 😂

Monday, 25th August 2025 18.03 miles.  Boldon - Sunderland - Seaburn - Whitburn - Boldon. Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps semi-recumbent tandem. Warm and sunny day. Route disrupted because the cycle route along the River Wear is still partly closed, due to the building of the Keel Bridge, I think that is two years now it has been closed, to build a FOOT bridge! At least we got to sample the very good cycle lane in Dame Dorothy Avenue and along the coast at Seaburn, very nice! Video incomplete, because I forgot to press "record"!  Note, map does not quite match distance, for some reason, Garmin will not download activity, but, it shows as 18.03 miles. Wednesday, 27th August 2025 12.37 miles. Boldon - Washington - Jarrow - Boldon.  Sunny and warm 20c. The last day like this, for a while, according to the weather forecast, Remenants of Hurricane Erin coming across the Atlantic, to give us some rain. Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps Semi...

  Wednesday, 20th August 2025 10.46 miles. Boldon - Tyne Dock. Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps Semi-recumbent Tandem. Overcast, and chilly 15c. Ni video, forgot camera.

  Monday, 11th August 2025 16 miles. The Garmin only shows 13.43 miles, that is because I forgot to switch it on initially! But, the Steps Controller shows 16 miles. Cycling along the Marriott Way cycle route. Beginning at Cawston, riding toward Norwich, we go as far as Themelthorpe, and return.  We are staying at a CAMC CL, The Siding, there's is access to Marriot Way, but, it is via steps, too difficult for us to manoeuvre the tandem down them. So, we ride into Cawston, and along to Chapel Lane, to join the route at a level, if somewhat narrow access point. Two vintage 1947 Pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps, semi-recumbent tandem. Beautiful sunny day, if, perhaps a little hot, at 25c. Wednesday, 13th August 2025 11.68 miles. Cawston - Aylsham (via Marriotts Way) and return. Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps semi-recumbent tandem. Very hot, 30c. Cool drinks in The Black Boys pub in Aylesham, and a picnic sandwich lunch near Marriotts way. F...

  Wednesday, 6th August 2025 8.49 miles. Boldon Colliery - Dipe Lane - Downhill Lane.  Two vintage 1947 Pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps, Semi-recumbent tandem. Sunny and mild 19c, but, still very windy. 

  Tuesday, 29th July 2025 19.88 miles. Boldon Colliery - Whitburn - South Shields Coast.  Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding case Pino Steps Semi Recumbent Tandem. OBEST Mini Action Camera. Pleasant July day, blue sky, 20c, not too windy. Coffee and Sausage sandwich stop at Little Haven.

Monday 21st July 2025 3.68 miles. Boldon Colliery . Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps Semi-recumbent tandem. First attempt at using OBEST Mini Action Camera. An evening outing, to water my brother's garden. A pleasant evening 19c, calm and bright. Tuesday 22nd July 2025 6.76 miles. Boldon - Nissan - West Meadows . Only one vintage 1947 pensioner, riding Specialised Vado 4 e-bike. AKASO EK7000 Camera. Beautiful July morning, 17c, sunny, calm. Saturday 26th July 2025 14.07 miles . Boldon. - Nissan - Washington Village.    Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps Semi-recumbent tandem. Using OBEST Mini Action Camera. A cloudy day, 20c, brisk wind from the West. Drizzly rain by the time we reached our planned coffee and cake stop, so, no stopping. The bright spot was that most of the points at which we had to cross roads, the traffic was in our favour. Not our most pleasant outing, getting rained on is not part of the plan.

  Sunday, 13th July 2025 10.73 miles. Boldon - Jarrow - Follingsby - Nissan. Two vintage 1947 Pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps Semi-recumbent tandem. Cloudy with a little sun, but, a bit clammy at 18c. Still have not figured out where I can attached forward facing camera, so, we only have the view from the rear. Wednesday, 16th July 2025 10.27 miles. The Boldons and West Meadows.  Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding Hase Pino Steps Semi-recumbent Tandem. Warm 20c, with sun and cloud, but, a stiff breeze from the North.    Still have not figured out where I can attached forward facing camera, so, we only have the view from the rear. Thursday, 17th July 2025 2.91 miles. Boldon - Fellgate - Boldon. Two vintage 1947 pensioners,    riding Hase Pino Steps Semi-recumbent Tandem. Warm 22c, with sun and cloud, but, a stiff breeze from the South East. A small ride, to hand deliver a 50th Wedding Anniversary card, and, to visit a friend, who is a bit "down", surel...

Sunday, 6th July 2025 7.10 miles. Boldon - West Meadows - Nissan. No video, because I have not got camera mounts on the tandem yet.   Mild and still morning 16c, but, cloudy. Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding our new to us Hase Pino Steps, semi-recumbent tandem. All very good fun on our first home area outing. Gave a laugh. to a couple of passers-by. Tuesday, 8th July 2025 15.49 Miles. Boldon - Jarrow - Washington Village - Boldon.   No video, because I have not got camera mounts on the tandem yet.   Mild and calm morning 18c, and sunny. Two vintage 1947 pensioners, riding Hase Pino semi-recumbent tandem. Coffee stop at Washington Village. A couple of problematic barriers with tandem, one of which was impossible, and, alternative route very overgrown and neglected. We will have to find a better alternative route, Thursday, 10th July 2025 11.29 miles. Boldon - Whitburn - Boldon.     No video, because I have not got camera mounts on the tandem yet. ...

  Wednesday, 2nd July 2025 9.50 miles. Gargrave - Airton - Gargrave. No video, because we are riding the demo Hase Pino Steps semi-recumbent tandem from JD Tandems, Gargrave.  Two vintage 1947 pensioners. The route is suggested to us, by Jamie, of JD Tandems. It is, perhaps, a bit more challenging than we would have chosen for ourselves. Very undulating, and, generally uphill on the way there. Coffee and cake is consumed at our destination ( Airton Town End Farm Shop ). The return journey is much easier, still undulating, but, generally downhill, and, we are becoming a bit more practiced and relaxed at riding the Hase Pino.  Kathleen is won over, so, we will be purchasing one! (subject only to it fitting into the garage of our motorhome, which we subsequently confirm, it does.)