I would normally have a day off between rides but since yesterday’s climbing didn’t seem to have caused undue knee trauma, I decided a nice flat route along the coast again wouldn’t hurt. However, I found myself in the wrong lane in the town centre – what used to be a nice simple roundabout was replaced by a confounding traffic system, some time in the ’90s – so I pedalled off in the direction of the Headland, instead.
The Headland itself is very nice, with a pleasing view across the bay to Seaton Carew, Hartlepool’s nuclear power station and industrial Teesside. But it’s a very urban route to get there. I didn’t stay there long. I rode back to the town centre, where I took the appropriate road for Seaton Carew.
I had a brief excursion along a road leading to North Gare Sands and what looked like a little chemical works – a company called Frutarom that (I’ve just discovered) makes artificial flavourings and scents. I turned back to join the main coast road and got as far as Seal Sands road, where I turned right toward Wolviston, then after a mile of that, turned back for base. I stopped at Seal Sands to enjoy the view for a minute or two and actually saw a seal surface for a few moments. Then back into the town. I took a different route from Seaton this time, and went to have a look at my old school, then Hartlepool Grammar School for Boys, now Hartlepool 6th Form College.
Years ago I could have pedalled in and had a look round; now there’s a huge gate with an imposing arch stretched over it reminiscent of the entrance to Auschwitz, though thankfully as you can see it bears a message considerably less sinister than Arbeit Macht Frei.
As I took the pic I realised that I first entered those grounds fifty years ago this summer.
https://www.strava.com/activities/5189264869
24.01 miles, 358 this month which is comfortably over target. 1378 done this year.