Scarborough to Whitby (well, not quite, read on…)

By now we had been joined by Rob and had planned a ride along the coastal path to Whitby. The path is part of Sustrans Route 1, is called the Cinder Track and is an old railway line.

Rob, having cycled this track before, had said two things about it. One was that the first section, up until just short of Ravenscar, was a bit tedious, and two, that the whole track would be fabulous if it were better surfaced. Both these points proved prescient.

We duly set off and we duly cycled about 15 miles of pretty dull cycle track. The Cinder Track is aptly named as the surface is, well, cinder – very dusty on a dry day like this, but horribly claggy in the wet. It was a bit gravely and had a few small obstacles, like old sleepers, ruts and tree roots to negotiate. I wasn’t sure that it lived up to its billing as a family friendly track.

After about 15 miles, and just short of Ravenscar, my front wheel hit the edge of rut that was covered with overgrown grass and I was tipped sideways, landing heavily on my right knee on the dusty, dirty and, in this spot, particularly gravelly, surface. Warning: grisly pictures follow.

I looked at my knee. I wondered if the white stuff I could see under a big flap of skin was my kneecap. I shouted for Simon to help me. Simon is really good to have around in a crisis. It was obvious that the deep and very dirty wound on my knee needed professional attention, and also that it wasn’t a good idea to bend the knee. So Simon got me back on my bike with my right leg stuck out to the side and my left leg pedalling, and pushed me along the track until we saw civilisation.

We made our way to the Raven Hall Country Hotel where Simon took charge of securing bikes and ringing for help. Rob meanwhile, disappeared and then reappeared announcing “I’ve ordered tea and scones!”

The hotel manager brought out his first aid kit, so a temporary dressing was applied.

 

Long story short – Simon cycled back to the campsite for the car and took me to Scarborough A&E where they spent an age cleaning the dirt out of the wound. 

Five stitches, a few steri-strips and a very large bandage were required to hold the knee together. 

It’s better now, thank you.

Coastal miles – Sue: 16

Coastal miles – Si: 32