After leaving Lanchester and getting some directions from the locals we got back on track, headed for Stanley. Sadly, a few steep hills stood in the way, luckily compared with the Lakes and the Pennines they were nothing and we reached the town fairly easily. According to the Uncle Chris's map, we could rejoin the C2C route that we had somehow lost back in Wolsingham by reaching a disused railway. Eventually we found it, and we were soon out of Stanley, which I will admit seemed to me like a horrible town.

The disused railway was one of the nicest sections of the ride. Me, Arthur, Nick and Josh just got behind each other and rode as fast as we could down the flat, straight track. Uninterrupted and about 9 miles long this took us to the outskirts of Sunderland probably one of the quickest sections of the ride, somehow it felt so easy to ride along, it was great

From here, we crossed through a park until we met the River Wear. The ride generally followed the river all the way to the coast - about 9 miles. Despite riding in the city centre, it was relatively easy to follow the signs and we seemed to be riding faster and faster as we made it closer and closer to the finish. I remember coming out onto the docks. Me, Nick, Arthur and Josh just sped up and were sprinting through the place, I didn't feel tired, the end was less than a mile away. I was going so fast, ripping through the bends, pedalling hard down the dockside. It felt like all of the energy I had spent in the last two days had come back to me and it was all coming out again in this short section. It was so exciting. I was nearly done! There was the Lighthouse! There was the C2C statue! I had done it! I got off my bike and hugged Mum and Dad and Sophie. And Nicks girlfriend Georgia had made it there, it was brilliant.

And then Uncle Chris and Auntie Jack arrived. There was so much excitement. It was over. All the training, all the hard work, all of the sandwiches! Done.

I remember taking my coat off. I was hit by such a horrible smell, I had been sweating so badly, I reeked. Oh well, it didn't matter, it was finished.

We all posed for a picture at the end of the ride and me, Arthur and Josh stripped off and went for a dip in the sea. It felt so nice on our tired muscles. It was freezing but I loved it. I could relax. I got back on the bike and rode barefoot to the campervan, parked further down the seafront.

Mum handed out everyone a present, we had seen a flask in the lifeboat shop that happened to say coast to coast on it. I thanked everyone. Nick had to leave to get back to Leicester so I thanked him and Georgia and they headed home. We packed the campervan up and Uncle Chris packed his car up, they had parked it there when we arrived in Ravenglass. Auntie Jack, Uncle Chris and Arthur headed back to the Lake District they were going to sleep in their caravan.

However, me, Josh, Sophie, Dad and Mum really couldn't be bothered to go all that way. We headed for the Premier Inn. We were completely knackered. Me and Josh shared a room and the others had theirs. We got a shower and went out for dinner. I was starving, the mixed grill seemed to fix that for me though. We headed back to the rooms, watched television and just made the most of the clean, comfy room that was an upgrade from the campervan and the smelly hostel room.

Possibly the best nights sleep that I've ever had.

I had done it.