Today’s miles 45; running total 592
A momentous day when we can report that at 10.15am Tommy was the first of our party to cycle across the border from England to Scotland and thus completing the 558 mile ride from Land’s End to the Scottish Border – pretty impressive for an 11 year old!
The day started at Carlisle with still the threat of the rain we had yesterday which fortuitously did not materialise. Leaving our overnight stop at the University Halls of Residence we cycled past Carlisle Castle.
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| A castle to keep the Scots out of |
England
It was a short 11 mile ride to the border when the usual photos were taken:
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| Welcome to Scotland with Gretna's 'First and Last House' opposite: anybody want to get married? |
I am pleased to report that both Freddo and Curly Wurly got in on the act too.
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| All we need now is to catch a haggis and we will have a threesome of mascots |
The cycle from Gretna was, on paper, an easy day but despite the sun coming out we had a strong headwind for the whole day that sapped everybody’s energy. Tommy said this was his most exhausting day in the saddle and was completely ‘dead beat’ at the end of the day.
The day ended at the village of Auldgirth, 11 miles north of Dumfries meaning we have shortened out arduous day over the Southern Uplands tomorrow. A welcome pint in the Auldgirth Inn.
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| A welcome pint at the end of an exhausting day |
The two other chaps in the picture are also cycling LEJOG: indeed we met others at the border too. It looks like most cyclists we now pass seem to be doing LEJOG or JOGLE.
Well done Tommy, oh and the rest of you.
ReplyDeleteBig barrier broke now your in your final country, all down hill now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good luck catching Haggis, i would save your energy for the cycling.
Thanks for sparing us the details of the support drivers rear that is definetly details we don't need to know.
Well done for reaching the Scottish Border. You should be proud of your achievment. Trust it is not too wet. All we hear is that it is rain, rain, rain in Scotland. The weather here in Surrey is good, warm and sunny. Glad to hear the bums are holding up. Does Jim need a sat nav?
ReplyDeleteHi Chris and Mick!
ReplyDeleteWe do not want to hear about sunny weather in surrey after today's deluge to get to Arran!
Spirits remain high despite the weather and we have another long day tomorrow.
BTW, I think there are two people here who might need Sat Nav!
Tommy says that if one more person tells him 'its downhill all the way!', I'll get throttled!
Haggis spotted on the Arran Hills today but with the one short leg and two long legs (for running uphill); they are a problem to catch!