I've calmed down about it now (clearly) but that was just one of a few things about that B&B that didn't really put them in the top 5 of the B&B's we've stayed in so far (work it out....)
Anyway. two days worth of cycling in one blog. Ready?
We started in Eccelston (from Parr Hall Farm, which WAS a very nice B&B) and before we'd gone a hundred yards I noticed something moving in the road, like a leaf - except it wasn't. It was a very small fledgeling, which couldn't fly, but was very much in danger of getting run over. The next car went right over the top of it and bowled it along the road for a few yards. I stopped and managed to catch it and put it back below a hedge where a very agitated blue tit was shouting her head off. So I save lives as well as cycle the whole country.... (next stop; the UN!)
John meanwhile hadn't heard me shout and was off up the road with usual morning enthusiasm. Actually not too difficult to catch him up because he was heading for the nearest cycle shop to buy replacement glasses (again). The replacements (for the ones he lost) bought in Hereford have broken, so we needed another new pair, and a new (very orange) jacket too. So I couldn't let him buy something and I didn't, could I?....
And we needed the jacket too because we were heading into a cold north-westerly wind, all the way up the A6 through Preston, Garstang and Lancaster. The sky was threatening for most of the day.....
(this is Lancaster where we also had a Cycle-shop stop to buy a new bottle cage for John. No purchases were made by Mr Mathews - honest).
...but rain held off, other than a few spots On the way up to Kendal there were two people by the side of the road waving like lunatics. Graham Stafford (ex of Eccleshall) and Marianne had come up to meet us from Morecombe (where they now live) having just finished 'cleaning the beach' (as you do).
It's about 5 miles long, and about 11% at it's steepest, and luckily we climbed it in the dry. I was going to put in a picture of the 'summit' but there was NOTHING there! Nothing to show were at the summit and just a view of an empty moor and the M6 in the distance.
John was glad when it finished.. (so was I!).
However that was when the rain hit us (and I didn't take a picture of that!): 15 miles in a very steady downpour, and it wasn't all down hill into Penrith either. And then we had the bikes to clean before we could go and get anything to eat. So having no internet was a blessing in disguise - I could hit the sack without having the write this! Long Day.
This morning should have started better than it did, with the sun shining and a decent (but SO slow!)breakfast. However, a puncture
before you start isn't good.
But the day was sunny, the riding easy(ish) and the route simple: follow the A6 to Carlisle and then follow the A7 all the way to Galashiels! Easy.There were some fantastic views in the sunshine, from BIG rivers
here's the Esk...
to little streams (plus a sheep and her lamb)
and big scenery.
and crossing the border into Scotland along the way - Over halfway!
We arrived in Galashiels, somewhat weary from the last long climb of the day out of Hawick - not too steep; just r e a l l y l o n g.
B&B at the Craigielea, pub dinner at the Salmon Inn, blog, bed..... that was the plan, which worked well up to the last two. The pictures took ages to download from my phone and then ages to upload to the blog site and then, because I was tired, I managed to delete the entire entry in trying to delete a picture. Stupid boy..
So here I am, just finishing re-typing this, at 7am. The BIG bonus is that it has been a lovely morning outside since 6 - lets hope it lasts, although the forecast suggests rain and wind.
Here's the route for today.
A7 to Edinburgh and through the city centre, across the Forth Road Bridge (they wouldn't let us use the rail one...), then Dunfermline, Alloa and then ending up at Dunblane.
Time for breakfast.....
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