Crawling up the Cheviots.

There is nothing worse than trying to get to the top of Cheviots on a bike.    I left the Bay Horse Inn at a little after 08.30 and with the Inn nestling in a valley it was climbing from the word go.  Nice and easy does it on the legs and slowly but surely we climbed up.  The weather was set fair for the day. Light winds, sunny and clear.   I could now see the sheep that I could only hear before now.  Brought to mind the J.S. Bach "Sheep May Safely Graze".  They took no notice of me as I went by and for the first time in three days it was possible to enjoy the wildness and beauty of the scenery. 

The slog went on and I took a break short of 15 miles at the Last Cafe in England  which I found out later that is wasn't     Spoke to the owner who discussed conditions and I remarked how good it was to to see the sun, "Has is been raining?" she enquired.  I thought she was trying to be funny. Three days trussed up in the wet gear.  It was so good to be in just my shirt and leggings.  Talking of leggings, I caught sight of myself in a mirror the other day and I look nothing like a cyclist in his racing gear, just a poor version of Max Wall. I can dream. I do not think my body was built to be wrapped in lycra. After the short rest and an Earl Grey tea I pushed up the Cheviots to the top. It took a short while but it was worth getting to the top and the Scottish border at Carter Bar.  All calm with visibility at over 30 miles.    I was welcomed to Scotland by my own personal piper.    I struck a deal with him that if he played The Black Bear I would buy a copy of his cd.   Before long a coach full of Japanese Tourists arrived on tge scene and it was pandemonium as they struggled to get a picture in front of the Scottish sign.   My friendly piper informed me that this was the best conditions he had witnessed at the border this year. How lucky was that and after the last three days my luck was in.  I took a few pics. 

The next bit of luck to make my day was that the ride down of nearly ten miles to Jedburgh was downhill all the way.       This sort of luck does not last.  Just as I was to descend it was apparent that I had a slow puncture, my third of the trip.  After a pump up I started on my way.  I hoped to get to Jedburgh without a problem however it did need more air before I arrived.   I had planned the previous night to stop for the day at Jedburgh to give my legs a chance to recover a little.  At lunch they felt good and so I pushed on but not before stopping to repair the puncture on the back wheel. I had run out of spare tubes so I would to get the puncture repair kit out.  Whilst I was at it I decided to repair two tubes so I had another spare on board. Cycling to France last year I did not have one puncture in the thirteen days. 

After a successful repair I pushed further up the A68 towards the capital Edinburgh. Through St. Boswells. After speaking with John A who confirmed three hotels at Lauder I decided to call it a day there after 53 miles. Not a record day but do not forget the Cheviots!  My legs were good and I wanted to keep them that way.  I arrived at the Hotel Lauderdale at just after 16.00   I took a stroll around the town before going to my room for a rest before dinner.     Dinner was Sea Bass and very good it was too.  Got back to my room in time for a FaceTime with my brother Michael in Canada.  Good to chat and report on progress.    It had a been the best conditions of the trip so far.  The legs had improved and I was well set for lunch in Edinburgh on Saturday, now less than 30 miles away and I was still over a day ahead of my original schedule. 

The view from the Scottish Border.