31st July Rain again and into Scotland

Last night as I was in my tent, tawny owls and oyster catchers were calling and they soon lulled me to sleep. After the long day yesterday I did not get up until 8am.

Tony who had shown me to my pitch last night was almost packed. He is travelling around and gigging with his guitar and is making his way down to Barcelona. His bike with guitar on the back is even heavier than mine. We swap notes about our routes and I wish him safe travels. He does 50-60 miles a day and that is good when you see his bike in the picture. What a life style.

Harry is also on the move. He is travelling by motorbike and came up from Peterborough yesterday. He laughs at how long it has taken Tony and myself. He was off to see Hadrians wall. The last time I saw it, in the rain, a Roman centurion came marching along. Amazing what you see at times.

I leisurely pack away and lay things out to dry they are still soaked from the previous day. Danny who owns the place comes over and I pay for the night. He has been developing the site and bunkhouse over the last 6 years. He is very much in to conservation of birds, butterflies and insects. It’s a real balancing act for him as one visitors want a neat and tidy site, whereas the wildlife needs the uncut pastures. There is a stream that runs at the back that he is now developing. I walk over with my early morning cuppa to see a dipper fly past. I love watching dippers with their dinnersuit white bibs and fat little bodies. Didn’t get to see him dive and swim today.

I’m just finishing breakfast when it starts to rain again. I quickly pack my tent away and I’m ready to go by 9.30.

A leisurely cycle back the way I came last night. At least this time it’s mainly downhill. I stop in Alston for sandwiches and lunch. Just in case. I also needed spare batteries for my head torch. Then it’s on to Brampton.

The ride in the rain is still beauty. Some of the cloud formations are stunning. Clouds very low hiding the hill tops. I don’t feel in a rush today and I manage all the climbs including some at 12 or 13%. Sometimes the climbs over the last couple of days have been 3 or 4 miles. I just find my rhythm and sit and spin. If it gets really tough I count pedal strokes to 10 and repeat and pick short term targets. The amount of false summits is frustrating but I’m getting used to that and just keep spinning.

As I arrive in Brampton I see Ste and James. They are cycling coast to coast but credit card touring. Their kit is minimal and so light weight. James from Liverpool has given up his job and is just riding his bike. He had no idea what day it is, fantastic! My calls to Jayne in the morning always have a what day is it in them. They warn me of a storm coming in. I check on the internet and where I’m heading has thunder and lightning predicted for 5 and all day tomorrow. I decide tomorrow is going to be a rest day. I also need to get a wriggle on to beat the storms by 5. I just have time to take a picture of the Shoulder of Mutton pub and post it on my cycle club page. That is the pub we stop at on a Tuesday night.

The terrain is a lot flatter and the wind has changed direction and is slightly helping and I make good time around Carlisle and I soon find my self a Gretna Green. No one asks me to be a witness for them. I am just taking a photo when four more cyclists turn up. A road sign opposite says Lands End 478 miles. It’s taken me almost 900!

Natalie, Jess, Julie, Trevor stop to take their photos and take one of me at the sign. They are riding LEJOG but a more direct route. Julie works for Peak tours and this is the fourth time for LEJOG since May and she has another one next week. Serious mileage and they are soon heading off and on their way to Moffatt.

I pedal on to Annan where I previously stopped on my LEJOG 2 years ago. It was wet then as well for the following day. I’ve decided tomorrow is a rest day and ring Jayne ( I know it’s cheating Shon!) to see if she can find me a B and B so I can make it to Dumfries before the storm. She comes up trumps and I have a room for the night. 200m before the B and B it starts to rain. Perfect timing. Genevieve has a place indoors for the night and she will get more TLC tomorrow.

I wash my kit in the sink and can’t quite believe the colour the water goes. Not one you’d find on a Dulux colour chart. I’m looking forward to a night in a proper bed again ( Double cheating today Shon). I go and find some tea but feel absolutely shattered. I think my body knows I’ve stopped for a while. I’m looking ditto getting out to the Islands again soon and I’ve worked out I have 530 miles to go. ( the sign at Gretna had JOG at 360). Let’s hope the weather clears up soon as I’m either soaked or cooked on this trip.