Day 10 – 3rd October 2007

-

Today

Total

Mileage:

042

376

Beers:

000

026

Wine:

000

001

Whiskys:

000

012

Currys:

000

002

 

The Weather Turns?

A late start, maybe something to do with a late night and too many beers? Today's plan was straight forward, continue over the hill I bottled out on yesterday, past Knockhill circuit (as made famous in 'A racing car is born' and others) across the Forth bridge and into Edinburgh. Straight forward enough.

I also toyed with the idea of pushing onto Galashiels if time permitted. This would allow me to get into Carlisle earlier on Friday, so I could do some shopping. However in the end time didn't permit.

The 1st hour out of Dunning was really hard work. I ended up pushing and cycling the bike up the hill, which went on for ever (3 miles), but once I got to the top it was worth it. I always struggle for the 1st hour in the morning. Something to do with sore legs, and full Scottish breakfasts I think. But once I got to the top the scenery was brilliant. The road was flat for a while before a fast descent (20mph) down into the village. By now it was raining and I got very cold and so stopped at my earliest convenience for a coffee and a piece of cake (fat boy).

I have an uncanny knack of choosing good routes, because no sooner was I at the bottom of the hill I had to start climbing again. The A823 which I followed was a lovely and quiet road, but I figure it must be the highest in the kingdom of Fife. But anyway it made for a fast descent into Dunfermiline.

I thought I was going to struggle to find the Forth bridge, and the cycle path that crossed it, but all went very well. I had a couple of moments; the first was when the A823 became the A823(M), and the second was when I was on the A90 approacing the bridge with all motorway traffic behind me. Both sorted themselves out, and crossing the bridge was straight forward. The Route 1 cycle path re-appeared, and I followed it into Edinburgh and then out the other side.

This was complicated by the fact that I got me second puncture 5 miles from the city centre. I rolled over twigg and got it wedged in the front wheel. The thorns would only allow me to pull it in one direction, so I might have several punctures. I ended up cycling the bike for half a mile, pumping up the tyre and the cycling half a mile more which took some time....

When I finally 'twigged' that route 1 was no longer taking me to the city centre, I made a hasty retreat to the nearest biggest road and started searching for the city centre from there. In the end I am not sure where I am, but it could be near Holyrood Palce. I went past a big building in its own grounds.

I gave up on finding a hostel, and located a B+B on the 3rd attempt. It is a lovely place with internet access, so I am going to update my web pages, fix the puncture, and have an early night. Tommorow it is on to Hawick along the A7. (50 miles.)

I have decided that if I am going to have big breakfast in the morning, I probably don't need big meals at night.

P.S. It is p.... it down. I made the right descision not to push onto Galashiels.

P.P.S. My new TomTom Rider has arrived, Rosie will bring it to Carlisle on Friday night.

Speak to you tomorrow Phil

You can email me here. Send me your comments and tips.