Dumfries
Written by Steve
After the previous day of exertion, topped off by an excellent meal in the Travellers Rest, it was great to wake up in the tranquil setting of Glenridding.
With the adrenaline of conquering the Kirkstone Pass, and the remnants of numerous pints of ale still in our veins, we devoured our breakfasts, keen to see what a new day's riding had in store for us.
The ride out of the B&B took in the stunning scenery surrounding Ullswater.
A quick stop at Penrith was required to stock up on pies (all good tours cross at Grahams pie shop/delicatessen in Penrith!) and inner tubes before we settled in for the long ride to the Scottish borders.
The long ride turned into a mammoth ride due to a constant headwind that drove our average speed on the flat to below 12mph.
After stopping in Carlisle to lighten our bags of the pies, we continued on to Gretna, despite the wind's best efforts to stop us.
Finally at 2.30pm, we crossed the border to find the 'Welcome to Scotland' sign vandalised and receive the ride's first abuse from a passing motorist. Welcome indeed.
We finally arrived at our B&B in Dumfries at 5.00pm. The usual routine of settling in followed, and once completed, the hunt was on to find a place to eat. On the landlady's advice, we went to what she described as an "ultra-modern pub, right up our street", which turned out to be just a normal pub, serving the trip's worst plate of pasta. And then the rain came.
Still learning to take the lows with the highs...
Resorted to the Eurovision Song Contest to lighten our moods.
Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.
GlenriddingHollybush
Statistics
- Miles today:
71 - Average cycling speed:
12.3mph - Total miles: 574
