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It’s a breezy day lads

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Breakfast was a buffet which meant unlimited haggis for me, and very good it was too. Andrew arrived half an hour before the rest of us trenchermen but due to his slow eating disorder was still the last to leave. Left the grand but fading hotel at 9:30, out the door, turn left and straight onto 1.4 miles of rough, hilly gravel track through the woods. We weren’t expecting that!! The next 5 miles weren’t much better thanks to a 17mph headwind. But handily we then turned north east and had the wind, as Andrew says, ‘up our a**es all the way’ to Lockerbie. None of the expected showers either. The border countryside around Dumfries is lovely and we had all the help we needed to appreciate it. Unfortunately for Andrew, some of that help came from a wasp that encouragingly flew into his shirt and made its way er…South…where it then stung him. Some minutes later Pete, at the back as usual, came round a corner to find Andrew with his hands down his shorts fiddling! Being a gentleman, Pete turn...
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Beautiful Borders and bonus beef

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Late breakfast served by the nice squiffy barman from the night before. Think he’d started early as he got tea and coffee mixed up on the order. Andrew aka Ernie, for anyone who had read about last summers trip, likes to carry a pint or two of milk strapped to his bag. There being no convenient shop on our route he decided to steal the jug of milk intended for breakfast cereal and fill his bottle. I’m not sure that’s how a milk round is supposed to work? Departed around 10am. Quite a hilly day today to Hawick. We left Galloway and entered The Borders. The scenery was grand; big rolling hills, woodland and valleys, rivers, pretty good roads and some nice climbs and descents. Lunch was at a cafe in Langholm. At least that’s what Steve and Andrew called it. Pete did have a scone, Merv ruminated breakfast again. Then we were immediately into 1200 feet of climbing over the next 4 miles followed by what Steve described as an 11 out of 10 descent into  Newcastleton. One of those long, not...
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The Journey begins

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​Even though this is day 5 of our holiday, it’s day 1 of the actual Kirkpatrick Trail. We’ll be following it for 4 days. So that means 4 days of not being able to whine at our route planners about unnecessary extra hills. This is now the fault of the bods at Cycling UK or Sustrans or whoever put this route on the map. Mindful of a rather nasty weather front heading in from the west, we had an early and massive breakfast and set out just after 8:30. Don’t laugh - that’s early for retired people! Wind behind was a real bonus and we covered the first 34 miles before the rain at a good pace. Remember Gerald? Andrews mate from breakfast the other day? Well we passed him and his roadside mowing machine at Luce Bay. We shouted hello and he replied with something we didn’t understand (or ‘dinna ken’ as I think they say hereabouts).  Stopped for a photo at Wigtown to send to Phil who should have been with us. Next time Phil. Light rain into Newton Stewart. Andrew and Pete hit Aldi, Steve we...
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History, culture and wind.

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​Andrew got down to breakfast before the others and, in true Andrew style, immediately starts a conversation with the only other person in the room. The rest arrive and are immersed in the sort of conversation Clarkson has with Gerald. We couldn’t understand a single word the chap was saying. Andrew later explained that 4 summers working in a Scottish bar had taught him the language.  Leisurely departure as we only had to cover 31 miles to Stranraer. Having craved an easy day on Lejog but not planned one, this was a welcome strategy. We arrived in Stranraer after fighting 16mph headwinds for four hours, including a very pleasant coffee stop in New Luce. Bit of rain but acceptable (tomorrow will be different but not in a good way). Merv, Andrew and Pete explored the castle while Steve explored the town. Think the castle was probably the more interesting option. Snacked on deep fried haggis on the way back too. History and culture all in one afternoon! It’s just like the Grand Tour e...
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Dumfries and Galloway

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​Best breakfast so far in our bnb in Annan. While eating it, our host mentioned that Andrew who had booked separately to the rest had been charged £110 by the reputable booking site as their algorithm had worked out he had booked the last room. The rest had paid just £55 each. Andrew was happy to pay, and the rest were quite amazed that they had such a good deal for what was a very nice place.  Route today was through Dumfries, castle Douglas, Kirkudbright, Gatehouse of Fleet and on to Newton Stewart, mainly into the wind. Lovely countryside, a few hills and off and on showers. Steve was mortified that his companions stopped off at Castle Douglas Aldi to grab lunch so he wandered off into town to find nice pies and cakes. Andrew and Pete are fans of the quick triangle sandwich so they left him to it. Merv is like a lion; eats well but infrequently, so he didn’t eat and didn’t care! We all met up the other side of town and continued on our way. Garmin said 9 climbs for today. We cou...
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WTF???

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​7am Pete awoke refreshed and raring to go at 6:30am. What else do you do with a nice cup of tea but check your email and social media? First thing he sees is that his booking for Friday at the Cally Palace hotel has been cancelled due to an invalid credit card. This is of course utter nonsense as he’s booked all this through a reputable online booking app and his card is fine. Calls the hotel to be told they did have a cancellation but no explanation as to why. They will look into it and call him back.  Stress levels right now are quite high! Does he share the pain with the others over breakfast, or does he keep quiet…? 9:45 am Splendid breakfast including fine black pudding. The three set off a bit lazily for a relatively short 65 miler. Today’s route followed a sizeable section of the Lejog route last year, through some of Englands loveliest, and mostly ignored, scenery between the north Pennines and the Lake District.  Andrew’s train made it to Carlisle before the trio, wh...
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Day 1, mercifully uneventful

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​8:30am outside Merv’s house, the advance party of three met for the photo shoot and press conference. Something more important must have been going on for the paparazzi so the boys took a selfie and set off. Today, on a spreadsheet at least, is the hardest day of the tour. About 80 miles and 4800 odd feet of climbing. Route to Ripon, Masham, Leyburn, Askrigg and then up and down to Nateby, which is the posher village just outside somewhat rundown Kirkby Stephen. Crossing the Pennines diagonally in other words. Good to get a whole mountain range out the way on day 1 says Pete. The weather was kind to us apart from a 15 mile slog into the wind after lunch in Leyburn. Pete was regretting the rather average sausage roll he’d eaten. It was his own fault though as, mindful of the shorter evenings in mid September, he had requested short stops in case of a major mechanical delay. Steve would far rather opt for long leisurely lunches in the poshest cafe available. Doubtless he’ll get his way ...
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