Day 1:
Edinburgh to Moffat – 60 miles
Planned mileage: 60 miles
Actual mileage: 67.8 miles (extra 'Calum' miles from scenic route prior to Innerleithen!)
Cycling time: 4hrs 40mins
Average speed: 14.5mph
Top speed: 33.6mph
At last – our holiday has started! Land's End was beckoning so after a hefty (and slightly random – porridge, orange juice, one small piece of toast, two tomatoes, one banana and two maltesers!) breakfast we completed our packing then set off up the steep and unpleasant cobbles of Comely Bank Avenue. We met Calum (and half the Edinburgh Road Club) at the Commonwealth Pool then headed out of town. No incidents to report, and Calum directed us round a series of pleasant minor roads, and while it added a few miles to the route (Calum denied this, but it's true!) it was very pleasant scenery.
The long slog up towards Innerleithen wasn't as much of a slog as I had thought, so soon we were whizzing down the other side into Innerleithen, looking pleasant and quite prosperous in the bright sunshine. However we carried on without stopping, as the tearoom at Traquair House beckoned.
A pleasant though pricey lunch ensued, with grudging service, and we sat outside in the sunshine – the air was cold however so we shivered whenever the sun went behind a cloud.
We carried on southwards after eating, towards the Yarrow valley, a road I later worked out I last cycled down in 1985. A lovely descent along twisting roads in the sunshine, complete with a fly escort each. We turned right at the Gordon Arms hotel and followed the scenic shore of St Mary's Loch on another pleasant twisty road, with plenty of motorcycles whizzing past at speed just to keep us on our toes. We stopped at the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall to look at it (from afar) and by this time it was getting properly warm and the clouds were definitely outnumbered by blue sky!
Euan & Calum at Grey Mare's Tail
We carried on and enjoyed the last remaining miles in to Moffat, getting to our destination by 4.30. We easily found The Buchan guest house and were given a great welcome by our hosts, given help to park our cycles in the garage, and shown to our very nice rooms. The guest house has its own really comfortable guest sitting room, there were Tunnock's tea cakes & caramel wafers in our room, and our landlady even washed our cycling gear for us. What an excellent place!
A trip to the Moffat Arms hotel for a good bar meal then back to our comfortable B&B for chat with other guests, a cup of tea and updating the blog.
I managed to shock Euan & Jenny three times by being on time on every occasion on my 2 day escorting of them as far as Carlisle. I thought the route out of Edinburgh to Innerleithen was particularly inspired! Stunning weather and a great fun few days - I hope the rest of your trip continues as successfully. V jealous :-)
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