Today’s Weather Gods: thoroughly peeved (continuous heavy rain).
Today’s Bottom State: numbed.
Distance - 93 miles.
Feet: sore.
Legs: tight. (I like to think this is because they are becoming firm and muscled but sadly no).
Knees: sore.
Backside: I am assuming it is there as something seems to be connecting my legs to the rest of my body but it is hard to tell.
Back: fine.
Shoulders and arms: aching (not sure how this happens while cycling).
Head: definitely in need of testing.
It was then time to force yourself out of bed to prepare (reluctantly) for the day and the next leg of cycling.
Today we were due to head for Kilmarnock but a review of the route before breakfast led us to think that we might be better off heading up a ‘B’ road paralleling the M74 motorway and into Glasgow. Our daily route is not so tied down that we can not change it and as they say: the key to good route planning is flexibility; and the key to flexibility is indecision.
Glasgow now the destination we set off for Scotland - 3 miles down the road - and into Gretna Green. Scotland’s first village is famous for ‘runaway weddings’ since the time of the English Marriage Act in the 1700s that prevented people under 21 getting married without consent. The Act did not apply in Scotland and Gretna Green, right on the Scottish border, found a new role for elopers.
The road we were after lay just outside Gretna and head through Lockerbie and onto Glasgow. Once we found it we knew we had made the correct decision; it headed off before us long and wide and empty of traffic, undulating gently into the distance. It was just beckoning to be cycled along. And it was smooth – at least for a large part. Anyone cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats should definitely be using this road. The first 30 miles were a joy, even though it was throwing it down with rain. We had a short stop in Lockerbie and continued. Occasionally there were rough patches, in a car you would think the road was just noisy but in a bike it shakes you to pieces, slows you down and you become even more aware that you have spent quite a few days in the saddle. As the day continued the rain and wind continued with it and it began to affect us. When we stopped we got cold quickly and the getting started again was always difficult (more so than usual). It comes to something when you are happy for a great lorry to go past you quite closely as you will get some warmth from the exhaust. If you are out of the rain with a hot coffee it is easy to find reasons to stay there for just that little bit longer. But we always eventually had to keep pressing on and face the rain outside. When the road was smooth and you felt you were making good progress the rain did not affect you so much. But when it was rough and you were being shaken about, or you were feeling slow or even when you realised just how far you had still to go then the rain, dripping from every part of you and obscuring your eyes, became a real issue. Some of you may recall the old strap line that Glasgow Council came up with a few years ago to encourage tourism: Glasgow’s Miles Better’. All I could think was: ‘Glasgow’s Miles Away’.
We worked our way through the miles towards the city. The last ten or so were through the greater Glasgow area; more streets, roundabouts and cars. Some of the roads were quite potted and I know I upset at least one driver weaving around them.
Today was a generally easy ride made much more challenging by the weather. It was as much a mental effort as a physical one and it was three very tired souls that arrived at the Guest House at 8.30 this evening in time to clean up and change and rush out for pasta in town. Our guest house room is very nice, or would be if wet and dirty clothing clothing were not hanging from every available hook and ledge in the hope that we will have something dry (if not clean) to wear for the morning. So we are now another 93 miles nearer to John O'Groats. The good news is that our alternate route has put us about 20 miles further north. We will have to re-plan the next leg again in the morning.
It is now quite late and Paul and John are once again snoring away. It is time for me to do the same.
No comments:
Post a Comment