Half way

Day 8 Friday 12th Sept

I'm a bit late with the blog tonight as we've just spent a very stressful evening trying to sort out accommodation for tomorrow. For one reason and another we hadn't yet sorted this out; tonight was crunch night and it took us a fair while to get somewhere. Sometimes call centres with people who don't know the geography of this country very well are more trouble than they're worth; John C at one point had to explain that getting 2 rooms 30 miles apart was not of any use to us. So prize for most patient person of the day goes to John C. 

We eventually managed to get a late cancellation at Hoope Hall, Kirkby Lonsdale, which by some coincidence is where we stayed 10 years ago at the halfway point.

For us, this time, today was our halfway point, not only in time (day 8 of 16), but also in distance (total about 560 miles by day's end). It was also expected to be an 'easy' day of 'only' 55 miles. The fact that we found it so is in part a reflection of the last three days which have been very hard. It was also the day that we left Scotland behind, very sad for us all as it has been 'spectacular'! However, the end also now seems a real possibility as we venture in to England.

Run down to Dumfries

We had a relaxed morning in the hotel, having breakfast at 8 am and somewhat surprised at how alert our host was considering his level of 'jollity' the previous evening! We caught up with some routing details and the blog over coffee and eventually left at about 10:30 am, winding through quiet countryside in grey morning light, at one point catching site of a Red Kite circling low in the trees at the road side; they are big birds seen close to. 

We reached the top of a moderate climb (at which we consumed the last of Tracey's beetroot flapjacks, see recipe below, which John had found hidden in his bag - thanks Tracey, they were brilliant!), then descended fast together to the outskirts of Dumfries, picking up NCR7 which took us along the river side to the centre of the town. It is a town with a slightly careworn appearance, although the red sandstone of the older and civic buildings give it a bit of grander. We picked up some more food (surprise!) before heading out along the river and into the agricultural heart of the area. Somehow we picked up a tailwind despite the forecast of southerlies (we were heading east at this point) and made good progress, eventually stopping at Cummertrees near Annan for lunch in a very nice Church gateway (cool stone benches quite nice for slightly saddle sore cyclists ...). Here a very strange scene unfolded in front of us; tractor after tractor, each towing a muck spreader, charged past us. Wild theories abounded; a secret race (the 'where there's muck there's brass Grand Prix' perhaps?), or perhaps there was a giant pile of muck blocking the road ahead, or was it just followers of this blog trying to get a mention ..... whatever it was, it kept us amused and bemused throughout lunch.

JR and John C at last pub before border in Gretna Green

Lunch consumed we headed on to Annan, recognising the route from 10 years ago when we had been almost beaten to a standstill by ferocious headwinds. At Annan we had a brief chat and exchange of good wishes with the support team of a group of 14 cyclists doing a LEJOG, who we then passed shouting encouragement further into the town. Very uplifting to see others on a similar endeavour.

Half way there, in England after 550 miles
NB. JR isn't that tall - JC's just in a dip!

Then in to Gretna, which has become horribly commercialised, for a hot chocolate break and photos at the border.  We then picked out a route with little traffic but dominated by traffic noise as it ran right next to the M6, then on to properly quiet roads guided by NCR7 again towards Carlisle. We briefly tried to help some lost cyclists relying overly on their GPS device to find their way (not helped, to be honest, by the plethora of NCR7 options in the area).

JR racing the M6 traffic just after crossing the border!

A cyclist scrum - trying to read the map for a lost couple

Our arrival in Carlisle was only slightly spoiled by the way that the cycle route just suddenly stopped at a junction, but we eventually found our Travelodge without trouble. The great thing about Travelodges is that they let you take your bike into the room. Unpacking, showers, clothes washing and then food took us to 9 pm, after which we spent all that frustrating time mentioned at the top in the Travelodge Cafe bar. Just as we were winding down from getting Tomorrow's (Sat) accommodation sorted, Sue Pollard walked in! She'd just finished a one night show in town (we'd seen posters on the way in). Tomorrow Durham for her apparently. We briefly discussed the truly terrible Piranha film that was on in the Cafe, told her about our ride, then headed off to sleep (or in my case to write this) with her good wishes for the days to come.

Bike safely in residence at Carlisle Travelodge

Anecdote of the day:

As we came into Gretna, JR found himself in front of a set of traffic lights at a cross roads, unable to see what phase they were at. "Could you tell me when they go green?" was the request. "Are you sure that's wise after chocolategate" was the response .....

Quote of the day

John H as we started the day: "it's a long way to Lands End!"

John H's four things, stated just after arriving at the hotel

1. The hotel is really nice

2. There's a hidden floor in the hotel which you only find when using the stairs

3. The bike stickers are brilliant and make my bike look really professional (a work colleague had produced some stickers for his bike frame that say 'John H ... JOGLE 2014)

4. Evan after all this cycling I'm putting on weight!!

Favourite moments

John H: crossing the border in to England

John C: cheering on a group of 14 LEJOG riders near Annan, having spoken with their support team in Annan

JR: Red Kite soaring over the fields just outside Moniaive

Stats of the day

Distance 55

Average speed 12.4 (max 25.9)

Total climb 596 m

Calories 2684 cals (Johns Garmin is back up)

Bananas

John C 1 

John H 1

JR 1

Shows what an easy day it was ...