At least 79 miles, but my mileage calculator started playing up and it must have been more. Probably the best bit of the journey so far was from Newton Stewart to Gatehouse of Fleet and then along the coast. Weather fine ,wind behind me- I was just sailing! Banks covered in bluebells and primroses, roads practicaly empty, and red squirrels, pheasants, lambs all about. Actually it was a very long day because I went through Dumfries and reached Gretna at about 18.30 then it was another 20 odd miles by the only route I knew to stay with Aunts Eileen and Nora who were very hospitable. Passed the entrance to Scalby where I was born but too late to go and see the farm.
DAY 7- NEAR BRAMPTON TO PENRITH (20 miles avoiding the direct A6 but it will be another 4-5 by the time I reach Greystoke). My bike is in having a service and I have just met Mum for a coffee.
UPDATE ON FIRST WEEK
1. Following working and old railway lines for much of the time, from Pitlochry y.h.a. I looked down on the many Eddie Stobart containers on the train in the railway siding. Then on the way to Callander, I cycled along on old railway line looking down at beautifully constructed railway viaducts. Going past Prestwick, more lines plus containers carrying I dread to think what! More old railway line cycle track the next day as well
2. My route has been following the Route 7 Cycle Route as far as Gretna, but if there is a along way round it appears to find it. However not using main roads and on the whole very good. The section to Balloch towards the Erskine bridge was along a canal with a lot of broken glass, so my bike did not feel safe and I went up onto the main road. I was a bit apprehensive because I had to cross over onto the route south after crossing the Erskine bridge, but actualy that and Paisley where a pleasent surprise: the people in Paisley could not have been more helpful even if they did look like characters from Rab C Nesbit.They directed me to the amazingly maintained cycle route going south west, even wardens patrolling the route.
3. Terms of address changed as soon as I reached Balloch below Loch Lomond...... I became 'hen' which changed to 'doll' in Paisly, then back to 'hen' by Irvine, Once over the Glentruel hill -very high- back to normal speech and deep fried extras off the menu!
Telford's Ironbridge
