TUESDAY 22 JULY
98 MILES 1430 METRES
Yes, another disaster-free and sunshine-full (almost) day. We had an early start, cycling off at 8am under grey-ish skies. It was pretty mild though, and we got through the worst of the Stirling traffic fairly quickly on to some quiet country roads that led us through Stenhousemuir, Falkirk etc. over the M90 and into deepest, darkest West Lothian, famous for its "Five Sisters" bing (slagheap to you Sassenachs). We navigated through Blackburn and other lovely places to "California" - I kid you not, its just outside Falkirk. We then entered my home area of South Lanarkshire onto the wild and windswept A70 that led us to our lunch stop after 48 miles in Carnwath. We found a lovely little newsagents come cafe where we gorged on toasted paninis and chips, and I stocked up on some tablet. I then suggested a wee detour on some quiet B roads into Biggar, Coulter and on to Peebles. By now the sun had well and truly came out and the Borders scenery was magnificent. From Peebles we took a lovely little road parallel to the River Tweed through forests and riversides down to the outskirts of Galashiels. We stumbled upon a cracking series of cycle paths that took us nicely into sunny Melrose where the Eildons were looking down on us. The hostel here is a lovely old mansion house type building with a lovely outlook onto the trees, and even better a cracking shower. Francis' friend Florence met us here with supplies, beer and bright red prostate cancer T-shirts for us to parade around in. Tea soon and then off for a few beers in Melrose. Feels like we are really into it now.
FRANCIS' ACCOUNT=
A second incident-free day!
It did not take as long as expected for us to navigate our way out of the relatively built-up area to the south of Stirling and head into the rolling hills of southern Scotland. The threatening clouds which were around in the morning broke up and left us to complete another day's cycling in warm and sunny weather. We enjoyed some fast cycling on gently winding roads and found some lovely cycle tracks to take us the last few miles into Melrose, avoiding the main road. During the day, we saw some attractive small towns and villages and some more down-at heel ones, such as California, the village which describes itself as Scotland's sunshine village but which actually looks about as depressing as a village can be.
The most exciting event of the day for me was when I heard a peregrine falcon and then spotted one as it flew towards a quarry carrying a dead bird in its talons. Immediately, three other peregrines took to the air and started circling and calling. It appears that a pair of falcons must have raised a brood on the cliffs of the quarry and I was seeing the family as a parent returned with lunch.
The finish to today's ride was the best yet, when we found Florence waiting for us at the hostel with cold beers and other goodies.
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