Well folks wasn't able to update the blog because of no internet so let us briefly update you what has been happening. On Saturday night we successfully found a cracking pub near the harbour that did really good food so we were very content after that day.
On Sunday we cycled from Irvine to Dumfries. Initially it started off alright but then after Kilmarnock we were battling against a head wind for what seemed like ages. It was really hard work and we just didn't seem to be making progress but then somehow we had a couple of good downhills then the wind seemed to drop and all was good again. In fact the last 20 or so miles to Dumfries it was a good run that we had.
The only downside of today was when our flag broke. It was one downhill for it too much and snapped in half. We are still flying it but it is only half the side of what it was.
Monday 1 Aug
This is a huge day for us. This is the day that we crossed the border into England. Yes we have now officially cycled from the top of Scotland and into England. To us 2 that has been a great achievement. We left Dumfries and after about 24 miles we were into Gretna. We stopped to do the touristy bit and had a coffee near to the famous blacksmiths and all that. It wasn't long before we were once again being given money for the fund. Today has been special for us but also good for Help For Heroes with the money at Gretna, donations outside Morrisons at Carlisle when we stopped for salad (yes I did say salad!) and from a lorry driver outside a garage we have got over £70 for the Heroes. People can be so good.
Todays cycling has been perhaps the easiest so far. I had worked out the mileage as being about 50 miles but once again that didn't go to plan and we completed another 58.8 miles. It was on decent roads though and we didn't find it too bad.
We did have a good bit of fun before we got to Penrith. About 10 miles before we got there we were flying downhill when we noticed that there was a group of cyclists in a layby getting drinks from their support vehicle. They waved to us and then further on the road they overtook us as we tackled a hill and complimented us and wished us luck. As it turned out they are also doing John O Groats to Lands End and also for Help for Heroes.
After a little while there was another downhill and much to their surprise we not only caught them but overtook them. The look on their faces when the portly tandem rider and his wife riding a bike laden down with luggage overtook them on their racing bikes was priceless. We have discovered that although we struggle a bit uphills on the flat and downhill we aren't too bad at all. For the next few miles we continued to keep up with them and overtake them only to be overtaken again going uphill but they certainly inspired us to keep the speed up and we soon made Penrith.
So tonight after a meal with some friends that turned up and gave us yet another shock, we are now in some very good accommodation knowing that the adventure continues tomorrow when we head off to Morecombe. Well it will be nice to see the sea again so why not go there. I worked out the mileage as going to be 56 miles which isn't bad but lets just see how it turns out as each day the estimated mileage seems to be highly inaccurate and never shorter than estimated!
No pictures today I am afraid as for some reason my camera won't connect to the computer so for those interested you will have to wait to see the pictures at the border but let me asure you we are on track and are now in England. Goodnight.
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