Thursday June 26, 2014

It rained last night and it was cool, but we had a washing up room where we could cook and eat out of the rain.  This morning we woke up to a dry, grey, cool morning.  The tent was dry and we packed it away before breakfast, just in case it started to rain again.  We were on the road by 8:15, a good start.  There was a little climb out of Penrith and then a rolling hill kind of day.  Great downhills and just enough momentum to get you up the other side and bonus we had a tail wind!  We were in Carlisle by 10:00 we had a little wander around and then found the C Road that would parallel the M6 all the way to Scotland and Gretna.

At last we are in Scotland.

We stopped in at the visitor centre at Gretna Green, where someone was actually getting married.  Gretna Green is famous for young couples eloping and getting married.  In Scotland you could get married at 16 without your parents consent.  In the 60’s and 70’s ‘kids’ would run to Scotland to get married.  Gretna is now a large retail outlet mall and Gretna Green has a visitors centre which is not too tacky. The couple that were getting married were obviously not 16.

We asked someone to take a photograph of us together under the clasped hands, and the piper joined us, \”I will just join you he says\”.  I didn\’t really want him in the photo but what can you say!!

We met a French touring cyclists today. She was very frustrated with English roads and even more so with directions from English people. They either directed her onto a motorway or major highway or up major hills.  She is heading to Edinburgh and then flying to Norway then cycling back to France.

We had decided on a 60 km route today so that I could get some washing done.  The first camp site we stopped at was going to charge 18.00 for a powered site and 1.00 each for a shower.  I had already checked on line for two different camp sites.  The second was 16.50 for an unpowered site and 18.50 for a powered site.  Both had laundry facilities.  I opted to cycle the extra 2 miles (3.2 kms) I don’t see why I should pay for a shower, when I am already paying over the odds for a small tent pitch. We stayed at the second option 16.50 per night with free showers.

Tonight we are staying in the Castle grounds of Hoddam Castle, very fitting our first night in Scotland and we are staying in the castle grounds.  The castle was built between 1550 and 1560.  A lot of the castle is in ruins, but it looks awesome when you come down the lane and there it is in front of you.

This photo was taken from the same vantage point as one of the information plaques.  the tree has grown substantially since the original photo was taken.

On the grounds of the castle is a golf course and also has fishing rights in the river that runs through the grounds.

In the field next to our tent we spotted Highland Cattle. They look so cute, but I wouldn\’t want to mess with those horns.

I love trees.