As the title suggests, today we crossed the border and headed for Doug’s homeland. Our trip to the border was twinned with a bike ride from Switzerland to the French border, how glamorous!! Sara’s sister Kaz, who is lucky enough to live by Lake Geneva in Lausanne, cycled to the French border and on to Evian (where the water is from) whilst we hit Gretna. Kaz – you need to leave a little blog in the comments section about your ride!

Anyway, back to us. Over the past week it has been obvious who would win which jersey if this was the Tour De France. Sara clearly gets the Queen of the Hills poker-dot jersey, especially after Shap, and today Doug staked a claim for the green sprint jersey when he disappeared over the horizon to Carlisle (I think he felt bad after being left in Sara’s dust yesterday on Shap!).

All this speed meant we were soon in Carlisle and heading for the road which runs alongside the A74 all the way to Abington. It was at this point the heavens opened. Luckily the support team were close by to hand out all the wet weather gear…..good job too as what felt like a month’s rain dumped on our heads. It is still raining now.

Despite this we soldiered on and our spirits were lifted as we reached the Scottish border. And before anyone asks, there was no eloping at Gretna Green today!

Our spirits were raised further as we came out of Gretna. I was leading and could just make out through my steamed up glasses a mad woman jumping up and down in a layby waving a Scottish flag.  

At first I thought this was just the local hospitality you hear so much about and half expected a bagpipe player to be stood beside her. As I got closer, I realised the mad woman was in fact Sara’s cousin Lorna, who was with husband Gav, little baby Millie, and Blue the dog (who very sensibly elected to stay in the car!). A few Irn Bru’s for the team (very much appreciated) and we were off again through the driving rain.

We battled on towards Lockerbie and were soon stopped on the B road outside it, huddled in the support van under a motorway bridge (much to the surprise of the guy who had stopped on the other side of the wall on the motorway for a call of nature!). The support team once again came up trumps despite the limited available goods in Tesco – some hot chicken and baguettes were demolished by the team whilst the gloves dried on the air vents!

I can confirm Tesco donuts are not a patch on Morrisons, and that Greggs do not do jam donuts on a Sunday (the Support Team had to settle for a ring donut, disgraceful). The chart currently stands as follows:

1. Morrisons
2. Marks and Spencer
3. Waitrose
4. Sainsbury
5. Tesco

TBC – Greggs (when they make some)

TBC – ASDA (for those of my friends who work for ASDA and are upset we haven’t been there, for the purposes of fairness can you let us know the nearest one on our route?)

At this point we realised the light would soon begin to fade as the rain continued to pelt down, so after a change of jersey, the waterproof coat was then covered by an orange high vis jacket (by safe, be seen). I looked ready to direct the traffic!

I continued to persevere with the glasses (now with clear lenses in), but they steamed up within 100 yards of getting back in the rain. For the next few miles I had to wear them on the end of my nose, which apparently made me look like Timmy Mallet. Brilliant. Another lookalike.

30 miles to our Days Inn hotel at Abington service station, we fought on. Soon we were being beeped at and flagged down by a car none of us recognised. We stopped and out popped Doug’s old school friend Elaine, who had spent all afternoon driving round looking for us with a boot full of donuts!

The Scots are very hospitable! The donuts and support was very much appreciated Elaine, thanks for coming out and braving the weather!

A second puncture for Sara meant Doug had to use his expertise with the help of the support team in a layby that was pretty much a lake!

As we arrived at the services, we were greeted by Lorna and Gav along with Sara’s aunt and uncle, Joice and John. Thanks for coming along and supporting us guys, it is much appreciated!

So, here we are, in Scotland…..amazing! The only dampener (quite literally) is watching the cricket on the news and seeing how hot and sunny it is down South!

Daily update:

Weather – what do you think?

Song of the day – Why does it always rain on me?

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