WEDNESDAY 14th April

WEDNESDAY 14th April.
DUMFRIES - NEWCASTLETON 56 MLS

Breakfast was around a communal table and landlady was so frightened she missed something I m still waiting for my Porridge. We shared breakfast with a strange couple from Whitby and a Flower arranger from Aberdeen.
We loaded up and on our way the sun is shining, around to the TIC in Dumfries for the stamp, via the town centre. We are the first this season and again there was confusion, all they have to do is stamp a card. Steady flat ride out of Dumfries alongside River Nith down to Glen Caple, a pretty fishing village very peaceful. As we cycle along we see a sign Danger Quicksand Colin has to try it out. Sunshine flat riding we cycle along the north Solway coast. Then one minute its sun, next snow, hilarious.

Yes that's snow

We stop at Caerlavrock Castle and take in the view in wonderful sunshine apart from some young kid knocks Graemes bike and scratches his glasses.
We leave Caerlavrock and continue flat riding in the snow showers past the Robbie Burns Brow Well Colin passes some unprintable comment. I don't think He's a real culture vulture.
We cycle into Ruthwell a pretty village home of the first savings Bank. A TSB Museum the curator who has no customers try's to encourage us to pay a visit. We decline politely and cycle on. We cycle into Cummertrees and chap on the corner passes the time of day and tells us the history of the Bank. We cycle on good flat riding towards Annan.lt was impressive to arrive over the river. We look for a pub and find the Commercial Inn, the beer is fine, the service is dire. Then some kids are showing an unhealthy interest in the bikes Colin dives out the pub to check them out. Annan, the Bishop Auckland of the South of Scotland.
Over the road to the Solway Cafe for a Lunchtime special, excellent grub we have the lunchtime special at the right price.
We cycle on, flat riding sunshine Gretna,Gretna Green. The Border we stop for a Photo.

The English Border

We cycle towards Longtown and follow a couple on a tandem. Colin and Graeme have to catch and overtake them. I follow on Longtown, Oil stop, while we check the map. This is where we leave the Scottish Route and pick up the Reivers at Newcastleton. We follow Graemes route which is a steady ride Colin is nearly wiped out by a passing caravan. We convince ourselves it was because his coat blends in with the trees. So from then on rides with a high vis vest strapped to the rear of his bike.
The sun is shining and we cycle along quiet lanes along the side of Liddlesdale with wonderful views. Colin has another caught short like in Norfolk and has to visit a nearby field.
Its so quiet two hares sunning themselves on the road don't even notice us. We drop down to the valley bottom past a fortified farm" Reiver country" even the Border sign states Scottish Borders with a steel bonnet.

Reiver country

We cross at Kershope I later discovered that where we crossed was the Reivers route for crossing the Border on their Infamous Raids. It was funny, but on the day we crossed, you could feel some sort of presence CROSSING the Border.
As we cycle towards Newcastleton the weather closes in again and we arrive in a Snowstorm.

Arriving in a snow storm

The Liddlesdale Hotel is first class Good Beer Graeme and me have quick pint be fore we go to our rooms.
Warm fire, good meal we don't move from the Hotel bar until its crash out time. A roast beef dinner what else do you eat in REIVER country.

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