Monday 13 August 2012

Day 9 – Keswick to Moffat 71 miles

 Looking out of the window of the Youth Hostel this morning we expected the worse in regard to the weather, however it was not as bad as forecast, and after a good YHA brekkie we set off for Moffat.  Our first 10-15 miles were mostly climbing but with great views behind us of the lakes and the moody misty mountains.  We arrived on a moorland plateau where there was a long straight with the wind behind; it was a great bit of road.  The two most random road signs that made me laugh today were “Cats Eyes Removed” (ouch!) and “Cows Drive Slowly” (get a mooooove on then!)

We stopped a few times for photos and Ron kindly took one of me with a Lakeland view in the background, only I didn’t seem to be in it, we will have camera lessons tomorrow…
At the very top of the climb the van was waiting for the brew stop, which was well needed.  We then descended into Carlisle…looking for a “big dixon’s chimney” which was in our route notes!  We didn’t really know what a dixon’s chimney was, however there was a massive one as a waymarker in Carlisle!
After getting through the city it was on the road to Gretna, and of course Scotland.  We arrived at the sign and spent a lot of time mucking around and taking photographs.  It feels strange but amazing that we have made it all this way so far.


The afternoon was spent slogging to Moffat along what used to be the trunk road through D and G before the M74, not the most exciting of routes but a necessity!  We spiced it up by taking a wrong turn through Lockerbie and having to use sat nav on our phones to find the route again!!
With 10 miles to go Scotland welcomed us in the way only Scotland can do…the heavens opened, so with our heads down we motored towards our destination as fast as we could.
Anne and Toby came to visit me in Moffat tonight which was brilliant, although Toby couldn’t work out why I wasn’t in my house and kept asking where Uncle Steve was. 

Roadkill – loads of hedgehogs and a couple of rabbits
Chicken update – he has learned about drafting and used this to good effect today
Weather – decent start, windy on the tops but a tail wind, rainy in Scotland

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