Lejog - Day 7

Lockerbie to Loch Lomond

Today I was mostly cycling into the wind...

I started late today - 9am, as it was only 99 miles and mostly flat- it meant that I could sleep in a bit and stayed at the hotel for breakfast. I spent the first part of the day alongside the motorway on an old B road. It was mostly deserted, but someone had taken the trouble to paint a cycle lane on it. Seriously, I was lucky if a car passed me every 20 mins - it felt like my road. Actually it was my road. It didn't need a cycle lane - it should have a car lane instead. And they should ask my permission to use it.

The road had a gentle climb until it became moorland at 1000ft. It was very bleak and felt strangely remote despite being next to the motorway. The westerly wind was hampering progress, but I soldiered on.

My headphones finally died completely - I had been using only one earpiece for the past couple of days. I had bought a new pair in Penrith, but being the lanyard type, the wires were too short to have the player in my pocket. I sat in the motorway services pondering this problem. Hey presto, one coin bag from the guy at the till and a plastic spoon and I had a functioning holder for my MP3 player. I can't tell you how chuffed I was - small things I suppose...

I met a couple of young end to enders on road bikes - Sunni and Andy. These lads were also riding for 10 days, but were also climbing the 3 peaks on route. It just goes to show that however big and difficult that you think your challenge is, there is always someone trying something harder. They are due to finish on weds too - and I hope to catch up with them at John O Groats.

I cycled passed the Tunnocks bakery today. Some of you may know how I feel about their teacakes - my fuel for D of E weekends.

I rode through Glasgow along the Clyde - a nice route, except when there is a westerly wind, which was by now seriously hacking me off. You can see where the money runs out as plush new developments give way to concrete blocks of flats. At the same time the landscaped waterfronts becomes a disused railway, strewn with broken glass. Guys hang around them like a scene from the alley in "King of the Hill", only with Pigeon lofts. I decided to stick to the A roads then, it was Sunday and traffic was light.

I rejoined the cycle route as it began to follow the canal - very pretty. Stuck with this all the way to Loch Lomond. I arrived at about 6.30 feeling unexpectedly tired - it's surprising what a headwind can do to a seemingly easy day. I made tea in the communal kitchen - cheese on toast with beans, which to be frank seemed like a massive effort. I ghosted around the kitchen, probably looking very confused. I felt the type of detachment from the world that you only get when you are truly tired. 3 days left!

Day 7 - 99 miles covered Average speed - 12.2mph
Max speed - 30mph Ride time - 8h03
Total mileage - 705 miles State of mind - a bit spaced out