Day 13: Carlisle to Sanquhar

Good brekkie, and met a guy from the midlands in his 70's who'd completed Lands End to John o'Groats when he was 65 on a bike almost as old as himself - awesome.

Long day, longer than expected and harder because it was mostly into the wind. Celebrated crossing into Scotland in the quietest tea room on this trip ( and possibly ever anywhere) in Gretna - it did say it was a tea room on a sign, but looked and felt more like this ladies front-room.


Made it to Scotland, and half-way ish ..

Struggled onto Dumfries, and cut my planned route short as it was clear I was going to be late to get to my destination otherwise. Dumfries was nice, and a kind chap at Halfords pumped up my tyres to max pressure. Headed onto the 'A' road from Dumfries towars Sanquhar up the Nith valley.

Lovely River Nith ...

This wasn't too bad as being a Saturday meant the traffic was quite light. Took to the back roads once I thought I was roughly back on track, and luckily came across the village where the inventor of the pedal bicycle, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, lived and is buried.

Grave of Kirkpatrick Macmillan ..

New-ish style pedal cycle in front of iron model of original ..

Some of the scenery here was great. Continued on the back roads and had a stop at Drumlanrig Castle where I popped in to have a quick look around the Scottish Cycle Museum. Some excellent examples of old and more recent bikes, including a model of the original Kirkpatrick Macmillan pedal bicycle.

Drumlanrig Castle ( didn't get a picture of the bikes in the museum - doh ) ..

Some excellent examples of old old and more recent old bikes in there - friendly and helpful shop staff also.

Got into Sanquhar at a decent enough time in the end, albeit a bit cream-crackered.

Stats for the day:

Flapjack 1
Belgian bun 1
Graves of the inventor of the bicycle visited 1
Mileage 73.7
Tot. mileage to date 720.0

Cheers,

Mat