Day 8

The weather improved today, quite a strong wind from the East but no rain. With the help of Phil's'End to End' maps I made my way through the lanes to Carlisle. On the way I met Angela and Fred who are travelling around Westmoreland on a tandem they are staying at B&Bs. Carlisle was quite straight forward to get through and there was Hadrian's Wall footpath where Valerie and I had walked a couple of years ago. So that's it Rome to the wall - I bet Hadrian didn't cycle though. Then again I am not sure if the Emperor himself actually came to see his wall or just sent the orders for it to be built. I thought I would try to get to Lochmaben that night - which was on my original route plan for Friday night. It was 40 km to Loch Maben from Carlisle- as the crow flies but the wind was behind me, the road was good and mostly flat, so I overtook all the crows and did it in just over two hours which is pretty fast for me. I stopped at a wonderfully named place- Ecclefechan, where I had just missed the annual fair and the Spider Baby had just been packed away.(if you don't know what I am talking about you are not a Father Ted fan) The first campsite was way out of town and I'd have to cycle in to get food. The second was by the Loch, crowded and charged £10. So I looked for a b&b and found the Kings Arms Hotel. They had a room for £20 which is just about ok. The pub has no food but John says I can get a 'Chinky' from over the road and eat it in the bar. Which I do, Jamie moves his bagpipes (honest) and I sit down while Mickey holds court in the tiny bar. Mickey is drunk, like only the Scots seem to manage to get drunk without falling over and dying. He is 53 years old as he told everyone at least seventeen times. Then Jamie had to get his pipes to play at the function in the back room.
I finished my 'Chinky' and made my way up to my room as Jamie started up with Scotland the Brave, quickly followed by Wooden Heart. I hear Micky shouting out 'fecking Jamie, wassa c*** like that F****** about with a load o' radiator pipes for.' 'Go home Micky, you've had enough now.' says a woman's voice. I think Lochmaben is a frontier town.
I now have a new route following a cycle route which leads through Glasgow. I'll move on tomorrow, not sure where to though - long live Lochmaben and I hope Mickey makes it to 54.
Bye for now
Graham 108km today