We have now reached the half-way point, and taking a well deserved day off
in Carlisle; Yes it does have a JDW!

Luckily no incidents affecting us, but incredibly fortunate with the
weather. We set off from Lands End in dull drizzly weather and a 30mph
headwind. But the sun came out and over the next few days gave us sunburn
behind the ears. The wind wasn't noticed as we were dealing with hills that
kept us down to 2.9 mph in the saddle and 2.7 when walking. Average speeds
to Bridgewater were around 7mph - excluding stops - thanks to full panniers
to cater for clothing for sunburning heat in short sleeves while Scotland is
still getting overnight frosts, so heavier kit also needed.

It got no better north of Bridgewater with Cheddar Gorge and the like,
northwards via the Welsh borders to Ironbridge and the Wrekin. Despite the
hills we have avoided the rain, save a few spells of drizzle. But the
biggest bonus has been the tailwind since we started riding north from
Devon. Over the Pennines we have felt as if riding in a vacuum with the
trees howling in the tailwind!

We finally had some resite from the hills yesterday when descending from
Tebay and Orton Scar downhill almost all the way to Carlisle on lanes
parallel to the M6. That gave us the highest average speed of 9.8 mph.
Overall it's been around 8mph as expected.

The brew-up kit has been increasingly useful, so justifying the weight. Two
pubs we intended using for lunch yesterday were closed at lunchtime - so we
brewed up on their picnic table, and ate sandwiches kept from the day
before.

Tomorrow we set off over the border, with a very flat route via Gretna and
Dumfries to Dunscore. We'd have liked a longer leg, but there was a folk
festival in the next village leaving no available accommodation. And that
means some longer legs later, or more expensive accommodation, or both!

Iain, my riding partner, has coped well despite being a novice, so fingers
crossed we aim to reach John O'Groats on 21st May. It'll be a few days later
before I return, as I'm vistiting my brother-in-law in the Orkneys (and
visiting the Highland Park distillery).

We saw several others starting at Lands End, neither carrying kit; one on an
ATB with wife in car and no prebooked accommodation. The other was on a
racing iron with wife in car. But we did admire another looney on an old
Raleigh with no bar tape, cheap panniers and bedroll who had set off the
same day as us - but was taking in the highest peaks in the three countries
along the way. We met him after he had visited Snowdon and rejoined the "CTC
route". He was going too strongly to converse for long. Maybe we'll meet him
again?

Last Wednesday we crossed paths with Sharon Clifford (AUK & RSF) out with
her local midweek group. She nearly fell off when greeted with a shout of
"Sharon". I wonder who we'll meet before the end of the ride.

Regards,

Peter.

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