Next year

We did it, we rode to the sun. It didn't go without incident as nothing ever does and we didn't make it to the beach at 4.30am to see the sun rise but we did see it rise elsewhere and that is all that mattered. Our aim was to cycle the 100 miles to Crammond Beach, it didn't matter to us if it took until lunch time on Sunday, our aim was to complete and we did.

Setting off we felt a little like the poor relations, everyone seemed to be part of a club, some wheelers or others and the Fechan Flyers who flew, and me and Martha! We introduced ourselves to Fraser and had to enquire how to get out of the Town! Directions were never a good point with us. A little stop at subway for the bathroom. Poor martha rested her gloves in the sink only it was on a sensor so the gloves got a little wet! Me, I entered the mens instead of ladies! Not pretty.

Off we set again, up passed Asda, cross the motorway and off to Longtown, turning left and towards Gretna and to Gretna Green. On to Kirk Patrick Flemming, kirtlebridge, Ecclefechan, Lockerbie and Beattock. We stopped and had a little sandwich before venturing onto Moffat, where we had a little rest, some spray for the midges which were starting to nip and apparently up the 'beef tub' the little devils get busy! Lots of people were getting chips at Moffat but not us, we did enquire about Moffat Toffee but none on sale.

With a little rest we set off up the Devil's Beef Tub. 7 miles! It was a long one. Not unmanageable. Martha would have let me go to the top on my own but to be honest I couldn't leave her and I was scared of the dark! So I tucked myself behind her and followed her up to the top. It was quite a sight the red stream of back lights, some flashing, some bright, some big some small lighting up the mountain. I did tell Martha not to look when she could see how far it was. Anyway, we reached the top and a piper was there to meet us, too cold to stop for a photo but it was a nice touch.

Then it was all down hill into the Tweed Valley. This is where we struggled, we got cold, freezing, no hands, no feet. We stopped to put extra layers on but it was chilly! At the bottom was a disco and a man with bananas and water, but we were last here and the disco was just finished. Another little mishap here when I tipped off my bike! I stopped but couldn't feel my feet and somehow toppled sideways and down i went. Now with my new bike bag on the back it made my bike a bit more difficult to handle when stopping suddenly so i just went with it! Well i couldn't get up cos my bike was on top of me. All was ok tho and no injury. At this point someone actually came in behind us, only to declare they had had enough and would not complete the ride. It was a shame with the hard work done but each to their own. We had a warm up by the little camp fire, a banana then off we set into the night again.

Martha went ahead cos her lights were brighter than mine. Mine were'nt fixed properly and going over every bump it spun round, dazzling me then resting upside down! None of this behaviour in a bike club I'm sure.

We left the little camp fire and civilisation for about 20 miles or more. We were beginning to wonder if Penicuick did exist and an Esso garage which was 24 hours and we could get a warm drink, we were guided by the discarded glo sticks from the disco so we guessed we were in the right direction and after Broughton, Blythe Bridge and the Leadburn Inn (closed obviously!) We found Penicuick. Still no Esso grarage for a lovely cup of tea! We had another little stop where we indulged in another tuna sandwich and an energy gel! First one of the night. Should have had one earlier we made great strides.

We went through the elusive Penicuik, Milton Bridge and over Gowkley Moss roundabout, we then made our way into Edinburgh and onto Princess Street, we were warned to beware of the drunks but they were all home in bed by the time we got there. A loud sort of thump revealed I lost my drink off the back of my new bag, at 39p I wasn't going to get runover by a bus to retreive it!

We followed, well, Martha followed our instructions through Edinburgh to get us to Crammond Beach. This was the point we felt a little deflated as some people were coming away and going home and we just made it. It didn't matter tho, we did it and some people offered encouragement of "nearly there".

We eventually made our way to the end, everyone was gone, too late for a bacon butty, we sat on the bench and admired the sun. It was warm but breezy, we looked like chickens ready for roast when we wrapped ourselves in our emergency tin foil blanket as we started to cool quickly and still no tea!

With a hug of congratulations to each other and a celebratory bottle off proseco (little bottle each!) It was a bit windy to light our candle of rememberance. With the help of two very kind gentlemen who googled and found us a handy place for tea and breakfast. You can't beat a Toby Carvery, open at 8am. Only thing was we had to sit on our bike seats again. Ow!

A 10 minute cycle ride, one last little incline and there was Toby, just as the gents described at
10 to 1 on the roundabout! A welcome sight. Once inside we too were made welcome, we even could take our bikes in. Unlimited cups of tea and an all you can eat breakfast. Yorkshire pudding, gravy and sausage for breakfast, never before but it will be again. Delicious. And we were able to eat with our candles lit.

Breakfast over and a kind young gentleman to collect us and get us home in time to see England win their Match against Panama 6 - 1 then it was definitely bed time.

A great ride to the sun, if you've not done it, give it ago. It's brill. We loved it and won't rule out doing it again next year.