Tweed at Innerleithen

At dinner last night our hosts mentioned that they played Catan with our Australian cousin Edwina and her boyfriend Mark on a recent visit. If only they had confessed this on our arrival in Kelso, we could have spent all yesterday afternoon playing games. It was too late to set everything up when we returned from the restaurant last night, so we agreed to play this morning instead.

After a thrashing by Mr hazelh, we set off on our bikes again for the 34 mile ride from Kelso to Innerleithen. The terrain was more challenging than yesterday to the extent that I was obliged to push my bike uphill on a couple of occasions. There is a certain gradient that I simply can't manage these days. We stopped twice: once to admire the Temple of the Muses at Dryburgh; then for lunch at the Milestone garden centre in Newtown St Boswells (rather than in Melrose, which we expected to be busy on a Saturday in Covid times).

My favourite part of the ride was along the track beside the Tweed as we approached our destination. The reflections in the still sections of water were amazing, as blipped. If you look carefully, you can see a fish rising to the left of the shot. (I have spared you a shot of naked swimmers in the Yair, spotted earlier on our route.)

Tonight we are staying in the Traquair Arms in Innerleithen. The hotel is full of cyclists so we and the bikes feel very much at home here.

We have been very lucky with the weather on our trip so far. It is warm with no wind whatsoever, so perfect for cycling.

Exercise today: cycling (34 miles).