Finishing off Scotland – not in a bad way!

We left Scotland as the midgies came out to play in mid June to return when they had all gone to sleep for the winter. So it was back to Gretna Green, staying at a pub on the border from which Fiona set out the following morning. She was heading for the coast of Dumfries which was not straightforward with many inlets. She also was beginning to get a niggle of toothache.

So what were the highlights and learns?

Highlights

• Fiona’s toothache (but see also Learns!) – almost of the blue it flared up leading to over consumption of paracetamols and the pain of cycling taking the place of toothache: “No, I’ll carry on” she said! Until she could carry on no more and we sought out an emergency dentist. Back we went to Dumfries to the dental hospital and for the princely sum of £5 it was sorted – she would have paid anything to get rid of the pain!

• Mull of Kintyre – parking down the bottom of the Kintyre peninsular at Southend we cycled the measly, but outrageously hilly, 7 miles to the lighthouse. Cycling through eerie mists and echoing forests into the bright sunshine of the mull. And what a gorgeous view it was down the precipitous cliffs to a distant view of Ireland.

• Off road cycling – Fiona was determined to make the most of her new gravel bike. And with her love of the OS map app it meant she could find the National Cycle Network off road trails easily so she was in her element. Mike is more of a “roadie” so mainly sticks to them unless cajoled into the off-road stuff.

• Mobile bike mechanics – who knew they existed? Well they do in Stranraer. Mike needed some gear and brake issues fixing so the mechanic came the following morning to our Park4Night stop just outside Stranraer and half an hour and £30 later, job done.

• People – Met Andreas and Val again on Arran and caught up on our various travels; Stuart and friends around the camp fire at Arbigland; the dentist in Dumfries without whom the trip would have been completed; the guy on the waltzers in Campbeltown who said and proved he was “brutal” in spinning the car!

Learns

• Allow time – we could not have done the emergency trip to the Dumfries dentist without the flexibility (inadvertently) built into the schedule

• Be flexible – if its fine, cycle; if it rains, there are always other things to do. Its not a race.

• Cycle together – as much as the solo cycling allows us to cover the miles, its nice to have the odd day enjoying the same route together

• Off roading can be fun – OK, Fiona has a point. But it’s the variety that matters. And not every NCN route is cyclable as Mike found out on the Old Military Road near Newton Stewart – more rambling than riding!

• Bike “mechanicing” – learn the basics – indexing of gears, cable replacement and adjustment, spoke replacement – so that little things do not hold you up.