Well after an awful day and a very pleasant evening in Jennie's Rigg House B&B, surely things were on the up? Well not exactly. When the curtains were spread this morning it was fairly windy, but dry. After yesterday's weather we were exhausted, and to top it all FH had been up all night as sickness a dog. So let's just say neither of us were fit to leave for a days cycling.

We opened the door to leave around our normal time and I peaked round it half hoping we'd been snowed in. However, no snow, just blisteringly cold and strong gales. Well as real as I'm sitting here now, no sooner did we leave did it start raining. Straight away I knew we were in for a naf day, but not to the extent that we had.

Today was the shortest day of the trip, roughly just under 50 miles so it should have been a walk in the park. The weather got worse and worse until we were barely moving with the wind against us. Then the real stuff came down. Now imagine being dropped into an ice cold bath and then randomly pelted to death with ice cubes and you'll start to understand what we had to cycle through for what seemed like years. I couldn't see even though I had glasses on, and the 'hail' still managed to get round the glasses to blind me (just for good measure). I feel the cold as FH will more than vouch for now, probably more than most. I was literally frozen and was finding it hard to move my legs and arms. This is even though I had a base layer, jersey, windproof jacket and another jacket on! It was so cold it took my breath away as we cycled and I struggled to breath and cycle. It was all I could do to not fall off.

After about half way, the rain did finally stop but the wind still remained to let us know who was in charge. I stopped at this point to put on my fingered gloves as I was unable to change gears due to the lack of feeling in my hands. Now sympathy is not one of FH's strong points and while i struggled to put my gloves on hands i couldn't feel FH shouted abuse at me like 'hurry up, theres more rain coming' and generally just giggled at me. All very helpful stuff. We carried on our way and it continued.

Now imagine the scene. We have had this awful weather for nearly 2 days. I lost it, and started shouting expletives at mother nature, nothing that should be repeated on this site. FH remarked that I'd only p*ss her off, and like magic the wind gave us another battering.

The only stop we made today, due to the fact neither of us wanted to be out in it any longer than needed, was in Galston in a little food shop. We had a lovely hot brew and some piping hot chips to share. Very welcome after what we'd endured. Even if it's not exactly pro cycling grub!

After a very long day (or what seemed one anyway) we arrived at our ffffrrrreeeeeee accommodation! Any is this needed or what! Checked in, bikes secure, into the room and straight to the Jacuzzi! Steam room was very hot, too hot for me, but short time in there followed by jacuzzi bath until wrinkled. Pinhead - done (said in the style of Gordon Ramsey).

We are now just writing up the blogs and getting ready for dinner and a drink. I'm gonna say a quick prayer tonight. I'm not usually a religious man but I think we need some Devine help from old Jimmy Jesus up there as otherwise we could be in for another grueller tomorrow.
 


Comments

Sheena

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 05:33:29

Well done Pinhead, just popped on here whilst eating my lunch at my desk, some really lovely photos and I guess you're nearly nearly there!!! Well done XX

 



Leave a Reply