Here is a wonderful report on this year’s annual bike ride visiting 4 abbeys from Darren Snaith.
Derek Farthing, Malcolm Forster, John Lambton, Maurice Lee, Dave Turnbull; Darren Snaith.
Day one
A later start, departing at 6:30 as we are heading for the Scottish borders.
We arrived at the Beal Birds of Prey Centre cafe, near Holy Island causeway for breakfast, but it was shut and we had to wait 45 mins for service (Malcolm starting a new trend of having a quite substantial kiddie’s breakfast).During this wait the weather, which had been forecast as rain for three days eased and when we did start riding it was into overcast but dry conditions.
A pleasant 10 mile ride up the coast to Berwick where an essential toilet stop was needed for one of the team who had to negotiate the use of a cafe’s facilities. Onwards to Norham where we had our first small shower of rain for 15 minutes or so, but as the air was warm and muggy it was actually quite refreshing.
Norham for lunch where a local pub served us tea and coffee, but let us eat our own food in warm, dry surroundings and thankfully make use of the toilets.
Leaving Norham we set off for Kelso. On route we had our only accident of the weekend. Morris got too close to the back of Dave’s brand new bike and as the wheels touched Morris was dumped into the grass verge, sustaining a grazed knee which needed substantial first aid from John to stop the bleeding (well , a big plaster) . No real harm done so back onto the bikes.
Soon riding down a country lane we were accompanied by 4 guinea fowl that ran alongside the bikes for a good 200 yards; very strange.
Finally we dropped into Kelso after a very pleasant 43 miles, just in time to have a spot of rehydration before showers and baths, a stroll around town and a very agreeable meal in the Cross Keys hotel where we were staying.
The hotel was busy with another group of cyclists doing the Coast and Castles ride; a group of golfers and a large party of American ramblers amongst other people staying for a function on the Saturday night.
Does it tell a tale when everyone was deciding if 9:15 was too early for bed and most had retired for a good night’s sleep before 10:00?
Day 2
The sun was out as we all met for a very substantial breakfast; the problem today was we had struggled to get a decent map of the route we were to take-the 4 Abbeys; a circular route featuring the Abbeys of Kelso ,Dryburgh, Melrose and Jedburgh. We had looked on websites, had spoken to tourist information and the Borders Council, all to no avail and although the route would be signposted, a map is always essential. By chance Darren spoke to one of the other group of cyclists and they had a Coast and Castles map that included the 4 Abbeys route on it. A quick chat to the receptionist at the hotel and we had photocopys provided and the problem was solved.
A nice bright morning as we cycled first to Dryburgh through some gently undulating and very attractive countryside, then on to Melrose where we would meet the van for coffee break. We found a very pleasant cafe and sat in the sun with our tea and coffee and watched the van drive past and as it was one way system carry on into the town centre and back again before finally parking. While there an elderly gentleman came to chat and asked where we were going. He was very impressed how far we were riding as at 78 he was still a regular cyclist. There was also a lady there who said we should try cycling at Holmfirth, so it was with a degree of self satisfaction we could say we have done that in previous years. While having coffee the general consensus was that it was not as hilly as expected. Well that was the kiss of death as we hit a 2 mile long steep climb out of Melrose via the Eildon Hills. Ouch!!!
Next meeting point for lunch was the small village of Ancrum. The cyclists arrived. The van didn’t. A few texts later and we found out the van had sustained a puncture and would take hours to meet us. It was decided it was not worth trying to meet up, so we cycled a couple of miles further and stopped at the Harestanes gallery/coffee shop and grabbed a drink and for some, a bite to eat.
Due to the delays caused by this stop we decided to amend the route and rode back to Kelso via a very bumpy and painful off road section to Roxburgh and then to Kelso, and we would visit Jedburgh tomorrow which meant the days ride again was 43 miles .We were 10 minutes away from Kelso when a large van slowed down and asked if we had a phone. When we said yes the driver explained he was driving a hire van and had just moved house and he had had a puncture. So the van pulled over and we loaned him a phone so he could spend ten minutes repeatedly explaining that he had had a puncture and his location. At one point he was told to drive to the nearest ATS which was actually further away than where the van needed to be returned. Eventually he was told that someone would be out to him in about 1 ½ hours. We left him to it and headed into Kelso to a very continental scene of tables outside the hotel and people having coffee/ beers. There was also a red carpet out but alas not for us. The Hotel again was buzzing; the golfers and American ramblers were still there, but also a 50th birthday celebration and an Academy Ball where everyone was attired in ball gowns and kilts/black tie. We felt very underdressed.
Another lovely meal in the hotel, food was of a very good standard. During the meal Derek asked Dave what he had done with his hair? Dave said it was mod style and asked the waitress if she thought it looked nice. After a moment’s thought the waitress declared he looked like Father Christmas! Not quite what Dave was expecting!
We bumped into the golfers and asked how their day had gone. Hard course, lost loads of balls, but they weren’t bothered as they said the golf was only an excuse to get away from home for a weekend.
A little more hydration before another early night.
Day 3
A lie in as breakfast not served till 8:30.While waiting to get food Darren overheard one of the American guests saying yesterday he got a bowl of porridge, put honey and milk on, took a mouthful only to realise it was scrambled eggs. Yuk!
Outlook today showers, and it was raining as we prepared to ride. It was quite windy and with the showers it was a choice of rain jacket on =hot and wet, or rain jacket off = cold and wet.
2 miles of riding and Dave not to be outdone by the van had a front wheel puncture. 15 minutes to replace the tube and we set off again through once again some lovely countryside and across a very wobbly suspension bridge which swayed alarmingly when you jumped up and down and even more so when a van drove across. We headed towards Morebattle before turning towards the village of Cessford and then to Jedburgh. It was quite hard on the legs having ridden for 2 days so the last thing we needed 3 miles from Jedburgh was another 2 mile climb (or for some walk) up another very steep hill, but that is what we got. Of course once at the top the last mile was a nice downhill stage past the final Abbey before meeting up at Jedburgh Woollen Mill for a well earned cup of coffee after another successful 21 miles of riding. Bikes loaded and off home to reunite with family and friends at the Mill.
Another successful ride; a decent 107 miles of generally hilly riding; good food; good company and the 20th consecutive year’s ride