Run to Berwick upon Tweed

A run to the beautiful Borders on Monday with an ecclesiastical flavour and a minor drama.

It was cool but bright start that warmed up nicely. My usual route to the borders these days is on a back road through the village of Carmichael in Lanarkshire. Just after the village is this impressive view.

At Lilliesleaf I came across this autumn scene, a field of cut hay.

Lilliesleaf Kirk - is it weird hanging about in graveyards?

The village of Ancrum.

It was near Ancrum that I had a problem. The immaculate handling of the SV became a bit wobbly. This could only mean one thing - a puncture. Actually a very slow puncture caused by a tiny piece of metal. The tyre was still ok to ride on. 

At Kelso I tried Lidl and bought a tyre sealer. I already got one of these…in the garage…doh! I didn't use it but kept it as insurance for later.

At Coldstream with is this magnificent bridge over the River Tweed. Here river forms the border between Scotland and England.

I hadn't noticed it before but there's a marriage house at the north end of the bridge. In times past (and, to an extend still) Scotland had a lower marriage age and young lovers would head north to wed.

The Tweed, here I'm straddling the border.

Another country, another church. Cornhill-on-Tweed in England. Maybe I could seek Devine help to get me home…nah, I know what I'm doing.

I got this cheap pump in the Tesco store in Berwick. The tyre was at 15 psi - low but not silly. I re-inflated it and it got me home ok. It's a sign of the times that an mini electric pump was cheaper. I should fit a power socket under the seat and carry one of these.

Berwick

The cliffs on the coast north of Berwick

In the Lammermuir Hills, south of Edinburgh on the way home.