It rained through the night but by first light it had stopped with
some clear sky showing through. The temperature was quite a bit
colder. More rain was forecast for the afternoon so I didn't delay
and was packed up and off by 7am. Unfortunately as I was taking the
tent down I pulled too hard on the door area and a rip appeared.
I wheeled my bike down the steep grassy track back to the road then
began my ride down the road to the junction before Ettrick Bridge. I
was now on the B7009 and continued through the village and on to
Aikwood Tower. A private road said viewing by appointment.
Further on were some houses and a couple were getting into their
car. I asked about the tower and what it was. They said they'd never
seen it and wasn’t sure. A short way on I turned left on to the
B7039 towards the Bowhill estate. I stopped by an interesting well
by the road for a photo then on to the bridge and right turn to the
site of a battle in 1645.
On the outskirts of Selkirk I noticed a
dry stone wall circular enclosure. A lady out walking said it was
where a river had been diverted after the floods a few years ago and
also to commemorate a fictitious dog, Black Bob a border collie,
used in stories in the Dandy. I followed the busy A707 to the bridge
over the River Tweed. The traffic lights didn't give me much time to
get across and traffic coming the other way had been given the green
light before I'd reached them. At Caddonfoot I rode up the dark
valley. |
The spirit of Black Bob from The Dandy |
Logging after Selkirk |
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At Clovenfords I stopped outside the hotel and statue of Sir
Walter Scot to have something to eat. Heading north up the B710
I turned left to head out along a narrow road to the Blackclhugh
area. It was quite hilly but picturesque in the occasional
patches of sunshine. |
Something to eat at Clovernfords |
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A long descent took me down to Gala Water and the winding valley
where I followed the quiet hilly road on the west side while the
busy A7 follows the east side. The re-opened Borders Railway
also runs through the valley. It was now sunny and warm as I
continued north |
Deserted roads |
Almost deserted road |
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At Stow I stopped to have a look at the Railway Station then
continued north along the quiet lane. I was almost out of water
and when I noticed a lady sat in the front garden of her house I
stopped. |
Re-opened Stow Railway Station |
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She filled two of my water bottles for me and I continued north.
I rode on to Heriot where I'd planned to camp for the night. I
kept a lookout for somewhere to get water. There were plenty of
houses but no one around. One house had a Police Station sigh on
it and also a tap on the outside wall. I knocked on the door and
the man said it was OK to get water. His wife also made me a cup
of tea. They said it hadn't been a police station since the 70s
but they liked the sign. The lady suggested a camping spot near
the river but it was too visible from the road. |
Water from the old Police
Station |
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I found a grassy play area that wasn't visible from the road and
pitched my tent in the far corner by the trees. During the early
evening a young lady who lives nearby and saw my tent came down
and offered me breakfast in the morning. I'd just pre-cooked
mine ready for the morning so declined her kind offer. I felt
really bad saying no to such kind hospitality. If I’d been
thinking straight I’d have said yes and kept my pre-cooked
breakfast for later, too late. There was a good 4G signal for my
phone but no FM for the radio. There was LW (Long Wave) but only
cricket was on. |
Heriot camp |
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