OP
OP
arallsopp
Post of The Year 2009 winner
- Location
- Bromley, Kent
1436hrs. Depart Traquair
I claim a goodbye wave from the be-kilted and am dazzled by the transformation to mood that a little sunshine and food will do. Looking around, I find I am in a hidden valley, 160m above sea level, surrounded by stunning peaks.
There are barely 25 miles between me and Dalkeith, and whilst the hills close in once again on the tiny road as it winds Northwards, I am amazed to find myself crossing a near perfectly level Innerleithen Golf Course. The closely flanking slopes surely prevent a ball straying too far from the fairway, but there is no doubt that the rising breeze is making it hard going for the handful of players.
I remember checking this leg before I left, and know there are two big climbs up ahead, one around 370m, the other above 400m. Two miles out, the first climb begins. The valley narrows, the little road is bounced around wildly between domineering bens, the valley floor is pinched down to a river's width, then slowly raised skywards.
8 miles in, I hit the top of the first peak. The wind continues to rise, and I am down to ~7mph going full tilt. Although the next 2 and a half miles are a pretty steep descent, the wind forces me to push hard on the pedals just to keep moving. The thought of coming back on this road a few hours hence, with the wind behind me, keeps my spirits up. I am also gaining a much needed mental lift from the increasing numbers of returning riders greeting me on the road. I have spent much of the last 420 miles on my own, and it is wonderful to be in the company of other riders, even if we’re passing each other at a closing speed of 30+mph. I spot GerryC in a group of 4 or so, and not far behind them, my LongHairedScouser.
One more climb in a strong sidewind, and I am finally rewarded with a view that takes in Lammer Law, West Lomond, Arthurs Seat, Leith, Dunfermline, and the Firth of Forth. Somewhere beneath me is Dalkeith, and (even better) there are 10 miles of freshly surfaced tarmac to reel it in.
As the descent opens up my mood begins to change. For the first time in the last two days, I start fearing the return leg. I've been dropping like a Stukka for 5 miles now, hovering around the 37 mph mark, and watching Southbound randonneurs blip past me on the climb. No more waving. This is white knuckle all the way.
It is stunningly beautiful, but I cannot even begin to consider how I'm going to get back up. "All downhills must be earned" rings in my ears, and I know I definitely prefer to pay in advance.
As countryside slowly concedes its grip, I hope to hell that Dalkeith will come soon. I join the A7 and am treated to yet another sickening plunge, way down, down past the mining museum my wife has a bookmark from, down between lorries and buses, down through road markings, bus stops, streetlamps, a series of roundabouts. My ears pop against the city's roar, I am building speed all the way.
The GPS beeps with 500ft to go and I brake heavy to slide into the control at 11 minutes past 4.
PROFILE
VIDEOS:
Previous sections:
Day 1, Part I (Start to Thorne)
Day 1, Part II (Thorne to Alston)
This section:
Day 2, Part I (Alston to Dalkeith)
I claim a goodbye wave from the be-kilted and am dazzled by the transformation to mood that a little sunshine and food will do. Looking around, I find I am in a hidden valley, 160m above sea level, surrounded by stunning peaks.
There are barely 25 miles between me and Dalkeith, and whilst the hills close in once again on the tiny road as it winds Northwards, I am amazed to find myself crossing a near perfectly level Innerleithen Golf Course. The closely flanking slopes surely prevent a ball straying too far from the fairway, but there is no doubt that the rising breeze is making it hard going for the handful of players.
I remember checking this leg before I left, and know there are two big climbs up ahead, one around 370m, the other above 400m. Two miles out, the first climb begins. The valley narrows, the little road is bounced around wildly between domineering bens, the valley floor is pinched down to a river's width, then slowly raised skywards.
8 miles in, I hit the top of the first peak. The wind continues to rise, and I am down to ~7mph going full tilt. Although the next 2 and a half miles are a pretty steep descent, the wind forces me to push hard on the pedals just to keep moving. The thought of coming back on this road a few hours hence, with the wind behind me, keeps my spirits up. I am also gaining a much needed mental lift from the increasing numbers of returning riders greeting me on the road. I have spent much of the last 420 miles on my own, and it is wonderful to be in the company of other riders, even if we’re passing each other at a closing speed of 30+mph. I spot GerryC in a group of 4 or so, and not far behind them, my LongHairedScouser.
One more climb in a strong sidewind, and I am finally rewarded with a view that takes in Lammer Law, West Lomond, Arthurs Seat, Leith, Dunfermline, and the Firth of Forth. Somewhere beneath me is Dalkeith, and (even better) there are 10 miles of freshly surfaced tarmac to reel it in.
As the descent opens up my mood begins to change. For the first time in the last two days, I start fearing the return leg. I've been dropping like a Stukka for 5 miles now, hovering around the 37 mph mark, and watching Southbound randonneurs blip past me on the climb. No more waving. This is white knuckle all the way.
It is stunningly beautiful, but I cannot even begin to consider how I'm going to get back up. "All downhills must be earned" rings in my ears, and I know I definitely prefer to pay in advance.
As countryside slowly concedes its grip, I hope to hell that Dalkeith will come soon. I join the A7 and am treated to yet another sickening plunge, way down, down past the mining museum my wife has a bookmark from, down between lorries and buses, down through road markings, bus stops, streetlamps, a series of roundabouts. My ears pop against the city's roar, I am building speed all the way.
The GPS beeps with 500ft to go and I brake heavy to slide into the control at 11 minutes past 4.
PROFILE
VIDEOS:
Previous sections:
Day 1, Part I (Start to Thorne)
Day 1, Part II (Thorne to Alston)
This section:
Day 2, Part I (Alston to Dalkeith)
