Today’s guest picture is the final one from my Newcastle correspondent, Fiona’s trip to the Netherlands with her family for Easter. Her daughter Hannah is enjoying the prospect of a ride on one of the white bikes from the Hoge Veluwe National Park. They are included in the entrance to the park and you can just take one and ride around as much as you like.
It is a rather brief blog today as I didn’t do much except sit around while Mrs Tootlepedal went to Edinburgh and then did more painting when she got back.
Fortunately the weather was ideal for sitting around, not too hot but nice and sunny and with nothing more than a light breeze. I was hoping to get out early but at 3 degrees C it was too cold. Cycling when the temperature is 3°C, if properly dressed for it, is not problem in winter but when spring comes, being properly dressed for 3° at breakfast means being boiled when it hits 10° at lunch time so I waited until it hit 6° and then set out, dressed for all occasions.
I had in mind a more adventurous ride than of late so I headed up to Bailliehill and Eskdalemuir. This took me through Castle O’er on one of my favourite roads.
…and looking back down the valley from near Eskdalemuir.
Once at Eskdalemuir, I turned west and climbed out of the White Esk valley…
…and took the winding road across the hills via the Black Esk and Boreland to the Dryfe Water.
This is a brilliant road for cycling as it is kept in very good condition for the use of timber wagons but as I only saw three today, they were not much of a bother to me.
I left the Dryfe Water behind and crossed first the motorway at Seven’s Croft and then the River Annan at Millhousebridge.

My next stop was Lochmaben where I had a cup of hot chocolate and took pictures of the three lochs which give the town its name.




By this time, the sun was dimmed by some thin cloud which was welcome to me as a cyclist, as I was getting too warm, even though it meant that I didn’t get the phone out for any more pictures. My route was in rather duller country from now on as I wisely decided that some flat roads would be helpful in getting me up to my target distance.
I stopped in Annan for a cheese toastie and a cup of tea before heading to Gretna, Canonbie and home. Annoyingly i arrived with a mile and a half still needed so I had to make a short excursion up the Wauchope road and back to get to my target of 73 and a bit miles.
The distance was significant as it matches my 73 and a bit years, a target that I hope to be able to hit for a few more years yet.
Judging by the bird feeder, there didn’t seem to have been many avian visitors during the day and I was strangely tired when it came to the thought of lifting up a heavy camera and staring out of the window so, for once, there are no chaffinch pictures today.
I had a couple of fish cakes for my tea and these gave me enough strength to go to our local community choir practice where we had another well organised sing.
Instead of a flying bird, I am putting in a map link to today’s ride for those with time hanging heavy on their hands. Slow but steady was my motto and I was surprised how well my legs were still working by the end of it.
You got some nice landscape shots on your ride, and it sounds like your knee must be pretty much back to normal. That must be a relief.
The knee is working well but still has some way to go as far as bending properly is concerned.
Fish cakes and tea. Now I am hungry! You have some beautiful back roads there. We have many logging trucks on our local roads here, a bit discouraging for biking.
The log lorries are a concern as they fairly belt along the back roads but there aren’t so many that they make life miserable.
I would say that 74 miles is an impressive distance for a person half your age, you’re an inspiration to all of us who are getting on in years!
Ha. I see your walks laden down with fifty different bits of camera gear as a bit more challenging than lounging around on a cycle.
Brr! I find that sort of day annoying, had one gardening recently, first too hot, then to cold, changing from warm to cool to warm overshirt every ten minutes. That is an impressive distance!
We at last had a day that was warm from start to finish today.
Well done on the distance covered! That is impressive. I am also impressed by the bikes available free in the Netherlands National Park! What a great idea. What beautiful scenery. More blue skies for you. How lovely.
Free bikes should be found everywhere then people wouldn’t need to steal yours.
Your legs have improved very quickly it seems to me, well done indeed for cycling so far and with strength left in them at the end. Lovely views as you went along.
Congratulations on your 73+ mile ride! It looked like a beautiful day and a very serene route.
Both were carefully chosen, one for the light winds and the other for a flat finish.
73 miles at 73, excellent!
100 at 100 is my ultimate target.
Congratulations on your very long ride. Hope nee knee coped well.
Well done! I enjoyed all the photographs from your tour.
There weren’t very exciting but it seemed a long way to go without taking any pictures at all.
They were still fine and give a very good idea of the beautiful countryside you cycled through.
I don’t know many people who would start a blog in which they cycled 74 + miles with the words “…I didn’t do much…” Those photos are like postcards (I hope that is a compliment in photographic circles; I meant it as such 🙂 )
It’s a compliment to me but an insult from a competition judge curiously enough.
For a lazy day you certainly packed a lot in.
🙂