Catching a train

Today’s guest picture comes from my friend and ex colleague Marjorie, who spotted this little fellow near her house.

We had another sunless day today, a little warmer than of late and a little less windy.  The strain of watching the Olympics is taking its toll with several late nights and I didn’t do anything in the morning except buy a couple of rolls and two bananas.

I filled the rolls with cheese and tomatoes, put them and the bananas in a bag and set off on the fairly speedy bike at about midday.

After yesterday’s more interesting than usual route, I was in adventurous mood and crossed from the Esk to the Liddle valley by way of Claygate and then cycled up through Newcastleton.  We are very envious in the Archive Group because they have a heritage centre, having being given the use of an old church.

It is run by volunteers and wasn’t open when I passed by.  I am not impressed by their strap line which says,” Looking forward into our history,” which even by the standards of vacuous company slogans stands out as being particularly  meaningless.

After I left the village and continued northwards, I kept an eye out for bridges as the road crosses and recrosses the river.  I have mentioned  before that riparian owners are very inconsiderate towards bridge lovers and let all sorts of stuff get in the way of a good view.

At least that second bridge at Hermitage Hall had a very fine selection of lichen on the parapet.

Once I had got past the Hermitage road end, clearer bridges appeared.

This one comes with its own waterfall….

..which makes the river disconcertingly higher on one side of the bridge than the other.

I crossed a final bridge….

…before getting on to my favourite part of this road, the steady climb to Whitrope Summit.

If you haven’t come up this road before, it comes as a surprise to meet a railway bridge and on this occasion, a parked locomotive right at the top of the hill.

The locomotive belongs to a group of enthusiasts who have been painstakingly restoring a short length of the old Waverely Line here.

Although it was open for visitors, I resisted the temptation to get on board and cycled over the summit and down the other side towards Hawick.

There are excellent views from the summit….

…but I was so puffed from pedalling up the hill that I didn’t notice that they were in black and white.

Further down the hill, I passed the Shankend Viaduct…

…a fifteen arch construction, one of the finest on the line.

I was glad to get this view becuase the trees will soon block it off which will be a pity.

I cycled on down the hill into Hawick, stopping to nod at a couple of donkeys beside the road…

…and settling down to eat my rolls when I got there.

I had been following the Slitrig burn through the narrow gap in the hills which gives it its name.  At Hawick it plunges beneath the road and several buildings…

…and I was able to sit in the courtyard above to to eat my snack.

There was a pretty house across the road…

…beside a large building which began life as a fortified tower, became a large mill and is now a museum.

I don’t know where that sepia filter came from.

The route back to Langholm was very dull compared with the outward journey as I just went straight down the main road.  The light but persistent wind in my face made it a bit of a grind and I was more than happy when I finally got home.

Those interested can see the details by clicking on the map as usual.

I have had three good days of cycling recently so in spite of the grey and dull weather, I am not complaining, a very rare thing for me.

I had no energy left for flowers or flying birds but I have got a flying neighbour, spotted last night with a friend looking over the fence from the platform he has built to pick up some gardening tips from Mrs Tootlepedal.