24th June 2025

Alnmouth  -  Berwick on Tweed       78kms   1562'

I know the blog is late and all will become clear as you read on. I think that I already mentioned the route can be influenced by many factors. Yesterday all the negative ones contrived to make a 78kms journey into a bit of an epic - we arrived in Berwick at 19.30! On a different occasion the same distance allowed us to arrive at 15.00. Let me explain the anomaly.  Once again the wind were strong (as bad as yesterday) but this time, for the last 40kms we were riding directly into it. Even downhill, not that there was much, we had to pedal. Add to that the wierd and wonderful cycle paths we were obliged to follow, slow and slower spring to mind. We have experienced some excellent tracks but these were none of them. Single track, wheel width, dikes, and endless gravel of all varieties. But we got here! All in one piece, if totally knackered. Enjoyed the delights of two dried pasta meals which Al had carried since Land's End and a hot chocolate. We know how to live.

Sadly, this is to be our last blog entry. We had decided at the beginning of the day that we owed it to the rest of our lives to accept that we were no longer the spring chickens we had once been. Accepting that we were not going to finish at John o Groats was not easy. We have thoroughly enjoyed this journey although at times it has been very demanding. Much of what we have achieved has been , in no small way, aided by the support and encouragement of family and friends. We are deeply appreciative of follower' s comments as long as they have been nice! Seriously, I will miss you all.

Before we hang up our boots/bikes, I have to thank Master Navigator for his everlasting competence and for also, always finding appropriate accommodation at the end of each day. We have also to thank profusely, our son in law, Mike for agreeing to make the journey up here to pick us up. Way beyond any call of duty, especially as all our Old Bones are intact if very sore.

So adieu. I doubt there will be another long ride, at least on a bike. Thank you all for being with us.