Day 1. Carlisle to Lockerbie

At last real progress, as opposed to paying off our distance debts from part 1.
Another nice day- we make good progress, and soon find ourselves in Gretna. Goodness, this is tacky. We travel mainly on the A74, which is basically the old main road now superseded by the M74. This is a pretty good road, and not at all busy as the main traffic is going on the motorway. In a traffic jam, we meet another cyclist who recommends a cafe in Lockerbie, so we have lunch there- good scones. Our initial distances are relatively short, and building up, so the plan is that we push on beyond our original destination. We’re making good time, so we do this. I’m a bit nervous about Beattock Summit, as I suspect that it’s going to be really steep in the event it’s not too bad.

We try to remember the W H Auden poem, but can’t really get beyond the first two lines.

Here is the night mail crossing the border
Bringing the cheque and the postal order
And of course

Pulling up Beattock, a steady climb
The gradient's against her, but she’s on time.

We stop for some shopping. I’m always delighted to see people following national stereotypes, so am quite impressed when we go into a small supermarket which has NO fruit or veg in its entire stock. Excellent B&B outside Lockerbie, if a bit difficult to find. We go out to the pub for dinner, and leave as Scotland are trailing Liechtenstein (sic).