Day 18, to Glasgow

We regretfully left the Days Inn with its hot baths and yards of shelving on which to arrange our things, and who even welcomed our bikes inside. I now encountered another cyclist with a loaded bike – very heavily loaded.

“Off to John O’Groats?” I asked.

“Done that”, said Lois, “and I’m heading south again to get a cargo ship to Canada, where I plan to tour.”

I’ve really met my match here! Lois is having a wonderful life wandering the world. I have also travelled a bit, but I can’t imagine what Lois’s life must be like living on the bike. She is going south now, and I must go north. We must part, but not before I got her contact details – I will follow her blog round the world.

Away from the busy motorway intersection where the Days Inn is, I head into the damp and misty moors. I only meet an old man on a bike, with tyres as enormously fat as a motorbike. The cycle path intermittently turns to pavement and then a narrow pavement, potholed and blocked by tree branches.

Lunch is at a Costa Coffee on a garage forecourt. Nearing Glasgow the route becomes more urban, less fun, and with more traffic holdups. We finally arrive at the SYHA hostel which is huge and institutional. I’m on the top floor, and the only drinking water is down in the basement.

Once again, there weren’t very many opportunities for photos.

Stats

39.2 miles (622.41 miles total), 1,200ft ascent, 1,925ft descent