Day 8 – to Edinburgh

Leave the hotel at 0745 with breakfast at 0700 so up at 0630.  Where is the lie in?  Maggy & I are sharing a room at the moment,  till Susan returns on Sunday when we arrive in Linciolnshire, so after the alarm was turned off and the curtains thrown back Maggy announced ‘at least it’s not raining, but that is the only good thing about getting up now’.   I have a sneaking suspicion that some cumulative fatigue is setting in. 

Today should have been an easy ride from Glasgee to Edinburgh with a stop at each end.  The first stop at O2 was completed and we were on our way within 15 minutes.  The funniest thing was a random scotish O2 worker asking Adam (who was wearing some ‘Red 5′ kit from the London to Paris event ) for his autograph,  calling him Nigel and asking him to stand with another bunch of O2 personnel. At first he wasn’t sure what to do but Adam eventually let the guy down by pointing to the real Nigel who was busy signing things and having his picture taken with strangers.

Back on the road and the route out of Glasgow was along deserted streets.  Where was the rush hour traffic?  Is unemployment in Glasgow now so high that nobody can be bothered to get up and go to town early?  However, nearly 20 minutes to get out of the city and onto some more narrow lanes before a main road to Edinburgh.  The next stop was at Livingstone at the Endura factory.  Endura supplied us with the kit we are wearing for this event. After a brief factory tour (I now know how sublimation works)  we were back on the bikes and heading for the centre of the Edinburgh.  Unfortunately we got lost twice before then.  There had been a very serious accident between a motorcyclist and a truck as we were looking for the hotel and plod wasn’t too happy about us cycling past his crime scene.   A few miles later and our second brush with the law (PLOD) as a few of us may have crossed a pedestrian crossing without looking first and a narky lorry driver was made a bit more narky by Leo giving the guy the bird.  The driver in turn then called over a pair of policemen who asked us to get off the bikes and walk them to the hotel. After a brief u-turn we rode down the hill to the hotel and checked in for the afternoon.  Nigel, Leo & Greg had to drive back to Glasgow to do a live TV spot and so didn’t join any of us till dinner.  Maggy played golf with the physio and two of the outriders whilst I went shopping for a birthday present to myself from Susan and a pair of swin shorts for tomorrow as we are apparently staying at a posh hotel spa place.

The scenery today was stunning in places and grim beyond belief in others.  Getting lost only 3 times today but not too much of an issue as not in  much of a hurry anyway.  Tomorrow we are leaving at 0600 so we can make the most of the hotel we are goiong to.  I am sure there will be a few hills between Edinburgh and Hexam so I am expecting a hard day.

Clyde Power rode with us today and although we were going at an easy pace I do believe he enjoyed himself for all of the ride.

Later folks.  Oh I have spoken with BM and it is still standing.

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• July 30, 2010
• BY Ian Williams
• IN