Day 8 – Langholm, Scotland (65 miles)

Thanks to our decision to follow the baker's advice yesterday, we had an easy ride today. After a reasonably early breakfast (the YHA started serving at 7:30) our refreshed legs made light work of the +1000 foot climb over Shap Fell on the A6. Even with low cloud and a light drizzle, the ascent was exhilarating and the views of the surrounding countryside was spectacular. (Brittany was intrigued by the “Road liable to icing” signs – what flavour icing?)

We had a quick coffee/'erbal tea stop at Shap - Brittany managed to force her way between some pensioners and the wood fire by starting a conversation about the weather – before following the A6 through Penrith to Carlisle. Being a Saturday, the roads were relatively free of traffic and we appeared to be going down hill for most of the way. The racing tandem was in its element and we averaged over 25 mph past fields full of bemused sheep and cattle.

Carlisle wasn't that impressive, and we opted for a quick and easy lunch break at a Subway sandwich on the main street. On the way out we received the second abusive tirade for the trip from a driver who thought we should be using a (poxy, shabbily-paved, 30-metre isolated strip of) cycling path to make his trip quicker – a tirade that would only ever come from a 18-25yr old male in a car with tinted windows, alloys and sports trim.
We rang and booked a B & B in Langholm from Carlisle saying that we would arrive at 4 pm – we reached the town by 3:15 and spend a relaxing half hour having a drink and writing this...

Dinner was expensive but really good - best pub food so far, with good local produce. We then had a hard choice between a night in with Eurovision song contest / Match of the Day – and a David Bowie tribute band at the local theatre. The night in only won only because it was free, and we had already spent far too much on dinner.

(posted a day late by some bins next to a Starbucks Edinburgh - using the wireless network without buying overpriced coffee)