Cycling tour of the Yarrow and Ettrick valleys

We brought our tandem out of hibernation this afternoon for its first trip of the 2013 cycling season. Mr hazelh thought that a gentle 34 mile jaunt from Selkirk along the Yarrow and Ettrick valleys to St Mary's Loch would take three or so hours.

What he didn't take into account was how windy it would be this afternoon. We left the car at 14:30 and didn't make it back until 18:45. This means that the trip took over four hours! Admittedly we did stop for photographs along the way, lingered over a welcome cup of tea and cakes at the Glen Cafe, and the actual distance turned out to be 40 miles, but even so...

In other news, after her appearance on Blipfoto on Thursday, Daphne the wartime doll has ventured into print. She is featured in today's issue of the Newcastle Journal. If you're new to my journal you may like to read the full story of Daphne, as related by my blipfriend walkingMarj. The tales starts here.