GNT - Day 5 - Hawick to Bonnybridge - 16/08/21

Massive breakfast onboard, off we set on our new itinerary. We had lost so much time and distance yesterday that we decided to get back on track with some help from the train, so 20 plus miles to Galashiels, train to Edinburgh, then canal tow paths the 30 plus miles to Bonnybridge Eco camping. First though, a stop to buy anthisan. Whilst frigging around in Kielder, Kate and I had been savaged by midges. Despite the comfortable hotel bed, sleep had been elusive due to the incessant itching of 1000 bites. Miserable little bastards. 

Quite a big hill out of Hawick, road at first then a gravel track. Just 3 miles in, though, disaster struck and Kate's dodgy wheel died again. Quick re-plan meant all of us (heartbreakingly) descending back into Hawick to the bike shop, with plan B being Kate in a taxi to catch the train in Galashiels. No truck at the bike shop in Hawick, so plan b it was. Would have been much better to ride as the 3 Musketeers, but with one in a taxi, it did mean the others could ditch the kit. We're travelling light, but with at least an extra 10kg, and that hill on rep 2 was a little easier. 

Having passed the breakdown spot, the route went through fields and woods, past a big family of cattle, with massive dad glaring menacingly at us as we passed. Pretty, but slow going, so when we crossed the main road, we opted for speed.

Kate, meanwhile was already Edinburgh bound with bikeshop and new wheel found. Emma and I arrived in Edinburgh, and it felt very strange being in a crowded city on a genuinely warm summer's day after the remoteness of the last few days. Edinburgh hadn't been on the plan, but there are many worse places and, reunited, we sat in a lovely park eating a late lunch whilst the shop did their thing.

If you ever need a bike shop in Edinburgh, The Cycle Co-operative were excellent. Not just at bike repairs, but at restoring Kate's much tested optimism. Wheels being complicated things, this branch didn't have the exact wheel so she'd had to taxi to their other branch to pick one up and then return to have it fitted. 

 All done, off we set on our planned route, only to be distracted by trying to pick up the Union Canal, which goes all the way from Edinburgh to Glasgow. We don't know how bad a decision that was, because it was certainly further than the planned route, but it was flat and easy navigation. Made easier with Kate doing the work on the front into a headwind. I did a stint and it underlined just how tired my legs were. We have trained hard for this, but we are now in uncharted territory really. None of us had gone this far, this hard, fully laden and it is punishing. One day at a time. 

The canal has a couple of interesting points. We rescued a geordie holiday maker on his narrow boat who had got stuck doing a U-turn. Just before Falkirk, a long tunnel with coloured lighting and then the Falkirk wheel. An extraordinary contraption that lifts boats from one canal to another, some 20m higher. Short ride from there to the campsite. 

Sort of wild camping with a toilet and shower. (Cold and bracing) Dominos pizza deliver though, so dinner was quickly dispatched and an early night. Disturbed by itching midge bites for me, but at least I am now up to date with this diary. Into the Tossachs tomorrow.

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