Moffat to Balloch

 June 19th

The Balmoral Hotel in Moffat was a lovely stopover, right in the centre of Moffat, really good value for money and a good breakfast to send me on my way. Unfortunately that was the end of the positives today for quite some time. However the day begun more auspisciously when Simon sent a message to wish me a happy Father's Day a fact which had escaped me in my self absorbment. We had a long chat which was nice.

My masochistic guide, Nick Mitchell,  reckoned ,"The first three hours cycling involves a steady ascent from Moffat towards Glasgow, which can be strenuous, particularly in bad weather" It was and it was bad weather namely a horrible steady headwind which had me down to 9kph at times. Having left at just before 08.30 it took me until after 11.30 to cover the first twenty miles to Abington where I stocked up with energy bars and water.

You couldn't make this up. Just as I climbed out of Abington to the roundabout which is junction 13 on the M74 to take the B7078  the only road North on which a bicycle is allowed, I noticed a sign which informed me that the said B7078 was CLOSED and that I should follow the diversion. When I looked at where the diversion went, I decided to chance my arm. I would climb over, carry my bike around, cycle on the cycle track around whatever the blockage there was because THERE WAS NO VIABLE ALTERNATIVE. As it turned out a part of the road was being resurfaced and being Sunday no one was working so the road was completely clear as was the cycle track NCN 74 upon which I was travelling. Panic over I still struggled to pick up any pace against a fierce headwind.

Eventually I passed Happendon Services and through Coalburn and Lesmahagow when a voice from behind said "Hi" in a very strong American accent. It proved to be the voice of Jason a fellow end to ender who had a well laden steed for he was camping.

Jason was a lovely, lively 21 year old from Washington D.C. who had just finished College and was about to enter the world of work as an environmental consultant in the field of clean air research. We got on famously and rode together for about an hour before it became apparent that while we were well matched on the flat Jason was considerably better than me at ascending ( despite the greater weight he was carrying in his panniers) Well he was 21! I didn't want to hold him back so I urged him to go on. Jason I hope you found the Clyde Cycle Way and I wish you nothing but the best for the rest of your trip. 

After I left Jason at Larkhall I pushed on as hard as I could to reach the start of the Clyde Walkway or Cycleway 75 which went all the way into the centre of Glasgow never further than a few metres from the River Clyde eventually passing through Glasgow Green, the city centre and the out towards the Kingston bridge and towards Loch Lomond. Fantastic. The sun came out the wind didn't abate but it was flat and I made reasonable time in the second half of the day to arrive at the Dumbarton North Premier Inn which is about two miles from Balloch.

It has been a tough day, almost 80 miles but I am still on the road to John O'Groats which is getting shorter by the day. 

The final few miles were very scenic following as they did the Forth and Clyde Canal which was very picturesque with picture postcard harbour at Bowling and swans with their cygnets meandering on the water at several points along the way.