Ednam House Kelso

... beach big, sandy and empty. took a few photographs.
Monday 19 got a boat "Serenity" from Seahouses to the Farne islands, about a 1 1/2 hour journey, saw lots of seals and the Longstone lighthouse where Grace Darling lived and rowed out to save the passengers on a stricken vessel which had drifted onto the rocks. no photos because I forgot the camera!

On Saturday we had arranged to go to Marion and Keith's new home for a bbq. It took us just over the hour to get there, it is a lovley house and garden. It turned out to be a lovey sunny afternoon. We sat and ate and drank all afternoon into the evening when Keith lit the fire with logs (very cosey). Jack had a great time ...

Great day of cycling through the Scottish Boarders. Coasted through the beautiful Tweed Valley. But then the climb began around Selkirk. Several km’s leading up to the town, going straight up through the town, and for several km’s out of the town! By then we were at the highest point around and had wonderful 360degree ...

... we know. Easy repair. The shop thankfully had the parts, and it didn’t break the bank. Finally at 2pm we were able to set out. Not sure if we would make our destination, I swore to myself if there were anymore problems with the bikes that we would be taking a taxi into Edinburgh to get it fixed rather than calling on Pete and Shona again! But all seemed to go smoothly from there on. Problem solved and we even made our destination ...

... for her to let the dogs out!!! But were not doing too bad, considering I have now been gone 50 days, covered 480+ miles and only got really wet 3 times!!! We had to stay in the van two nights because it was too wet to put the tents up. So on the whole we are coping quite well!! On Thursday I shall start the Pennine Way. I shall again have to leave Padi and backpack the first couple of days. I'm pretty sure the rain will be waiting for me up there!!! Will let you know!!!

... Cat, Richard and 2 of their mates that night. I made Chicken Cordon Bleu (please forgive my spelling babe if I got it wrong), with potato smash and veggies, and either peppercorn or msuhroom sauce. And we all know me, got dessert too!! Again, not a late night - well didn't feel like it was anyway, could have been with the sunset times here. Monday morning I caught up with an Ios mate for breaky. Vanessa has appeared on the blog before, and she is a wild one!! I would have ...

... that an overstated thought! The so-called "training" session was just a briefing or should I say a "talk" about what experience was in store for us and what we were to expect with regards to being strapped tightly (with emphasis) to our instructor. However, I admit, this did it for me in the sense that it did have the effect of injecting that fear factor...yikes! Yep, there we went!! And no turning back ...

... and when we hung up, I looked at my watch - it was 12 minutes to 5pm...I had NOTHING packed or ready to go. I moved like I had never moved before, and in 6 minutes was out the door. Did i bring everything I needed? nope, forgot a heap of stuff, but got the necessities for the most part! lol I made the bus with a minute to spare! Anyway, the flight was cheap, only 25 Euro return to Edinburgh - we got to our hostel at around 11pm, dropped our stuff off ...

... was surprised by is the abovementioned and funky new Scottish Parliament, located near Holyrood Palace, on the eastern end of town. It's only a recent addition in the last few years, probably around when I last visited, but somehow I must have missed it then. Rather unusual indeed, I can't tell you much more about it ...

Oh what a night indeed! I spent the first part of the evening at my host's home, a cute little flat just minutes from the city centre. We ate breakfast for dinner (pancakes, fruit and yogurt, very yummy!) and chatted for a wee bit (he he he.) Then we went to meet some of her friends out on the fringe party scene. We stood around talking for a while, and I got some good insider info on what to see and what to avoid in the rest of Scotland. I had looked through the ...