Innerleithen Wednesday 03 June 2015
Start: Jedburgh
Finish: Innerleithen
Miles walked today: 30
Total miles: 713
The scene: a cycle route following the valley of the River Tweed. The following dialogue can be heard:
"Go on, take a look at your phone"
"No!"
"Go on. We can see how near we are on the map..."
"No!"
"At least look at the time"
"No!"
"You wanted to walk to Innerleithen"
"I know. We had no choice. It was either stop too early or keep going to Innerleithen. You know there's nothing for miles otherwise. No pubs, no villages, nothing!"
"If you look at your phone we could be really close."
"We could be miles away. I'd rather not know"
"Just a little peep?"
"No!"
And so on... you get the idea.
Dot at the Akaso-Uram b&b (I should have asked her about the name) made me a delicious breakfast. Her house is lovely. The sort of place that is a real home. She has an amazing collection of miniatures - photo below. When I leave, she gives me back some of my payment (which was very reasonable) as a donation. Another b&b I must return to if I can.
The sun is shining as I stride out of Jedburgh. A shorts and T shirt day at last. I'm not quite sure about my route or destination. My plan is to head for Melrose and take it from there.
I head along the St Cuthbert's Way for a while, and later pop into a pub at St Boswells. Liam, the barman, asks about my walk and makes a donation. A very nice man.
I skirt around the south of the Eildon Hills and don't actually go to Melrose. Farm tracks take me to the cycle route and I plod on to Innerleithen. As I round a bend in the road, I see houses on the opposite bank of the river. I've made it! Innerleithen. I finally take a look at my phone and discover that I am looking at the village of Walkerburn. Innerleithen lies a couple of miles further on. Oh well. Another few paces and I see a tiny chick in the road. A car stops as I pick it up and the lady driver tells me it's a pheasant or partridge. I put it somewhere safe where there's a chance of the parents finding it.
It's been a very long day of walking but good to be out in the sun. Crumbs b&b is manned by Barbara and Colin, who make me most welcome.
