Hands Across The Wa'... (a proposed meeting)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted account rno
  • Start date Start date
URGENT MESSAGE RE SUNDAY

Hi folks,

I've just had a PM from cutmorej at Miss Ellie's. He's very apologetic but will have to cancel us meeting at his cafe due to an unforseen matter. This can't be helped. Can anyone suggest a suitable meeting place in Selkirk or the surrounding area?

Same time scale (11.30 ish) will still apply.

Ronno
 
St.Mary's Loch Cafe 16 miles from Selkirk.. should be fairly quiet at 11:30 on a Oct Sun morning

Cheese Burgers & Bacon Sarnies are OK :thumb
 

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Fime by me.
How many are going?
We won't overwhelm the place if 30 bikes turn up?

S
NE mob still meeting in Pont?

:beer:
 
Still OK for Ponteland, meeting Aldy at Otterburn ont way up.
Has anyone checked to see if the caff at St Marys Loch will be open??
According to Garmin its 78 miles from Pont to SML, thats goig thru Otterburn, Hawick,Ashkirk, Ettrickbridge and Yarrow.
Does that sound OK?
Cheers Dave
 
At the little caff, its on the right as you drive thru Ponteland, usually loads of cyclists there.Its before the traffic lights if you are heading into ponteland from the Airport.
 
St Mary's Loch Cafe sounds good to me. I would envisage it being nearer 12 before some of us arrive there though in view of the extra miles. That said, it is part way into the route we were originally going to be heading off onto after lunch at Miss Ellie's so it shouldn't make much if any diffferance (I don't think anyway!).

I've looked at the map and thought about a run from the cafe to Moffat, A701/Tweedsmuir to Rachan Mill, B712 to pick up the A72 Peebles to St Boswell's and stop for a coffee there (or not, depending on time) before setting off southwards/northwards on the A68.

Alternatively, from cafe head south on B709 (Gordon Arms) to Langholm then head up the A7 or pick up the B6357, then bade farewell at Carter's Bar.

Dunno if either route is acceptable (or even feasible for time etc) and I for one am open to suggestions from persons knowing this area better then me.

Once we've decided on a route, could some kind person with GPS do the honours and also be lead bike?

Looking forward to Sunday... :thumb

Ronno
 
Either route sounds OK to me, though I haven't got a map to hand. All good roads there, several (ahem) photo opportunities between St. Boswells and the Border IYKWIM ;) so presumably steady progress will be the order of the day?
 
I’ve got a suggestion for a route to take from the café at St. Mary’s Loch. Feel free to ignore it but I do know the roads well and feel that this option offers an alternative to the normal A road blast.

From the café turn around and head back to Cappercleuch, turn left following the signs to Tweedsmuir. This takes you high up into the hills past Megget reservoir and then down past Talla Reservoir. Turn right at Tweedsmuir and head along the A701. Turn off before Rachan Mill heading for Stobo. Turn right onto the A72 and head through Peebles.

From here it depends what everyone wants. The A72 from Peebles all the way to the turn off to Selkirk is excellent. So if you’re heading for St. Boswells I’d turn off and head for Selkirk along the A707 then head for St. Boswells on the A699. Many of you English guys may already have come the opposite way to get to St. Mary’s Loch.

Or you could turn right at Innerleithen following signs to Traquair. This road takes you back to the Gordon Arms Hotel in the Yarrow Valley. Head straight over, following the B709 to the Ettrick Valley until you meet the B7009 at Crosslee.

From here you’ve got three options.

1. Head to Selkirk down the B7009 and then onto St. Boswells, or
2. Turn right at Crosslee, then left at The ‘Tush’ (Tushielaw Inn), following signs for Hawick. You join the A7 on the west side of Hawick and could stop off at Wilton Park to pay homage to the late great Steve Hislop at his new statue. Many of you may have been at the unveiling but I’m sure lots haven’t. There is also a wee café about 20 metres from the statue for everyone to grab a coffee before dispersing to the four corners of the country. Alternatively, everyone sticks together and heads through Hawick along the A698, turning right at the junction that’s signposted for Bonchester Bridge and you follow this road all the way to the Carter Bar, or
3. Head for Langholm as Ronno has suggested.

I’m proposing cutting the distance a bit by missing out Moffat but hasn’t everyone seen the Grey Mare’s Tail? The view as you head down to Talla is awesome and worth the diversion if you want to. The alternative routes from Innerleithen are much better than heading straight to St. Boswells though.

The roads in the Ettrick and Yarrow valley’s are narrow and twisty and totally free of traffic but some of the English boys may be using these routes to get to St. Mary’s Loch, unless they are following the A68 to St. Boswell’s then heading to Selkirk and up the Yarrow Valley, (which is the quickest way). Heck I don’t know, give it a thought. I’m going to try and make it but can’t confirm as yet. I can meet the guys that are heading from Stow in Clovenfords, as you are planning to pass my house anyway by the sounds of it (remember it’s a 30!)
:)
 
StooL said:
The A72 from Peebles all the way to the turn off to Selkirk is excellent.
Except at the weekend! :rolleyes:
StooL said:
I can meet the guys that are heading from Stow in Clovenfords, as you are planning to pass my house anyway by the sounds of it (remember it’s a 30!)
Yes we'll be coming that way. Meet you at the pub by the roundabout?

Kai
 
SpyInTheCamp said:
Except at the weekend! :rolleyes:


Yes we'll be coming that way. Meet you at the pub by the roundabout?

Kai

True, which is why I thought about heading back over to The Gordon Arms and beyond to get away from traffic. I get enough of A roads during the week......over 300 miles up and down the A7!

I'll meet you down at the school at Caddonfoot if I can make it (might have to work). That way you don't have to stop in Cloven and will be easier if there's a few of you.
 
Hadn’t been following this thread so imagine my surprise when found myself out for a ride and bumped into dozens of Gsers at StMarys loch. Nice to see you all, hope you had a good day out.

PS weather could have been better, brrrrrr.

Allan
 
Thirty Odd Bikes And One Complete Tosser (Moi)

It was an excellent turn out today especially considering the weather. Our own G.C. did over a hundred miles before he met up with any of the Scottish contingent! Kai (Spy In The Camp) took us over some really good back roads. Pity about my slight "off"... :banghead: :doh That pissed me off no end and thereafter, my concentration levels were piss poor. No real damage done other than new crash bars/plastic cylinder head cover required and some injured pride. The bars did their job though...

It was great meeting you NE lads. I realise that you guys put in a lot of miles and effort to make the meeting. Thanks for that. :clap

I hope you all had a good day out. Thanks everyone for making the effort :thumb

Ronno

P.S. Maybe Kai or Frisky would be so kind as to write up a wee route report. Here's a pic taken at the cafe at St Mary's Loch today.

39279372-L.jpg
 


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