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Days 13 to 15
Warwick Bridge to Bankfoot
Monday 17th June Warwick Bridge to Tushielaw Inn, Ettrick
Another fine day is promised for us with just the occasional spot of rain. The B&B last night was in a house attached to an old corn mill and it had a very large water wheel. The owner had lived here in her childhood when it was still a working mill but the mill is now in ruins and a lot of work is required to restore it. We made our way across country north of Carlisle to pick up the busy A7 - 5 miles of unpleasant cycling until we reached Longtown. Apart from the normal sandwich shop we also managed to find a bike shop here so Tony W could replace his toe straps which were hanging on by just a couple of threads. 
The traffic eased after Longtown and the road became wider and smoother so it wasn't long before we had crossed into Scotland and we had reached Langholm with hardly a hill in sight! We now branched off the main A7 to follow a minor road up the river Esk into Eskdalemuir, up and up for the next 20 miles. At 6 miles we stopped in the village of Bentpath for our lunch sitting on a bench overlooking the river. 
At 14 miles we pulled into the Samyé-Ling Tibetan centre for tea and cake and chatted to a fellow cyclist - he was of a similar age and was out on a 100 mile round trip for the day (a very wiry fellow). Just 5 miles left to the summit before the 6 mile glide down to Ettrick, where we stopped at a cafe for tea and muffins, and then the final 3 miles to the B&B at the Tushielaw Inn. Nowadays this only operates as a B&B so it is slightly strange to find yourself eating an evening meal in a bar-room with no other customers. The only downside to the day was having to cope with the occasional logging lorry which came hurtling down the valley occupying virtually the whole of the road. It is advisable to dismount and move over to the verge when you see them coming.
The stats for the day were 53.84 miles : 10.1mph : 2590ft climbed
Tuesday 18th June Tushielaw Inn to Edinburgh
We left the Tushielaw Inn at 8.30 and had two biggish climbs during the morning. In the dip between the two we arrived at the Gordon Hotel to find 5 veteran Bugatti cars being tenderly cared for by their owners. As we ascended the second climb more than 30 more Bugattis passed us coming down the hill their engines sometimes coughing and spluttering and with a strong smell of petrol in the air - so much for clean Scottish air! Once over the top of the hill we descended into Traquair and then followed the river Tweed into Peebles for our first cup of tea and cake. 
By 11am we had covered half of the distance for the day - we would be staying with Tony's friends Don and Helen on the south side of Edinburgh and there would be an opportunity to catch up on the washing.
From Peebles we followed the main A703 northwards towards the capital - it was fairly busy but not too bad. We pulled off this road for a while and camped in the shade of a tree as we ate our lunch. We arrived on the outskirts of Edingburgh at 2pm and found a pub which served us tea and then onto Don and Helen's for 3pm. It had been a warm day and the cold drinks we were given together with the refreshing shower were very well received! Helen was in the process of preparing to depart for London where she was going to make a presentation - she is a professor at the university - so it wasn't long before she left to catch the plane. Don returned from the airport to cook us an excellent meal and to look after us as though we were royalty. Note that during the trip my hair often took on the contours of my cycle helmet - in cafes when my hat came off TW was actioned to remind me of this to save embarassment on both sides!
The stats for the day were 40.57 miles : 10.2mph : 2158ft climbed
Wednesday 19th June Edinburgh to Bankfoot
Don prepared us a lovely breakfast in the morning and even polished Tony's shoes for him! The route Don suggested across the south west corner of Edinburgh was not too busy, even though it was rush hour, and it wasn't long before we had picked up an off road cycle track along an old railway line to the west of the city. You would never know, once you are on a track like this, 
that you are still in the heart of a busy town. After about 9 miles we were due to join the cycle track alongside the A9 which leads out to Queensferry - however we found our way barred with a diversion in place through the picturesque Dalmeny Estate. This was a much better route if slightly longer. There were lovely views over the Forth Estuary. Here we chatted briefly to an end to ender who had left Lands End just 5 days before (we had taken 15!)
The Forth Road Bridge at Queensferry gives great views especially of the Forth Railway Bridge and as soon as you dismount you notice the vibration caused by the heavy lorries. 
Just across the bridge we arrived at Inverkiething where we stopped for a cuppa and bought sustenance for the day ahead. At Kinross we stopped for lunch, however in the fruiterers here Tony was persuaded to purchase hot chicken legs to supplement our previous purchases - the fruiterers was also a deli and a butcher. Then we spotted a bakers shop from our seat under the trees - so more purchases bought - this time large vanilla slices! Fortified we staggered on into Perth, which we reached by 3.30, where we enquired at the local TIC about accomodation north of here for the night. It was very limited but eventually we stumbled across the Bankfoot Inn, 12 miles away, the most expensive so far at £80 and involving the busy A9 dual carriageway for part of the route. We were very glad to reach our destination that night.
The stats for the day were 58.6 miles : 10.1mph : 2972ft climbed