Melrose Gibson Park Club Site, Melrose

Sunday, August 20th 2017.

The best plans of mice and men, and all that, anticipating heavy traffic on Western Bypass, Gateshead, around Metro Centre, we go via Tyne Tunnel, only to find the Newcastle Central Motorway (A167M), is closed northbound, with a convoluted diversion through 20mph speed bump littered streets in place!

Once clear of Newcastle and diversions, a scenic and traffic free drive mostly along the A68, to arrive after the inevitable rush of new arrivals, so, it is not all bad news.




The weather is pleasant, if not "full summer", time for a leisurely lunch, and an exploratory stroll around Melrose.

Melrose Gibson Park Club Site (N55 35'51" W2 43'26"), is a Caravan Club Site, or, to give the Club it's new name, the Caravan and Motorhome Club) and is typically clean, tidy and well run. 

Less than 5 minutes stroll brings you to a Coop Supermarket, and/or into the town, with a selection of Cafes, Shops, plus the ruins of Melrose Abbey.

Melrose Abbey founded in 1136 met it's demise in 1560 (Henry viii strikes again), and, is supposedly the final resting place of Robert the Bruce's heart. 

Monday, 21st August 2017

Although the weather forecast says it is going to rain, the reality, at the moment at least, is sunshine and only a very light wind.

I select a cycle ride from the Scottish Tourist Office recommendations.

Not entirely a success, nothing wrong with the ride, only that I fear it is meant for people thirty years younger than Kathleen and I, with mountain bikes.

The first two or three miles are fine, quiet "B" road, good surface, reasonably flat.

Then comes two miles of "off road", path, up a steep hill, heavy going walking, even heavier walking and pushing a bicycle, I am not popular.

A two mile long slog uphill from Newton St Boswell, not steep, but, it does go on and on, brings us to Bowden, for a well deserved rest.

We don't know it yet of course, but, we have are to have a nice coast downhill, to be followed by another long slow climb towards Melrose.

At least the final stretch is downhill, into the valley, but, this does not mean that Kathleen has forgotten the five uphill miles!

I am not sure I will be trusted to choose any

more routes, this trip, if ever again.

Refreshed by a light lunch, we stroll for another three miles around Melrose.