Warning: there are a LOT of pictures of fields, today.

Loaded our bikes in the morning sun, the cool moist air of the last several days was gone.  We had a wonderful mile long drop out of town, quickly followed by a half mile climb into the fields.  Glanced back to catch a glimpse of the Alnwick Castle (dating from 1096)that we apparently missed while we were in town.  The rolling hills were minor,the soft palette of ripe grains contrasted against the dark pines and farmhouses were stunning.The farm/home estates were once again immense and the stone walls that were so prolific in the Dales once again were present.

We arrived at the coast minutes before the fog.    The low tide is dramatic, as was the fog, just a bit more difficult to photograph.  The southwest breeze that was blowing in the fog caught us appreciative on our backs.

The approach into Bamburgh for coffee was highlighted by the dramatic Castle.Our planned stop after 20 miles was sidetracked by meeting Egbert and Gertrud from Germany.  We had a wonderful conversation, but needed to continue.  Just as we were leaving, Henri (also from Germany) that we’d briefly met yesterday, joined the group.  We left them as they chatted away in their native tongue.  Leaving Bamburgh is when the real hills began; not the ones we have complained about to this point the climbs became longer and the fly-downs fun.  With the ups and downs pretty balanced we had time to recover before the next climb.  In the next town, on one such drop we stopped for lunch, only to climb a big hlll immediately after.  As our course took us closer to the sea, we became confused when the path we were instructed to take had a locked gate across it.  So we unloaded our bikes, lifted the bikes over, packed up and rolled on.  The path turned to a trail, then to a field.  For ten miles we slowly maneuver over the creeks, past the stunning cliffs and through the cows.  Our progress had slowed trememndously.  We rejoiced when we were on pavement again, even though it was climbing.  The coast had been captivating, but we were tired and needed to be there; we did not even care that the clouds were building around us.  The afternoon became a blur. Somtime before 5:00, we touched the Scottish Borders, but our road turned us away and up a hill, so the photo op was missed. Another 15 minute climb and were were at our bed and breakfast in the middle of nowhere.

Thankfully, we had made a dinner reservation when we booked the room, which was excellent since our legs were carrying us no further than the 60 miles we had already traveled.   The scenery today was some of the best we’d experienced but it was not easy.