Big Beautiful Borders…countryside ride

Day 4

July 17, 2025

Stats: 28 miles, AIS: 2:29 Elev. 1587 ft. Speed: 11.1mph

We started our morning with breakfast at Sandy’s. He did some shopping early and came back with food for the week. My favorite was the Muesli (cereal)! The muesli cereal you can get in the states does not even compare to what I’ve had in Europe. I’ve tried to find it, even online, and it’s just not as good. I’ll have to bring some home!

After breakfast the plan was to meet with his piper friend Eric and we would all ride the borders countryside together. Beautiful narrow backroads with very little traffic. Sometimes it was easy to forget there would be cars coming ahead or behind! Delightful.

The countryside was upsy-downsy rolling hillsides with farms, sheep and cows along the way. In the distance you could see the Cheviot Hills that are basically the border with England. They are pretty dominant on the skyline. Along the farms there was often drystane dike (rock fences). These dikes would run all the way up hills separating fields. I can only imagine the human labor and time it took to build these walls.

We rode to small villages named Yetholm and Morebattle

We were completing the loop road back to Kelso and I stopped to take photos and the others just kept travelling ahead. I apparently didn’t go right at a Y and went left and found myself alone at a T in the road. No worries … as they say in the UK… the sign said Kelso 2 miles right. They ditched me!🤣. Off I traveled to Kelso. Along the way Sandy called me. They were waiting at some church to the right at the Y. I kept on to Kelso and we all met at the Town Square!

That wrapped up the ride for the day. Back to Sandy’s for lunch and a nap after an afternoon pint. Wiped me out for a bit!

We had a curry dinner at Sandy’s and then we joined him back in the square where he meets his music group every Thursday night at the Cross Keys Hotel to play Scottish and Irish tunes. They play in the bar and casual restaurant area of the hotel. Comfortable with chairs and tables. They played fiddles, guitar, small bagpipes, mandolin, harmonica, dulcimer and a small drum (don’t know what kind). Some played multiple instruments. Talented group of musicians. What fun!

I’ll leave off here. Tomorrow we are off to ride to the Holy Island on the east coast of England, across the border. Weather looks good… should be another good day. We all really enjoyed today’s ride, scenery, company, small hills, empty roads and great weather (no wind either)! Life is good😊