Kelso

Today we cycled from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Kelso as the first leg of our trip to Biggar along the Tweed valley cycle way. The terrain through this part of north Northumberland and the Scottish borders is not too challenging for a cyclist of my ability, so it was a relatively easy 35 mile ride to my cousins' house, with a break in Coldstream for lunch. We crossed the border five times in total en route.

The only mishap of the journey was to find that the Union Bridge that spans the Tweed between Fishwick and Horncliffe was closed to all traffic (bikes and pedestrians included), so we added some extra miles to the route as we devised a diversion further up the river.

My cousin Nick and his wife Jenny are brilliant hosts. From our arrival in Kelso at 3:30pm this afternoon they kept us well entertained  with lots of brilliant anecdotes. These are mainly about Jenny's eccentric family, which is not unlike that portrayed in The pursuit of love, as recently dramatised on the BBC. This evening we walked into town for a lovely meal at Cobbles. I blipped the view from our table in the restaurant this evening.

Tomorrow's ride will take us from Kelso to Innerleithen.

Exercise today: 34 miles of cycling; walking (7,365 steps).