The Bear Gates, Traquair.....

.....have been locked since 1745 and will remain so until the House of Stuart (the true royal family) returns to the UK throne. 

Earlier, I got my static cycle in early (in the garage), showered and then headed-up the road to Peebles. The B7060 to Yair was closed with no obvious diversion, so I routed via Selkirk and took the timber road up past Elibank Castle and then to Traquair, finally crossing the River Tweed in Peebles. 

After a chat with maw, I went to the local cafe and met Richy. He's an old chum from my rugby playing days who's always been fitter and faster than me (that’s not saying much, but he's quite a lithe chap), but now finds himself cursed with a dodgy ticker. We drank coffee not beer (de-caf in his case) and 2 hours flew-by. Really nice catch-up and we parted with him handing me a bag of beer (he's a rep for a well-known Scottish brewery). 

When I arrived home, Nancy was spatchcocking a chicken, which isn't an imprisonable offence in this part of the world. 

More Wisting this evening I think.