Scott Westwood

Lands End to John O'Groats

25th - 31st August 2006

In aid of the Walsall Hospice Appeal

Day 4 – Leaving Wigan and into Scotland

I’m not afraid to say that this was by far the toughest day of the journey. My legs were aching (I’d expected this anyway) but the fact that I’d still got another 4 days in the saddle on my own was tough to take in. With hindsight, this would have been another aspect of the trip that I may have changed. Having someone cycling with you (to talk to, encourage each other and shelter one another from the wind) is far, far easier than cycling on your own. I would go as far as saying that the journey is as tough (if not tougher) mentally than it is physically. I never thought I’d say that I was sorry to leave Wigan but I was (my face in the picture below says it all !!). Today saw me battling into a strong headwind yet again. Looking back, the lowest point of the journey was when I was passing through Carlisle. I spotted the railway station and, must admit, that I did consider catching the train home and spending a few quite days at home. It may have been the thought of doing the ride for charity combined with the number of people that were aware of my adventure that spurred me on but I’m so glad that this was only a passing thought. Lunch was taken in Shap after a tough climb up and over Shap fell on the edge of the Lake District. Having passed through Carlisle I picked up the A7 and A74 (this was on a par with the A30 for traffic / scary moments) before entering Gretna and obviously Scotland. I was surprised at how commercialised Gretna was. Every other building seemed to be a hotel offering wedding services. I think the entire community is now geared up around weddings. A quiet B road then led me to my accommodation for the night at Ecclefechan (just south of Lockerbie). After a difficult day it was nice to receive a number of text messages and phone calls from various people offering words of encouragement.