Day 9 Moffat to Dunbarton

After a great nights sleep in our mansion...it was back on the saddle for our 9th day of cycling. It's crazy how a 72 mile ride is now a short day, we were all quite relaxed by the thought of it... Simon announced over breakfast that "it's all downhill apart from the ups" which lifted our spirits even higher.

Bandaged and ibuprofened up, the tandem duo climbed steadily to the days high point after 12 miles. The knees are taking a battering! The rest of the team took turns to play 'windbreak', we're now a well gelled team and know each others strengths and weaknesses.

We stopped for a well earned break from the wind at Abingdon services...tea and snacks were consumed. It was cold but no rain. The next stretch flew by, the tandem took a turn at the front on the flat and downhill sections.. We then came to a road closed sign, the van had to turn round and take a huge diversion. Fortunately for us the footpath alongside the road was ok, so we carried on as planned.

News then came in of a puncture...the 4th of the trip fell to Erica in the support car! The van went to assist and left us riders to our own devices for lunch. The Blackwood garden centre cafe ticked all the boxes...bacon & egg butty, cake and hot chocolate - good find Simon. Now for the section through the middle of Glasgow, a daunting prospect (if we didn't have a local in the team!)

We avoided all the major roads and weaved our way along the river and through parks which was a welcome surprise. News in from the support team; car all fixed and back on the road. We stopped for a mid-afternoon break by the river, but not stocking up on snacks from the van at lunchtime meant we were back on the road quicker than usual.

There were a few bollards, barriers and chicanes to deal with along the sustrans route...some tricky maneuvers on a tandem! The road surfaces have been noticeably worse today, sore bums all round. We all made it through Glasgow safe and sound..even over the patches of glass. The Dunbarton Travelogde came sooner than expected and the ravenous bunch tucked into pasties, pies, scotch eggs and wagonwheels. Day 9 complete. The evening was spent relaxing, bathing, watching Wimbledon (come on Andy!) and eating out at a pub...tomorrow is our longest day.