Photograph Gallery Stage 29 Lanark to Biggar
Photograph Gallery Stage 29 Lanark to Biggar, Tuesday 21st June 2011
The Story:
I got thoroughly soaked today; it never stopped raining during the entire 13.7 mile walk, persisting relentlessly with every step I took. Damn the weather.
After the beating my hip, thigh, knees, legs and feet took yesterday I awoke with trepidation but was happy to find I could turn in the bed, rise and get down to breakfast without too much of a struggle at George Linnie’s great B&B. He even made up my sandwiches for the day, a lovely man. I left after putting together my gear, only to return after going 100 yards before realising I had left my poles. George classed it as a senior moment. So it was. After my false start I was away for a second time and made a steady comfortable start to my days walk by following the road out of Lanark, detouring to Lanark Loch, meeting the friendly swans, reading up on Scottish aviation history and then continuing on out of the town. Generous pathways took me safely past the site of the old racecourse to Hyndford Bridge before I had to use the narrow verge on the A73 for the next two miles before I made a safe exit to follow nigh on deserted country roads past Chester Hill and Perryflatts toward Thankerton. My only sanctuary from the downpour was when I took lunch under a mature oak tree. I didn’t take too long though as it was uncomfortably cold. And all this depression on the longest day, I hope summer comes soon.
From Thankerton the walking was more of the same along quiet country lanes all the way to Biggar. Distractions from the gloom included encounters with cows in fields which found me curious enough to congregate en masse as close as they could to where I was passing. Another was a couple of infuriating readings. I was ok with the first which indicated Biggar as four miles away. The next one gave Biggar as three miles distance. I derided it and shouted out an expletive. I had walked two miles from one to the other and was starting to tire; I didn’t need it. Apart from the irksome roadside I did take particular satisfaction in noticing the deep green of the fields and countryside. This part of Scotland is the lushest I have seen, probably because it never stops raining.
As I approached Biggar I looked beyond the town to see the high hills of the southern uplands, my last barrier before England. Tomorrow I get to the foot of them. On Thursday I begin four days crossing them. I hope the weather is better. I do so want to enjoy them and delight in the views they should offer, but no hope of that on a day like this.
The forecast is not good. As for my lower body, I’ll rest it tonight, walk a short day tomorrow, rest it again and hope I’m up for the uplands.
The Photographs:
Lanark
Lanark Loch
It appears Lanark was a centre of aviation in 1910
Commemorative sculpture celebrating the 1910 airshow
Rocking swan outside the pub at Lanark Loch
The old raceboard at disused Lanark racecourse
The only colour I saw on a dull day
Pines near Winston Barracks
Hyndford Bridge
These AA boxes were assembled in a garden near Sherifford Sawmill
The very quiet road at Chester Hill
Through the gloom I could just make out the uplands
These young cows took a great interest in me when I walked past their field
These older cows couoldn't care less
On reflection it was a wet day!
Network of paths
Biggar
I may have criticised the tame pictures of Cape Wrath but “On reflection it was a wet day!” tells the story and is a great picture.