Day 19: Glencaple to Annan

I thought I would make good time this morning, but it was bitterly cold, minus one, when I set off. I had to put two hats on and my gloves.

I was walking at quite a pace to try and keep warm. I spotted a lady walking slightly behind me and I waited for her to catch me up and we walked together for about a mile or so. Her name was Pam and she was a local she walked about 3 miles every day. I was telling her about my trek and gave her a heart which brought a bit of a tear to her eye as she had recently lost her brother. Everyone has a story, everyone has someone they’ve loved and lost.

We have taken up the amazing offer of hospitality from Will and Viv two local Rotarians who have kindly let us stay in their Wee Hoose. I arrived before Rhoda and Steve. I was so excited to see a bath with constant hot water. It’s amazing how you miss a bit of space. I lay on the rug on the living room floor and just stretched my back doing some yoga poses, child’s pose and some thoracic rotations it felt so amazing. A quick cuppa and chat with Will and Viv followed by a quick refuel and I was off again.

Walking in the afternoon in the crisp frosty air I couldn’t keep my eyes off the Solway Firth to my right. I spent most of the afternoon walking parallel to it.

The sun started to set over the mass expanse of water and coastline. I could see the hills of Cumbria in front of me and the hills of Galloway behind me silhouetted against the red-orange sky. It was an amazing experience the sea was so calm, peaceful and beautiful. There were wispy clouds just on top of the hills in Cumbria giving them a lovely fluffy candy floss appearance. Then they too started to be silhouettes against the sunset. I was thinking ‘wow that’s where I’m off to for the next few days’. Obviously not climbing the hills but skirting my way around them along the coast.

I took the opportunity to detour from the route along the beach and I was so glad I did. I spotted this driftwood creation. It so reminded me of a time on a beach in New Zealand when our boys came across something similar.

Finally I could see the town of Annan but not before I was treated to an amazing sunset.

Phone signal coverage was very intermittent today and so I’ve not been able to listen to the radio. I listened to a bit of a playlist and then decided to listen to some Desert Island Discs. Billy Jean King was amazing and it made me appreciate how forward thinking she was and such a great leader in moving things forward to more inclusive society within tennis.

I arrived at the station and had a quick GnT while waiting for Steve to collect me.

All that was left to do was to have a luxurious soak in the bath and eat dinner cooked by Rhoda. Now I’m in bed falling asleep writing this.