Bad day, good day, bad day....

Good day! From the first crow it was a good day; we woke up expecting to be marooned and as we hadn't packed the water wings thought we were in trouble, but there was only drizzle so cracked on heading for Gretna, which we reached in about an hour and a half, then onto the border where we had our obligatory picture taken at the England sign. It was a huge boost to us to know we had cycled the length of Scotland and were more or less in one piece. Only 500 or so miles to go! The big challenge of the day (apart from navigating through Carlisle and Penrith) was supposed to be going up and over shap fell (1400 feet); several times when we asked directions, a local would look at us, close one eye, tilt his head and say "Arrr you'll be going up shap then...." it was like that scene in "American werewolf in London".With some trepidation we got to the bottom, had a cheese sandwich and set off up and up. In then end however, Shap didn't deliver the horrors we expected; she was like The Duke's pass less attractive, but much friendlier sister, and we breezed up; must be all that training. We met the girls at the top (one of whom was asleep when we arrived), had another cheese sandwich and set off on the best decent I have ever ridden. More or less 7 or 8 miles down into Kendal; from there things picked up considerably and the roads through the North lakes were very kind to us, we finally arrived in Garstang at about 7 to be met by Sarah's Mum, Barbara; bearing a Barbara Young ham for sandwiches for the next three weeks. What a boost to see her! We then had a nice evening with star of stage and screen, Clive Cooper and Joanne Brayshaw before bed. One thing to add is the kindnes we have experienced from strangers; we've had about £100 of cash donations from members of the public; from £20 given to me by two girls at Penrith station (I could go down completely the wrong road with this, but won't) to the toilet attendant lady at Gretna Green offering Sarah and Maria her tips, which they gracefully declined. We've only had one negative experience when a red van man tried to pick a fight with Stu; big mistake. All ended peacefully and on we go. Today is the day we've dreaded since January, through the industrial towns of the North West; hopefully will be able to log on tonight and let you all know it wasn't as bad as we'd feared. We're more than half way now and once today is over (finishing in Wem in Shropshire) we'll be able to smell the sea (well nearly).