I am very grateful to all those who have taken a few moments to message me with words of encouragement and support.
I can’t emphasise enough how much this means to me, particularly first thing in the morning when my legs are tired and sore and I look for motivation to get on the bike again and do another 70 miles.
I do have to pinch myself when I look at the map and see the progress I’ve made in a relatively short period of time.
Today was always going to be special as it saw me reaching a point which is very close to home and where my good friends are based.
After breakfast, Janey & I had arranged to meet Stewart & Christel, our friends from Biggar, at the Aroma cafe.
It was great to catch up and we took their recommendation to stop off at The Apple Pie bakery in Carnwarth (only 8 miles away) as an essential ‘fuel’ stop.
So, after coffee, I headed back to the hotel to collect my bike and make a start on today’s stage. Fortunately, I was able to put my pannier bags in Janey’s car today so my bike felt light and easy to cover the miles. There was a special moment as I was leaving Biggar and I looked out in the direction of Stewart & Christel’s house. I heard their shouts as they were in their front garden waving and wishing me well. It was a lovely touch, which meant a lot to me!!
Today, I left South Lanarkshire, crossed through West Lothian and into the City of Edinburgh region. There was a cross- wind coming from the north west, which buffeted me when I was out in the open. There was a fantastic network of cycle paths as I negotiated Livingston, Mid Calder, Newbridge and Kirkliston.
I had extra motivation to reach my destination today as Janey and I were meeting our good friends, ‘The Ranchers’, for dinner at South Queensferry.
My final journey took me along a pleasant off-road cycle path through Newbridge and Kirkliston.
As my mind turned to meeting our friends and I contemplated the first sip of a nice cold beer, I began to think ‘This cycle path is going on forever!’
It was almost like I could see my glass of beer on the horizon as some sort of mirage!
I soon rolled into South Queensferry to complete my Day 9 journey and I met up with Janey before we headed out to meet our friends.
‘The Ranchers’ are a special group of friends. We have known each other for over 20 years and met originally through work. Since then we have enjoyed holidays together and we regularly meet up for dinner and drinks. The support and encouragement I have received from these guys is truly heart-warming. So, it meant a lot to me that they all came out to meet me at this stage of my trip. We enjoyed a fantastic meal at the Orocco Pier Hotel, over-looking the iconic Forth bridges.
I’m having the day off tomorrow (Saturday) and will depart South Queensferry at 8.30am on Sunday.
Today’s trivial facts
NO. OF MILES CYCLED TODAY : 40
MOMENT OF THE DAY: Meeting up with the Ranchers.
WEATHER: Dry with cloudy intervals with wind picking up, 13 degrees
FUEL: I ‘fuelled up’ and ate well for breakfast and the apple pie at The Apple Pie.
SONG OF THE DAY: You’ve Got A Friend In Me – Randy Newman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNIg45GZ_ts
% of FUNDRAISING TARGET REACHED: 76% (Thank U for sponsoring me)
SUNDAY’S STAGE 10 DESITINATION: Pitlochry, Perthshire (65 miles)
Scotty Boy's Bicycle Across Britain 
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