Day 22 Byrness to Ancrum

Byebye England!

What a day!  I am typing up my blog in Scotland - hooray. Today was a very tough day physically as my right foot (this is now a very boring subject and i must stop writing about it but it's VERY sore) started playing up and I felt tired before I'd even started walking.  The A68 from the hotel was awful - not very big verges and it meant walking a few steps and pulling right in and stopping to let the traffic pass me safely which was slow going and tiring.  I couldn't even look at the glorious view as i kept having to concentrate hard.  Just as i was feeling a bit weepy (it had all caught up with me a bit) the cloud cleared on the summit and, like opening the curtains, it revealed the border into Scotland.  I stopped in a lay by, pulled myself together, did a few half hearted stretches, cursed my bl...dy foot, munched an entire chocolate brownie and started walking up the last hill.  It was a slow ascent but i fixed my eyes on the scottish flag and willed myself to just keep moving forward.  I felt rather emotional as I took the last few steps to the top and saw some friends of my parents waiting for me with open arms and another boot load of scones (hooray - more scones!!) I had actually made it to scotland with no broken bones or any dire injury. It's incredible what the body can do when you will it to keep moving.  I figured if i just kept putting one foot in front of the other - however slowly - i'd get there eventually.  I took huge pleasure in putting one foot in England and one in Scotland and then bouncing backwards and forwards (as much as you can bounce with a full back pack) across the border until i got a few curious stares from a couple of bus loads of tourists.

First view of Scotland

I was joined by Philly, a friend of the lovely couple I am staying with (huge thanks all round) who got me through this afternoon with her positive thinking, excellent map reading and energy.  Thank you Philly if you are reading this!  we managed to walk off the A68 for a while which made all the difference.  I found myself limping into Jedburgh and the outskirts of Ancrum so I downed a few more painkillers.  Only 45 miles to Edinburgh - come ON feet!
( Thank you to Carol at the wonderful Redesdale Arms for her donation, fabulous breakfasts and warm welcome. )