Glentress Blue

Woke at 7 to discover that Husband had been sulking about the pouring rain for the last 2 hours! Persuaded him that it might clear up - and it did over (v.tasty) breakfast, which we spent chatting to the "Van Dunk Brothers" - a street theatre company who were doing land based synchonised swimmng at the Traquair Fair nearby. We're in a B&B near Peebles for a couple of nights - fab views, very friendly - but shared bathroom and very squeaky floorboards.

Even at 10:30ish, Glentress mountain bike centre was already looking busy with many baggy shorted blokes who seem to have a stronger tendency to remove shirts whilst preparing to pedal than English equivs (no bad thing....). As it was busy, we decided that my ability to stop randomly on scary mountain bike trail bits when my head convinces me that I'm going to die would probably annoy these hardy looking types and we went for the blue trail. Still tough going - berms up and downhill, stiff climbs & chunks of singletrack. One section - Blue Velvet was a joy - it flowed effortlessly. We also enjoyed the last downhill bit that had some fun up & over bits. The trails could best be described as manicured! Impressive set up though - I'd like to go back on a weekday to try the red trail.

Back to B&B to clean up, then off to Davyck Botanic Garden - an arboretum that contains much of the pines collected by David Douglas in C18 (he's the Douglas of the Douglas Fir). Reasonable, gentle walk.