I was kicking myself on Strava for not going there until I read this and remembered that it was shut.
In the course of my interkitten research last night I determined that no-one in the Duns-England section was going to be serving full lunches at that time, so I just packed sandwiches so laden with peanut butter, jam and butter as to make your arteries serve as angle grinder blades. I'd had one of them too soon before the Honey Farm, so had only planned to go in for a look at the place.
I therefore stopped at the Collingwood Arms, but peeking through the window revealed it to be even fancier than the website suggests, so rather than lower the tone, I went to the cafe/minimarket a few doors up. It did indeed have a bit of the English tearoom vibe to it, but mostly it was just cheap and cheerful. Only not as cheap as it should have been for what I got.
Previous to this I bumped into Portovelo when I was lost near the road up to Redstane Rigg. I had just about convinced myself I needed to double back a few miles when I saw them coming up the road and figured they must be heading there, so gave chase.
The battery life on my Garmin has now shortened to the point that it can't serve me on rides longer than around 100, I think. In summer I expect it'll have a bit more juice, but given my inability to hold a map in my head for more than a couple of junctions, I think it's time to upgrade to one of the fancier ones anyway.
Next stop was at the other cafe in Innerleithen. I can't actually find its name on the web, but it's the one that isn't Whistlestop. I'd aimed to stop there, but it was closing just as I arrived, but the chap putting the bins out happily directed me to the other one, so bravo to him. I gave up coffee a couple of weeks back, so it could just be the wagon-faller talking, but it was a darn good americano. Powered me up the Granites anyway.
I can't decide whether it was just the <10mph wind, my clean-livin' ways, the way my weekly commute is now 100 miles and 5000ft as opposed to 50 and 1300 or that coffee but I do seem to be rather fit at the minute. Had plenty of miles left in the legs by the time home rolled up. I believe it's time for a 300.
The reason I'm awake at 2.15am typing this is because of cramp, so it's not like I'm crazy fit. Just rather.
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