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Got an early start, on the road by half 8. It was bright and dry and we had a tailwind. We headed over to Coldstream for a BCQ then headed down the River Tweed joining the NCN1 to Berwick. We arrived with two hours to spare before the train so we had time for lunch in a café. There was a pipe band playing and the streets were very busy.

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It was dry in the morning, we headed up the B6341 in to a slight headwind, the terrain was still fairly 'undulating'. After we crossed the A1 we speeded up passing through fields and farms. We missed out Seahouses and went straight to Bamburgh for a tea and scone and a BCQ. Got away by 12 heading west through Belford to B6349. This was a very quiet road and not hilly until the last few approaching Wooler where the sun came out. Had lunch in a café. It was a lovely afternoon riding near the Bowmont Water to Kirk Yetholm. We arrived just before 5, even before the volunteer warden.

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The forecast for today was pretty poor with most of the rain to fall about 13:00 so we set off with the intention of spending that period in a café in Rothbury. We started well heading through Redesmouth then hit our first climb of the day. Once over that the run through Cambo for a BCQ was pretty easy.

Cambo was a lovely village.

After that the road had severe undulations all the way to Rothbury. We spent an hour and a half in the café until the rain eased off. Headed north to Wittingham (of the fair).

The original title for the song Scarborough Fair is Wittingham Fair and this is the place. Another lovely village and a BCQ. We then used minor roads to reach Alnwick. Lovely modern hostel in an old prison.

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Trevor and Alan had to leave us today so they headed off east to Shotley Bridge while Calum, Andy and I went back to Blanchland. The 1:6 north out of Blanchland has been relabelled as a 20% but it's definitely not that steep. When I was at school this was a fabled climb as we tackled as often as we could.

The B road down in to Hexham was closed so we had to take a detour but the signs took us back to the closed section so we ended up pushing the bikes past the road closure and gas repairs.

We had lunch in Hexham, weather quite warm by now. We headed north again and had another two road closures with accompanying detours before reaching the excellent Simonburn Tearoom. Lovely tea and a scone with jam and cream.

The weather held out for the rest of the ride up to Bellingham. It's a new hostel which is described as a bunkhouse. The facilities are excellent.