Walk to the pub

We were due to meet some friends for lunch nearby and when I saw the splendid sunshine first thing this morning I was a bit upset that there wouldn't be time for a long dog walk but then I thought: "Why not walk to the pub?". After all, it's only about 4.5 miles away. So I set off at 11.15 leaving John to collect our friends and leave home at around 12.30. I passed another wonderful example of cattle and could not help picturing him. These long horns are very impressive and I'm hoping to capture the 2 large black beasts that are in the same field but so far have proved to be a bit elusive.

Walking in such gorgeous surroundings made me forget that there were 2 fairly substantial hills to conquer on the way. Not the ones shown above, but nevertheless fairly steep!

The views along the lane were stunning and clearly show the gentle hills of the Scottish Borders in all their glory, with the sun sparkling above. I wore my sunglasses for the first time this year!
It was hard to decide on my blip and in the end it came down to a choice between the two images shown above and below and the one below won, because of the many wonderful diagonals.

Eventually I reached the main road (A702) and then to my amazement discovered it took another 10 minutes to reach the Allan Ramsay on foot. In my idea you turned onto the main road and there it would be, and indeed there it is, when you're in a car! It just doesn't happen that fast when you're walking. The pub is named after the well-known Scottish poet Allan Ramsay who wrote his poem The Gentle Shepherd when he was in the locality. It used to be one of the many coaching inns on the road south from Edinburgh in Carlops. I'm pleased to say I reached the inn some 10 minutes before the car!

After the long walk I certainly felt I deserved my lunch, specially my sticky toffee sweet!