JOGLE Ultra (Trans England) from John O'Groats to Lands End in 16 days 864 miles, England

07. stage at 04/26/2012 from Moffat to Penrith, (day: 62.5miles / overall.: 407.6miles)

When I got up this morning I caught Steve P. before leaving. Tom F., Tom H. and Tim E. already started. Tom H. had started just a few minutes behind the other two. As usual I was not allowed to start before 9am. After breakfast, when I started up my laptop after I found a free Wifi-network. Did we get back to civilization? Finally a chance to check emails. I had bought a prepaid-sim-card with some free MBs, but it did not work as it supposed to do. When Rory called the phone company THREE they just told him to get to a shop to activate it. Quiet ridiculous, especially as nothing mentioned at the manual or the cover.

Rory and Jen came back to do some start photos of me. Today was the second longest stage of the race and the weather forecast broadcasted rain showers. When I arrived at the first aid station I heard that Tom H. dropped out. He had problems with his knees. The course brought us through Lockerbie. A few years ago a Lufthansa airplane crashed here (Wikipedia). There was quiet a strange monument set up to remember it. Then we got through Ecclefechan. It was the birth place of the writer Thomas Carlisle. He is also called as Thomas Carlyle (Wikipedia). Before we went through the city of Carlisle we passed Gretna. It was famous for the jewellery smithy. It was just next to the border between Scotland and England. In the past there was a law in England. People were not allowed to marry without acceptance of their parents. So a lot of young people under 21 came here to prevent that acceptance (Wikipedia). At the end of Gretna Rory and Jen waited to make some pictures when we entered England. I passed Tom F. and Tom E. very late today. Both where in good shape. Especially Tim E. did very well, but his feet looked horrible. Rory was very worried about him.

Our finish was on a big lorry parking. We had nice warm showers, but no internet. Tom F. arrived quite early today. Maybe also because the day was not as long as it supposed to be. On the other hand we had made some more kilometre yesterday. When Tom F. and I went to bed Tim E. was still on the road. But he was not as far behind Tom F. today.

Results:

Fotos of the day: