After all the preparation we are finally ready to go. I’d been blessed the day before by Fr Andy Hawes ahead of my Pilgrimage, my car was packed and I’d stayed the night at my Dad’s so that we were closer to the A1. We drove up to St Boswells on the Monday morning, a journey of just over 4 hours, had lunch and were now at Melrose. We were ready to get started. I said a prayer asking for blessing on our Pilgrimage outside the ruins of Melrose Abbey where Cuthbert first entered the monastic life and later became Prior. Then we were off!
The first few metres are okay, a slight incline as you walk through Melrose, but then the shock of the first climb! Up some very steep “steps” and then we climbed to 320 metres above sea level to the “shoulder” between to the two Eildon Hills. It tells you in the guide that you can take a detour to the top of either hill, a climb of a further 50 or 80 metres but Dad an I were so exhausted at the top that we said “forget that!”. Near the top we had met our first fellow travellers a couple who were nearing the finish of their St Cuthbert’s Way having done it in reverse from Lindisfarne to Melrose. They were glad it was dry for their decent into Melrose, wet conditions wouldn’t have helped! Having paused for breath and a photo at the “shoulder”, as from here you could see where our walk would lead us for the next couple of days, we descended into a wood.
The wood was beautiful and easy walking and Dad and I soon got into a rhythm with our stride patterns.
After the woods we went through some farm land until we came to the village of Bowden. We stopped to read about the water fountain there (pictured) which was the first means of “clean” drinking water until the mains were put in for the village.
From Bowden we meandered alongside Bowden Burn until it led us to Newtown St Boswells.
From there we climbed up and down until we arrived beside the River Tweed which then led us to St Boswells itself. We’d made it! It felt good! We said a prayer of thanksgiving for the day and after collecting our cars, and settling into the Hotel for the night it was time to contact the family to let them know we were safe and well. Then a restorative beer or two and an evening meal. Relief, satisfaction and hope for the next few days, helped by the food and drink and the knowledge that our team, Chelsea, and won 3-0 and were now 3 points from the title, we slept well!
rockingrectorwrites 