A beautiful, sunny day in mid-April just had to be enjoyed by bicycle. I put my Xootr Swift into my car and drove the 20 miles to the Solway coast (England) and a seaside town of Silloth. It is a Victorian town of cobbled streets and a wide stretch of grass (known as The Green) which stands right on the shore of the Solway Firth. On a clear day the hills of Scotland seem close enough to touch as they are only about 3 to 4 miles away. This day was hazy so only the faintest outline of the hills could be seen.



After unloading the Swift, I rode the 12 miles or so down the coast to the town of Maryport and had a picnic lunch by the marina. The road hugs the shoreline for much of the way and passes several holiday caravan sites. Maryport was the home of Thomas Henry Ismay who owned the White Star shipping line, which owned the Titanic. The picture of my bike at the marina was taken only a couple of hundred yards from Thomas Ismay's house.



After a leisurely lunch and a chat to a local man who was intrigued by my bike, I made the return journey to Silloth - stopping only to take photo's and collect a couple of golf balls that had strayed onto the road from the golf links that hug the shore. Not a huge ride - about 25 miles - but great scenery, sunshine and exercise!