Left Chollerford at 9.35 having first dispatched my box to Hawick where Baptie1 is to call for it. It turned out the finest day since I came on Thursday week. Slight N.E. wind + bright sun. I had a terrible experience at Woodburn2 where the wire of the variable gear broke + the pedals wouldn’t revolve. Mercifully a mechanical postman [?] was able to do the repair but the sticking of the cranks I couldn’t understand. Unfortunately the gears didn’t work well + I lost the use of the low gear where I required it next. I got eggs + beer at Horsley3 + tea at Jedburgh. Walked about 30 hills before Elishaw. The repair at Elishaw cost me 1h 15m + lunch probably ¾ + other stops 30 minutes. It was nearly 5 when I reached Carter4 but I only took an hour to Jedburgh + 2½ 2 hours home. Mousey5 had a nice meal awaiting me + after a hot bath I felt quite fit.6
1 Thomas Baptie (1860-1929), driver and handyman for Dr Muir.
2 Dr Muir probably had the problem whilst descending the steep hill that is West Woodburn, grid reference NGR NY893,869, before continuing to Elishaw, NY860,952, at the junction with the A68.
3 Horsley, NY845,967, about halfway between Elishaw and Rochester.
4 Carter Bar, NT701,068, the Scottish border and the high point of Dr Muir’s journey.
5 Helen Frances ‘Mousey’ Muir (1880-1963), Dr Muir’s third daughter and sometime housekeeper.
6 Remember that Dr Muir is 78 at the time of this particular adventure.
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/26, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1923]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 