INDY cyclist Eva Gerber is entering the final stages of her 1000-mile marathon ride from her home in Bavaria to Glasgow in support of Scottish independence.

The 54-year-old started her trek at the beginning of this month and, as well as having to cope with sunburn, saddle-soreness and an accident that left her legs scraped and her bike brakes needing replaced, she was last night preparing for a 17-hour ferry sailing from Amsterdam to Newcastle.

There was also a scare when she thought her bag had been stolen.

Gerber has been keeping supporters up to date through Facebook, and updated them yesterday.

The grandmother said: “I was taking the train so I’ll be on the ferry in time. My bike broke and the brakes had to be done.

“My leg still hurts a bit but I managed to fix my bike.

“I love the places I go to and the people I stay with. I know I will keep on going even if I do get very tired.

“I will keep on moving and telling people about Scottish independence which I think is very important for all of us.”

Gerber has only been to Scotland once before, but fell in love with the country, its people and culture, and wants to live and work here.

She will travel from Newcastle to Edinburgh, then to Stirling and Glasgow.

However, she admitted she had been missing company on the trek: “It’s quite lonely sometimes on the road and my butt hurts and I hope it will stop. I miss voices, people to talk to and I know I will have lots of people to talk to in Scotland. It’s not as easy as I hoped it would be.

“I’m taking the ferry from Amsterdam to Newcastle at 5.30 this evening.

“Thank you all very much for your support.”