Had an enjoyable stay in Kilkconnel with Yvonne Stuart who runs a 4000 acre estate. Our B & B included fishing rights for salmon and sea trout. Time constraints prevented us from taking full advantage and we were also out of season for the deer stalking. We did manage a trip into town to experience the local scene of a depressed open cast mining community. Needless to say, we found no real ales, but made do with Belhaven Best.Our ride today took us through the open cast coal mining, gradually downhill towards the Ayrshire coastal plain. We discovered that Ayrshire county council are most economical in their use of road signs, so we were forced to ask for directions from a local farm labourer who was tending his neaps and tatties. He was delighted to abandon his toils and to advise us of our route - not only for the next 5 miles but also for the remainder of our journey to John O'Groats.
We had a prolonged conversation with Jim Corbett (unrelated to the famous Jim Corbett, the tiger-shooter in India), covering of range of subjects. One in particular has caused some worry - that of the Scottish Midge. Jim's advice was never to stop cycling once you get past Larig, as the midges at this time of year would drive us to insanity. Something to look forward to.Tea was taken in a pub in Tarbolton, where Burns and his friends formed a debating club called the Bachelor's Club. Although several other customers had started on the McEwans Export, we abstemiously stayed on the Liptons and took a fruit scone to sustain us.
We arrived at the coast near Irvine, amongst several large chemical and pharmaceutical factories, and numerous golf courses - being close to Troon. Hooked up with a coastal cycleway which wiggled along the Irish Sea with views across to Arran and possibly to the Mull of Kintyre (although the visibility was not brilliant).
We got to Ardrossan in good time and took our lunch in the ferry cafe waiting for our 3pm ferry. Spent the afternoon doing the crossword, rehydrating and mentally preparing ourselves for the next leg of our journey.A mere 50 mile day, and also the least amount of climb on a single day so far. Don't think it will get any easier than this.
4 comments:
Ciao Ragazzi!
Glad to see that you are both in fine form and getting close to the finish. The blog and pictures are awesome and a welcome entertainment relief from dinners for 1, Rai due and 37 degree heat.
"Il bocca a'lupo" as the italians say, but probably more correctly, and speak to you upon your victorious return.
Andrew
I've noticed a number of ferries creeping in now - does that not constitute cheating?
Keep enjoying yourselves - I remember the beer getting worse the further north we went and the food getting more beige. Don't think we had a vegetable beyond Inverness. The scenery just gets better and better tho' - good enough to bring a tear to the eye.
Jimmy
Ciao Andrew. Good to hear you and hope things are going well in bella Italia. We are looking forward to our next adventure of cycling from England to Padua!
Dear Jimmy. On the question of cheating and ferries, we can put your mind at rest. Whilst on the ferries we conducted an exhausting series of physical exercises which required raising our right hand to our mouths repeatedly. Your comments about beer are apposite. Please could Wye Valley Brewery introduce their products into Argyl and the rest of Scotland.
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