Woo, cycle paths all the rest of the way it seems. 🙂
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Erskine Bridge
Hard to find a pretty view of the Erskine Bridge! This was my best shot. Sure beats swimming across the Clyde though.
Howwood
Awesome wood table outside the Howwood Inn. The big 30mph run down the hill into town was fun too. The sudden and massive ruts and piles of gravel on the road just as you reach town at 30mph were less fun! I’ve been suprised how many times i’ve had to call on glentress skills on this trip (ie. That chopped up right hander on spooky wood where everyone brakes was a dead ringer for the entrance to Howwood).
Next i have to find a place called Houston. Hopefully, there will be no problems to report from there.
Ayrshire
North of Dunlop. The sun is out, the wind is behind me, I’m well fed and heading for Loch Lomond. A pretty fine cycling day, I think.
T’was there we parted …
Tomorrow, I need to work my way up through Kilmarnock (should’ve asked DaveM for survival tips) and then on to cross the Clyde at the Erskine Bridge before I get to Loch Lomond. I was pleasantly surprised today to find that there is now a proper cycle path alongside Loch Lomond (ie. no need to cycle on the A82). B&B for the night is in Arrochar, just along from Tarbet. So, back to heavy map reading and, since I’m no longer on the CTC suggested route, there’s much more potential for navigation snafus.
Training ground, revisited.
Thanks for the practise, Mennock Pass, turns out you were ideal prep for Cornwall and Devon! Today was a long slog against the wind and a succession of smaller hills across into Ayrshire. Not many photo ops, just lots of hard won miles. I stopped for an early lunch at a nice farm shop just south of Thornhill. I had just cycled past it when the heavens opened, which i took to be a sign that it was lunchtime!
Chatted to another LEJOG’r, Mike from Kent. It’s pretty easy to spot long distance cyclists. They’re the ones who look like they’re prepared for all conditions, and they have a certain ‘could do this all day’ steady pace. I settled on ‘going far?’ as my opening line. 🙂
Lots of traffic on the Kilmarnock road today. The lorry drivers have all been great, holding back until there’s space to pass, and i’ve had lots of friendly waves when i’ve pulled into the side so that they don’t have to come grinding to a halt up a hill. Bus drivers are probably the worst, guess they’re on a schedule.
Rhinos in Dumfries
Huh?
Dumfries
Heading into the wind again this morning, from Annan to Dumfries. Stopped to briefly chat to Matt from Wales who was going the ride in the opposite direction. No rain though, and the sun has been making am appearance. Yay scotland!
Carlisle to Gretna
On the CTC forums, someone posted about a neat new wee road which runs alongside the motorway from Carlisle to Gretna. I ended up having to google up the post again on my phone in the rain because the road is not really signposted. But once on the road it’s really good route. Smooth tarmac, direct route. It’s a bit exposed and locals use it as a strange rat run, but it’s way better than the alternatives.
So, here’s my directions. Left into industrial estate just before a7/motorway roundabout, pass by asda and further offices, ignore the deadend on the right as the road curves left, but do take the next turnoff to the right signposted for rubbish dump. Then just follow the signs for Gretna!
Scotland
Woo, Yay! And it stopped raining too! But who turned the wind on?