Scottish Monsoon

Day 8 - Dumfries to Ardrossan

Miles -82.5 (luxury), Calories burned  - 3836, metres climbed - 1087

Today we had some of the most gorgeous riding of the whole trip - through lovely countryside,  past peaty streams, rolling hills, ancient woodland, birds of prey circling overhead, fly fishermen up to their thighs in Salmon rivers, along silky smooth tarmac....

I'd like to show you a picture, but it was teeming down with so much rain, there wasn't a chance. It was a day for which the expression "raining stair rods" was invented. So instead, here's a picture of us sheltering in a bus stop in Moniaive:

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Point of note from the bus stop - it wouldn't be good to miss the bus to Castle Douglas. If you did, the next one wouldn't come for another fortnight; the Port Douglas bus runs every other Thursday, and comes back 3 hours later. The no 30 from Hackney it certainly isn't. 

About once an hour, there was a tantalising five minute interlude when the rain stopped and the sun came out, but just as we began to relax into nice weather, it would start to tip down again. Matt had given us a stern warning that cafes in Scotland would be thin on the ground, especially on a Sunday. By the time we got to to Carsphaire, we were really hoping he was wrong. It's hard to describe how ecstatic I was when I spotted the sign to the village cafe;

It was another of those cafe high spots, when spirits were lifted immeasurably by the scrumptious food. We spread our soggy clothes across most of the cafe, created puddles on the floor and ate bacon, egg and cheese bagels and flapjacks. Yum. But in spite of the shocking weather, the riding was fantastic. The descent through Auchenstroan Forest was voted the best of the whole trip. We pelted along, barely feeling the morning aches and tiredness. We arrived in Ayr in time for yet another monsoon, and found another fabulous, though rather genteel cafe for millionaires shortbread and - in Matt's case - Banoffee pie.

I think they were a bit dismayed by the arrival of 4 sopping wet roadies dripping puddles on the floor and creating wet footprints everywhere. The minute we left, they had the mop out. For the last 20 miles of our trip, the sun finally came out. We got to Ardrossan to find Alberrt, Rosemary, Anne and Jill sitting in the sun outside our hotel. It hadn't rained there all day. I think we travelled with the bad weather. Once again, we had an early night, all ready for tomorrow - ferry day - when we get to sit on a boat for 45 minutes, and only have to ride 60 miles. These days, that qualifies as relaxation for me!