Following the sun

Symington Kirk

Phoned Tom yesterday and arranged to pick him up intending to take the bikes up to Cornalees Bridge visiters centre and from there cycle across to Kilmacolm to do the lovely minor road above the Clyde.
When we were loading his bike we noticed the sky north was rather grey and the sky south was clear so we followed the sun south and had a gloriously sunny warm cycle fromEglinton to Symington and Dundonald, stopping off at Taste Buds cafe in the industrial estate for a light lunch before making our way back.
My afternoon was spent grouting paving slabs that I had levelled yesterday, hopefully Anne won't find any more little jobs for me for a time and I can get out on the bike while the sun shines.

Similar route description here.

Short slideshow of Dundonald hill here

A few days of the usual

Greenock and the Clyde

Sunday past Graham's twins had their 21st birthday but Graham was keen to have a few hours out on the MTBs before the boys surfaced from their late night, so I went over his way and we headed up to the windfarm and down to West Kilbride on the Kings Road trail, coffee break at my place then up Crosbie on to the moor.
Unfortunately my derailuer wrapped itself round my spokes so a brute force repair was applied and we made our way back.
Nice little outing even with the mechanical mishap.

Yesterday was gloriously sunny, Anne and I went up to Cornalees for a walk near the Greenock cut, absolutely stunning view over Greenock and the Clyde, picture above. We walked the little reserviors rather than the main cut, I find it a little more interesting with changes of ground and slope.

View route descriptions here.
Some pictures here

Trailer blues

I've been wanting to try out my new trailer, I bought it because I'm not keen on paniers and thought towing a trailer would be more stable and less of a load on the bike.
The weather looked settled so yesterday I set off to go down the Mull of Kintyre to Campbeltown via Bute, Tarbert and return through Arran.
Towing a trailer is had work, did about 65miles first day most was pleasant but from Tarbert the A83 was quiet but oh so dull.
Camped beside the beach just off the road at a nice comfy spot, got up early and headed through Campbeltown before anyone was up.
From Campbeltown to the Claonaig ferry is a continuous series of ups and downs up to 16% graded, and towing the trailer wasn't much fun even though the scenery was great.
There were three cyclists at the ferry, a Kiwi lass cycling down from Aviemore and a couple who'd been over on Jura to watch the hill race, apparently it's 16miles and 7000ft of climbing, winning time 3.5hrs.
Back on Arran the sun came out, had a little stop in the campsite tea room and really enjoyed the leasurely cycle to Brodick, even the climb out of Lochranza was sort of OK.
At Brodick I visited the castle and gardens for tea and a walk for photos, a lovely finish to a mixed cycle.

View pictures here.