VIVALDI 09/14/2010
 
DAY ELEVEN

I had a very stange night last night, woke up with severe stomach cramps, I was literally double over in pain and ended up having about 3 hours kip in the end. Nothing to do with the B&B, I think it might just be an accumalation of cooked breakfasts. Nevertheless I sat down to a hearty cooked breakfast, best so far including black pudding, haggis & potato cakes. Other than our scary night in Wales, all of our B&B's have been top drawer, but The Rigg House takes number 1 spot at the moment. Jenny & Malcolm were exceptional hosts and the food, accomodation everything was spot on. If only they had real ale on hand pump :-)

You would have noticed that there was no mention of real ale on yesterday's blog, and that is beacuse I didn't have one.

Anyway, this morning we left to find it breezy with light showers, this was followed by blowing a gale which was followed by hevay rain, which was followed by the mother of all hail storms, which was followed by sunshine, which was followed by gale force winds, which was followed by.... I think you get the picture.

The hail storm was one of my most funniest yet most painful experiences. It honestly felt like somebody was throwing gravel at you. I had to cycle leaning to the left to try and stay upright and I know have a crick in my neck where I was trying to angle my head against the wind, rain & hail. Pinhead found it less funny and was frozen to the bone, although we did have 10 minutes of delerious laughter once the storm had passed as we contemplated the obsenity of it all.

Today's route followed the A76, although we avoided the actual road itself where we could. We passed through Cumnock and then stopped in a small village called Galstone, but it seems to have been removed from the map :-) We went into the local cafe and had a cup of tea and a portion of chips. We got chatting to the lady behind the counter, well I did as Pinhead admits he couldn't understand a word she was saying. When I told her that we were aiming for Loch Winnoch, she said oh it gets really windy there. We both said really windy!!! what the hell have we been cycling in so far??

Leaving Galston, we passed through Moscow, classic Pinhead quote coming ' This isn't the actual Moscow though is it?' Yes pinhead, we are now in Russia!

We passed through Dunlop, but was going so fast, it was just like a Green Flash! and eventually arrived at the Bowfield Hotel.

I think the weather really affected our mental state today, PInhead regauarly shouted F*ck off to the wind and/or mother nature, where as I found myself saying Moo and Baa to the livestock in the fields on a regualr basis.

Pinhead and I have just spent over an hour in the Health Spa at our hotel, Jacuzzi and Steam Room heaven and I am now sitting in the bar typing this having a pint of Maclachans Best Ale and some food to follow shortly.

Despite today being the shortest day distance wise, it was probably the toughest going, the wind was relentless and energy sapping, especially on 3 hours kip.

Today's roadkill count. Hedgehog 3, Magpie 1 (New Entry), Rabbit 2, Pheasant/Grouse 2, UA's 4

Distance covered today 72.85kms (45.2 miles). Climbing 962m (3156 feet)

Total to date: Distance 1179kms (733.8 miles). Elevation 12159m (39891 feet)

Bye for now

Fathead

 


Comments

Stu Taylor

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:37:43

I'm still reading Ray :-) Don't want you thinking no one gives a toss!!

 

Fathead

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:58:32

Cheers Stu, good to know we have an international reader :-)

 

uncle Colin & Auntie Pam

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 01:42:58

Not long to go now. By the sound of it you and Scott will have earned your water wings by the time you finish. Nice weather for ducks though..... on no we dont want to go down that road again do we:? All the best.

 

Brice

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 10:22:54

Ray, I was checking out the pictures, now tell me honestly where did you find this tiny "No through road" sign that you can hold between your thumb and your index ?

 



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