A damp fine day!

Once again we were greeted by rain this morning, so after a hearty full Scottish breakfast consisting of bacon, lorne sausage, bread scone, beans, mushrooms, fried egg and black pudding, we set off in the pouring rain at 9.20am. Negotiating our way through the outskirts of Glasgow the rain gradually got heavier until as we crossed the Erskine Bridge we contemplated phoning the Samaritans for advice (see photo). As we progressed through Barrhead we purchased a replacement phone for our Support team (other phone lost yesterday somewhere in the Trossachs), and a helpful passer by recommended a fantastic coffee house just off the main street appropriately named The Coffee House. After refuelling on lattés & Scotch Pancakes (and Irn Bru for Geoff) we were ready to move on, and were given a much-appreciated donation to our fundraising from the owner. After several long climbs we eventually met up with the Support car that had taken a circuitous to find us after taking directional advice from 5 “helpful” locals. Our plans for refuelling at Dalmellington were thwarted by half day/half village closing and so we rode onto to Carsphairn on what can only be described as the worst surfaced rode in Scotland (to date) in fact they had even placed a sign every so often to remind you, you were on the A713 in case you thought you were travelling on a farm track!! Having been shaken to the core over the top of this climb it was a blessing to arrive at Carricks Tea rooms in Carsphairn for a pot of tea (2 pots of tea for Andy) and a pie each. After this it was a fantastic ride over the hills on a well surfaced road and with the sun on our backs, we ditched the raincoats and enjoyed the long climb, which was only surpassed by the even better and longer descent to Dumfries. We negotiated our way to our first Peverel development and checked in to a fantastic guest room before heading out for the first curry of the challenge. Tomorrow we’re off to England and the Lake District, hooray more hills!!