Feeling Strong

Pat had an excellent day today completing 80 miles. Some of that was due to a great road in the morning (he did not have to consult the maps frequently as has been the case). Until lunch time he was on the A76 which has a good surface and clear signposting; so he had already done 40 miles when we met up for our picnic.The afternoon brought with it some minor hills in Ayrshire but not to be compared with the Lake district. And then some heavily built up areas from Irvine onwards. Pat asked a cyclist for some directions outside Irvine as we are staying in Ardrossan tonight. Said the man "It's quite a wee way-about 5 miles." Pat had the grace not to say that he had already cycled over 70 that day! He says his cold is now behind him and he is feeling "strong." In fact we went for a good walk after dinner and I was the wearier one! We are here in readiness for the ferry journey to Arran tomorrow. I am really looking forward to that.

I had noticed a National Trust property on one of the cycling routes, called "The Batchelors' Club." It was a tiny place, you would miss it if you blinked while driving through Tarbolton . The curator was a dear old man who gave me a detailed guided tour and then when Pat passed through the village, he asked him if he was Mr Fleming and gave him a Bar One for energy. He also insisted that I did not pay for the little book of Robbie Burns' poems but would like the money to go to the GRCT. It was a delight to meet Duncan Cameron who seems to be an absolute authority on Robbie Burns.The cottage belonged to a friend of Burns whose wife used to serve Ale in the upstairs room which was the biggest room in the village in the 18th century. It was there where Burns started the first Debating society in Scotland with a group of bachelor friends. A quaint and fascinating place which seems to have far fewer visitors than it deserves.