Once in Ayr we figured out how to get to the youth hostel to get more directions. We toured around downtown a lot. It really was strange riding on the other side of the road and what would really throw us off was when a car would park towards us. Glen and I would quickly look around to see if we were still on the right side.
It really felt like fall today. It was cold, wet and there were lots of leaves on the road. While trying to find the hostel, I had a fall and tore my gortex pants. Physically I was O.K. other than a scraped knee, but I felt as though I might be sick. Glen had made me have a small piece of banana for energy and i guess it didn't agree with me. One man stopped to offer us assistance but he really couldn't do anything. I did end up being sick by the side of the road in front of a lovely B&B / hotel - kind of like Fawlty Towers. We went in there to warm up and have a cup of tea. "The Chestnuts", as it was called was built in 1863 as a private home and then later converted. It really head a lot of character and ambiance.
Finally we found the youth hostel situated right on the coast. It was an absolutely beautiful building but it was too early in the day for us to stop. The warden arrived just as we had finished looking around and he gave us some good directions for the day.
We made our way to Burn's Cottage and the Burn's Monument in Ayr. It was strange to think of someone so famous living in such an insignificant cottage.
After Ayr, we made it on to a "B road" and really started to see the countryside. By this time it had stopped raining and we were getting warm cycling. Even though it was misty, there was so much to see. There were cows and sheep wherever we looked and pretty little farms advertising B&B's.
We got lost a few times but several people helped us out. We got to Hollybush by traveling over huge hills. One was about a 1/2 mile incline and when we got to the top, there really was no decline! How disappointing! Unless you've actually experienced it, it is kind of hard to describe the feeling of working to get up the hill. You have to bend over the handle bards and put the bike in a low gear. I watch the speedometer drop to about 5km/h. The sweat slowly runs out from underneath my helmet but I don't dare wipe it away because my handlebars are already wobbling from going so slowly. The top though is triumph!
We were going to have lunch in Hollybush but the pub didn't open until 5:00 Instead we stood under a bush of holly and ate crackers and oranges.
Again, lots of hills before rolling into Patna. This was a pretty little town beside the River Doon with the smell of burning coal in the air. We stopped at a B&B called Parson's Lodge and had a Ploughman's Lunch. The house was next to a church and was its property from 1914 to 1980. It's been completely redone and was very quaint. Again these people were more than willing to help us. Sheila, the owner, told us the next going would be very flat. Well, it was flatter than what we were used to but still a lot uphill! The scenery was just breathtaking with the hills and valleys covered in heather and mist. Little streams of water would flow down the rock and the sheep were calling to one another.
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| Youth Hostel in Glenhoule |
We went through the towns of Dalmellington and Carsphairn before arriving at this hostel. The view here is beautiful but it's a bit cold and there aren't any showers. We met a family from Northumberland and a man from Bavaria, Germany.
We spent the evening patching things and reorganizing. At the rate we're going, everything will be in pieces when we get home!
Total Distance: 59.2 km
Top speed down hill: 42 km/h
