Post by stev1der on Jul 27, 2009 19:32:49 GMT
Had planned to make an unannounced visit to the pondy on Sunday to meet you all again, but to be honest the weather reports were a bit grim.
Instead i took Saturday to be my riding day.
Set off on the M61 at 7.45am, by 9am i was in SCOTLAND
Quick pic, at the border,
And another at the Tourist trap @ Gretna.
Didnt know where to go, so decided that i'd follow the coast round to the left.
Spotted sign for Castle, quick pic here too.
Coast line here is the Solway Firth, and is stunning
Spotted another Castle.
Followed this all the way round till i got to Castle Douglas. Stopped here to grab some supplies.
Got chatting to a "Friendly" Female copper, who suggested taking the A713 past Loch Ken.
She must be a biker, cos this road is fantastic
National speed limit most of the way, and smooth fast flowing turns, followed by slower twisty bits when you start approaching Ayr. Brilliant. Didnt think it could get any better
12.30 Stopped at the beach at Ayr, to eat my scram. Isle of Arran in the distance.
Decided to follow the coast road back round south.
OMG, what scenery. The coast here is breathtaking. Never been here before, but defo going back.
This has got to be my favourite pic of the day
Stumbled upon Troon, where some golf was on last week
And through Stranraer.
Ended up at Isle of Whithorn, where i managed to get a cup of coffe, and more chocolate for the energy.
From there hooked back on the A75, and again down the coast.
Flying round a corner, and this guy was waving at me like a madman
Did a quick stop to see if he was ok, and he was just telling me that there was loads of police round next corner, and to slow down
We ended up having a chat for about 10 min (he wouldn't shut up!), and then he kindly offered to come for a ride with me
All the police were indeed there, for the Wickerman Festival
Managed to give the guy the slip at the next town, and jumped back on the A75, which then connected with the M6, and back home.
Lake District from the North!
Left home @ 7.45am, got back @ 7.48pm. 543 miles 45.73ltr 54.1mpg.
Not bad seeing most of the motorway bit was at faster than it should have been!
Route here if anyone wants to follow in my tread pattern
maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=bl6+7dn&daddr=gretna+to:annan+to:cummertrees+to:Bankend,+Dumfries,+United+Kingdom+to:B725%2FShore+Rd+to:new+abbey+to:colvend+to:castle+douglas+to:ayr+to:drumshang+to:Turnberry,+Girvan,+Ayrshire,+United+Kingdom+to:stranraer+to:54.851711,-4.780426+to:isle+of+whithorn+to:dundrennan+to:dumfries+to:gretna+to:Mansell+Way,+Horwich,+Bolton,+Lancashire,+BL6+6JS+(Tesco+Stores+Ltd)&hl=en&geocode=%3B%3B%3B%3BFRVERwMdpT3K_w%3BFeDkRgMddNbJ_w%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3BFTL-SwMd9UW2_w%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3BFYaWMQMdiF3Z_yGr4xIYlK3Cww&mra=dpe&mrcr=11&mrsp=13&sz=11&via=5,13&sll=54.863173,-4.809265&sspn=0.309036,0.878906&ie=UTF8&ll=54.367759,-2.427979&spn=0.625644,1.234589&z=10
I will try and make it to one of your runs this year, just that dates keep clashing
Steve.
Instead i took Saturday to be my riding day.
Set off on the M61 at 7.45am, by 9am i was in SCOTLAND
Quick pic, at the border,
And another at the Tourist trap @ Gretna.
Didnt know where to go, so decided that i'd follow the coast round to the left.
Spotted sign for Castle, quick pic here too.
Coast line here is the Solway Firth, and is stunning
Spotted another Castle.
Followed this all the way round till i got to Castle Douglas. Stopped here to grab some supplies.
Got chatting to a "Friendly" Female copper, who suggested taking the A713 past Loch Ken.
She must be a biker, cos this road is fantastic
National speed limit most of the way, and smooth fast flowing turns, followed by slower twisty bits when you start approaching Ayr. Brilliant. Didnt think it could get any better
12.30 Stopped at the beach at Ayr, to eat my scram. Isle of Arran in the distance.
Decided to follow the coast road back round south.
OMG, what scenery. The coast here is breathtaking. Never been here before, but defo going back.
This has got to be my favourite pic of the day
Stumbled upon Troon, where some golf was on last week
And through Stranraer.
Ended up at Isle of Whithorn, where i managed to get a cup of coffe, and more chocolate for the energy.
From there hooked back on the A75, and again down the coast.
Flying round a corner, and this guy was waving at me like a madman
Did a quick stop to see if he was ok, and he was just telling me that there was loads of police round next corner, and to slow down
We ended up having a chat for about 10 min (he wouldn't shut up!), and then he kindly offered to come for a ride with me
All the police were indeed there, for the Wickerman Festival
Managed to give the guy the slip at the next town, and jumped back on the A75, which then connected with the M6, and back home.
Lake District from the North!
Left home @ 7.45am, got back @ 7.48pm. 543 miles 45.73ltr 54.1mpg.
Not bad seeing most of the motorway bit was at faster than it should have been!
Route here if anyone wants to follow in my tread pattern
maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=bl6+7dn&daddr=gretna+to:annan+to:cummertrees+to:Bankend,+Dumfries,+United+Kingdom+to:B725%2FShore+Rd+to:new+abbey+to:colvend+to:castle+douglas+to:ayr+to:drumshang+to:Turnberry,+Girvan,+Ayrshire,+United+Kingdom+to:stranraer+to:54.851711,-4.780426+to:isle+of+whithorn+to:dundrennan+to:dumfries+to:gretna+to:Mansell+Way,+Horwich,+Bolton,+Lancashire,+BL6+6JS+(Tesco+Stores+Ltd)&hl=en&geocode=%3B%3B%3B%3BFRVERwMdpT3K_w%3BFeDkRgMddNbJ_w%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3BFTL-SwMd9UW2_w%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3B%3BFYaWMQMdiF3Z_yGr4xIYlK3Cww&mra=dpe&mrcr=11&mrsp=13&sz=11&via=5,13&sll=54.863173,-4.809265&sspn=0.309036,0.878906&ie=UTF8&ll=54.367759,-2.427979&spn=0.625644,1.234589&z=10
I will try and make it to one of your runs this year, just that dates keep clashing
Steve.
