Day 78 of the End to End was a windy day in Ayrshire. By the end of the day I’d been in East, South and North Ayrshire and seen West Ayrshire which is basically the sea.
I started at Stewarton Station and the first part of the morning was along a fairly busy road. I’ve got more used to these over the last week or so. I put my head down and walk. Turning off onto a quieter side road after 3 miles or so was very welcome. The wind was strong and the gulls and corvids were noisily air surfing, something for which I admire them. But even so, it seemed unseasonal to have to wear my ear warmer on the 1st July.
It did, however offer plenty of opportunities to plan great schemes, like my mobile ice cream delivery service. Imagine, a cyclist with a portable freezer powered by wind or solar or even pedal power, a range of flavours from a local source, following a Lejogger on her route. Readily available ice-cream supplies would be very welcome in those parts of the country where the ice cream sellers are not so common. I’d call it ‘Deliverice’!
I met Bob for lunch at Burnhouse where the sign on the main road said it was 17 miles to Glasgow. However, we’re going the long way round.
The second part of the day took me past an odd collection of warehouses which seemed to store whisky. In this area, small orchids dotted the verges.
It was downhill to Beith at days end. We then did a few bits of reconnaissance for tomorrow when I hope to join a Sustrans route on a disused railway path.
We then took the coast road via Largs to eventually get to Greenock. We stopped at Largs for a blast of sea air and some ice cream.
Our accommodation in the Premier Inn at Greenock has a great view across the Clyde, to where we hope to be by the end of the week.
From Psalm 103
Human life is like grass, flourishing like a wildflower; but the wind blows over it and it is gone and forgotten.
Today the wind was blowing all the grass and wildflowers in every direction. Only a few Butterflies risked the weather: some painted ladies that have come up on the warm southerly wind earlier in the week and a couple of red admirals.
Loking out over the River Clyde as some small showers blow in, God grant a quiet night and a peaceful end.
JAL 01.07.2019
Day 78 of the End to End, Stewarton to Beith.