Little woman on a big boat

Crossing to Arran

Off to Arran!

Sunshine and smiles as Fio sets off from the B&B at Laigh Tarbeg. Thanks to Moira and Molly for a warm welcome and looking after us so well.

Mileage and speed

70 miles today. 616 miles in total so far. Average moving speed so far between 12 and 14.8 mph.

Two ferries tomorrow on and off Arran – so get to have a rest!

Thanks Mick

Mick has cleaned and serviced mine and B’s bikes this morning, met us at Drumlanrig Castle and bought us cakes and then welcomed B and me to the B & B and then drove B all the way back to Kendal to get his car and then drove all the way back here to the B & B – a 4 1/2 hour round trip for him. Thanks Mick – you are the best.

We are really hoping that he will be able to cycle the last few miles to JOG. That would be fantastic.

Laigh Tarbeg

Staying at lovely farmhouse B & B on a dairy farm where they have robotic milkers – the cows just come in whenever they are ready to be milked – amazing.

This is a lovely, welcoming B & B – the Watson family are very hospitable. A great place to stop – thanks!

The Tour de France

Hope everyone is enjoying the Grand Depart! What a shame about Mark Cavendish – now he knows how Mick feels…

Drumlanrig castle

Mid morning coffee with Rik in the stable yard at the castle – he runs Rik’s Bike Shed – bike hire available for riding some of the trails he has designed and built in the Castle grounds – he says they are better than the Seven Stanes – less sanitised – so worth checking out. Look at his Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/riksbikeshed – he made us coffee and we bought cakes from the castle tearoom. A man turned up with a 1914 Douglas motorbike – all original leather and paint – gorgeous – he joined in with the cake and coffee fest. Thanks Rik! Much appreciation was made of Mick ‘s Flying Gate and photos taken – and trial rides taken round the stable yard.

It wasn’t that dangerous but a nice old sign!

Near Thornhill – Dumfrieshire

B thought this countryside was like the countryside in Postman Pat and that made us both happy! Gorgeous rolling hills and views. This is very near Keir Mill which is where Kirkpatrick MacMillan lived – he invented the rear wheel drive bicycle propelled by a kind of treadle which was like a fixed wheel so legs treadled very fast when going downhill – sounds exciting and exhausting! It was invented in about 1840 and he could maintain an average speed of 14 mph which is just a bit faster than mine. History lesson of the day complete!

Nice cycle bridge over River Nith