Ardrossan yet another War Memorial

After my last trip I was doing some research and discovered that there was not just the main memorial on the shore front. So another excuse for a longer ride.
A strong southerly meant that that the outward journey was a delight when bike and person feel as one. Of course the return into the headwind a slightly different story but a really enjoyable outing. A bit colder than predicted, many of the very lightly clad people I passed would no doubt wish they were wearing something warmer.
So a few snaps of some birds on my journey and of course the War Memorial.

Eider Male

The male eider is one of my favourites. This one is still looking good but in deep winter the subtle colours of the male in full breeding plumage just beautiful.

Moorhen & Mallard

I was watching this moorhen swim across the pond then leap up into the branches. It did this several times, a bit odd. Not the odd white chest of the Mallard.

Woodpigeon

When i attended Nick Nairn's cookery school a few years back breast of wood pigeon was the starter, hmmm.

Lesser Black Backed Gull

Having a tranquil swim but the Lesser Black backed Gull is a vicious predator, look out ducklings.

Small flock of Ringed Plovers

War memorial Ardrossan

The entrance to the garden of Remembrance in Ardrossan.
Ride route: Ardrossan
Ride distance: 32.41ml
Ascent: 417ft
Bike: Cube MTB
Total Covid19 ride distance: 695.05

Ride route: Prestwick Bay
Ride distance: 20.76ml
Ascent: 351ft
Bike: Cube MTB
Total Covid19 ride distance: 715.81

Ride route: Monkton-Tarbolton loop
Ride distance: 25.39ml
Ascent: 728ft
Bike: Focus Road Bike
Total Covid19 ride distance: 741.20

Ride route: Saltcoats
Ride distance: 24.63ml
Ascent: 321ft
Bike: Cube MTB
Total Covid19 ride distance: 765.83

Ride route: Heathfield
Ride distance: 20.09ml
Ascent: 259ft
Bike: Focus Road Bike
Total Covid19 ride distance: 785.92

Ride route: Troon
Ride distance: 10.33ml
Ascent: 158ft
Bike: Cube MTB
Total Covid19 ride distance: 796.25

Ride route: Prestwick
Ride distance: 20.73ml
Ascent: 361ft
Bike: Cube MTB
Total Covid19 ride distance: 816.98

Ride route: Monkton circuit
Ride distance: 20.31ml
Ascent: 351ft
Bike: Focus Road Bike
Total Covid19 ride distance: 837.29

Ride route: Monkton circuit
Ride distance: 19.75ml
Ascent: 414ft
Bike: Cube MTB
Total Covid19 ride distance: 857.04

Ride route: Prestwick circuit
Ride distance: 20.91ml
Ascent: 351ft
Bike: Cube MTB
Total Covid19 ride distance: 877.95

Ride route: Prestwick circuit
Ride distance: 20.37ml
Ascent: 299ft
Bike: Focus Road Bike
Total Covid19 ride distance: 898.32

Ardrossan 3rd time lucky and 500 up

As the weather forecast was blue skies I decided to head north and yet again get to the Ardrossan War Memorial. The last two attempts were aborted by punctures but today I opted for the harder tyres and inners of the MTB.
Today was meant to be the Paps of Jura, a long held ambition and of course perfect viewing weather, what a bummer.
Blue skies yes but still a chilling wind.

How many miles to Arran. Look at the dial.

Down to the front at Irvine for my traditional picture from the distance marker across to Arran, sigh. 
The area was busy for early morning and there is no doubt that this is by far the busiest I have seen since lockdown started, the numbers of people walking and cycling was hugely up, was it Saturday syndrome or people just getting well fed up.

Bridge to nowhere sadly

It was a stiff headwind breeze at times which helped get the heart rate going even higher.

TV crews film the storms from the far end

Reached the bay at Saltcoats where the lazy TV crews head to every year when there is a big storm to picture the waves crashing over the railway line. Not today though.

Ardrossan ahead

Ardrossan bay reached and a nice viewpoint from the old harbour lookout ruins. It is a nice esplanade to cycle and walk but some of the skimpy clothing, not that warm for sure.

Ardrossan War Memorial impressive carvings

Another solid war memorial, quite ornately carved, nice work. There was the large number of names as expected from a mining area.

Calmac berthed Arran beyond

Stood on the hill on top of Ardrossan and looked over to Arran, Calmac ferries berthed, another sigh, one day it will happen again.
With the wind behind me I sped back in much faster time.
What was now obvious with all the people around was the high number of police visible in cars, on bikes and on foot. Stopping motorists as they got out their cars no doubt asking why they were driving to the beach area!! Still in lockdown.
Longest ride of the Covid19 period and for some reason my backside was feeling rather sore towards the end, thought that would have been saddle hardened by now, clearly not. And no puncture, yipee.

Ride route: Barassie-Irvine-Ardrossan.
Ride distance: 32.79ml
Ascent: 430ft
Bike: Cube MTB
Total Covid19 ride distance: 531.92

Ride route: Barassie-Mossblown.
Ride distance: 26.13ml
Ascent: 558ft
Bike: Cube MTB
Total Covid19 ride distance: 558.05

Ride route: Barassie-Prestwick.
Ride distance: 21.46ml
Ascent: 427ft
Bike: Cube MTB
Total Covid19 ride distance: 579.51

Ride route: Troon circuit.
Ride distance: 11.51ml
Ascent: 242ft
Bike: Cube MTB
Total Covid19 ride distance: 591.02

Ride route: Prestwick Airport.
Ride distance: 14.19ml
Ascent: 213ft
Bike: Focus Road Bike
Total Covid19 ride distance: 605.21

Ride route: Prestwick.
Ride distance: 14.45ml
Ascent: 196ft
Bike: Focus Road Bike
Total Covid19 ride distance: 619.66

Ride route: Monkton-Symington-Gatehead-Dreghorn
Ride distance: 22.82ml
Ascent: 617ft
Bike: Focus Road Bike
Total Covid19 ride distance: 642.48

Ride route: Prestwick Bay
Ride distance: 20.16ml
Ascent: 348ft
Bike: Cube MTB
Total Covid19 ride distance: 662.64