All's well that ends well......Kilwinning

As I was setting the bike up the clouds darkened so I looked at the weather apps on my phone. BBC app said 52% chance of rain over the next hour and Met Office said 5%! I was ready so set off heading to Kilwinning, the trip I had to abort last week due to my puncture. It was MTB time as I needed to ride some rougher tracks to get my distance and these tyres more resistant to punctures, famous last words.

Was it alive or dead?

Anyone who uses the cycle track at Shewalton woods will be familiar with the Shire horses. I was concerned that three of the horses were standing guard over a fourth which was lying on the ground. From here I could see no sign of breathing and feared the worst, sadly I moved on.
Down to Irvine Bay where the tide was coming in fast pushed in by the strong winds. These same winds made it difficult cycling at times but thankfully my cycling legs and stamina are getting back to where they should be.

Tide rushing in at Irvine harbour

Headed to Kilwinning, thankfully not puncturing this time and headed to the War Memorial to get some snaps. 

Kilwinning War Memorial and 'Tommy'

Firstly I was very taken by the hedge formed into a soldier, not seen anything like that on my travels.
Secondly, for a relatively small town the number of dead carved into the memorial for both wars is staggeringly high. I daresay reflective of the mining communities and the relative poverty in the area.

River Garnock running dry

On the way back I passed this marker at the Garnock wetlands. I recently mentioned this to a friend who knows a lot about the area's history but was unaware that a shaft had collapsed and the River Garnock ran dry, need to send it to him.
Finally I went back to the horses and was so pleased that the one lying on the ground was now on it's feet, a happy ending.
First sighting of Gannets for the year.

Ride route: Cycle path Barassie-Shewalton-Irvine harbour-Kilwinning.
Ride distance: 24.49ml
Ascent: 351ft
Bike:Cube Mountain Bike
Total Covid19 ride distance:212.19

First Covid19 Thirty up....building bricks in place.

Today I decided to do a section of one of my internal routes which would build on the stamina but also put in a bit more ascent to test my cycling progress.
Headed out to Monkton then up past the old HMS Gannet barracks, sad how it is quite dilapidated now. Above me a military transporter plane is doing circuit and bumps at Prestwick airport.

Still planes flying

The gradient up and past Monkton House and then the fishing reservoir is deceptive and tougher than it looks on the eye, blowing a bit but the gearing is good. it is a lovely view from up here, Ayrshire farmland and tranquility, is there a worldwide problem out there?
The next downhill was fast and a real buzz which maxed out at 36.01mph, still a good bit away from my record but hey the Adrenalin was flowing and that high speed turn at the bottom, wow, a test of bike handling which I just mastered, glad nothing was coming the other way.

Long quiet roads

Next another deceptive gradient but I felt good on the bike before turning and heading back to the A77 flyover near Corraith, road very quiet. In saying that the country roads had a lot of farming/maintenance works going on, all is not dead out here.

Black & White lamb

Passed a farm with a some largish black and white lambs, no idea what they are but pretty.
Inland I rode a variety of roads, turning wherever the notion took me, before heading to Drybridge and back via Shewalton. The owner of the Shire horses was attending them so if you read yesterdays blog all is still well and good.
Instead of cutting home I cycled up to Loans, very much a headwind, then home via Troon promenade. The other day there were two people, today in the sun I was not counting from the bike but a lot of people, not groups just pairs or individuals. Later I read they had shut the car parks at lunchtime, too many people not self isolating, it is so tough. Hopefully they don't ban cycling.

Prawn boats all tied up

Overall that was my longest bike ride of Covid19 and probably the best as apart from my fatigue, due to age, I felt pretty good and the blue skies certainly helped. 
There are still steeper gradients to be tackled over the next few weeks but so far so good.

Ride route: Cycle path Barassie-Monkton-Tarbolton cut off-Dundonald-Drybridge-Troon Harbour.
Ride distance: 31.49ml
Ascent: 912ft
Bike:Focus Road Bike
Total Covid19 ride distance:243.68

A lighter shade of grey for today's outing

After my unsuccessful efforts to repair the punctured inner tube I was delighted that my internet order arrived yesterday. Only 2 days, well done Baldwins Cycles.
So today the road bike was back out. I decided to largely reverse yesterday's route as it meant steeper gradients, a further test of my cycling fitness.
From home I headed up to Dundonald via the Kilmarnock Road. In normal traffic not a road for nervous cyclists but today only a few cars.
I headed along the Drybridge road before turning onto a cross country route taking me back to the village of Dundonald. Still smelling the farmyard aromas and enjoyed looking at some rare breed sheep with one goat as their pal.
Bike rolling well as I approached the hill at the riding school. Out of the saddle but got to the top without stopping. It has been a while since I have looked down over the handlebars like this, focused solely on that piece of tarmac down below, willing the gradient to ease. No biggie but it was a wee tester which I passed, pat on the back. Bigger ones ahead over the next few weeks.

Symington War Memorial

The gradient continued upwards to Symington where again I stopped and added to my War Memorial collection.
Heading south on the A77 I went onto the footpath praying that the debris would not puncture but got away with it. Where does all the broken glass come from in the middle of nowhere? Noticeable how different the gradient is as today's max speed was only 21.39mph. Yesterday I almost hit 30mph on the MTB!
Into Monkton and rode alongside the deserted Prestwick airport to the terminal before turning back onto the cycle path to Troon.

Troon beach 11am 2 people

At Troon beach you would think that this was 6am not 11am, practically nobody around, not even beach dog walkers, that's the effect of Covid19, scaring a lot of people.
Back using the cycle path alongside the North shore to home.
There is no doubt that the cycling gives me the endorphin buzz that only running used to. It's a good feeling, long may it continue.

Ride route: Cycle path Barassie-Dundonald-Symington-Monkton-Airport-Troon.
Ride distance:21.86
Ascent: 538ft
Bike:Focus Road Bike
Total Covid19 ride distance:187.70