back for now anyhow

bought myself a new phone a lo and behold it has internet access. I am using my tv as a screen and with any luck i will be able to pick up a keyboard for it soon

Girvan to Barr

Managed to get an hour and a half on the MTB yesterday, Doug wanted to go down to Girvan to get some photos of the new memorial to the Russian warship Varyag, so i stuck the bike in the car and off we went.

Sheee, the first part of the trail out of Girvan is a killer, maybe that's because i am now in winter mode, (true meaning, fat git) anyhow, i got about two kilometres in when the rain came on, so using this as a good excuse, i did a quick about turn and headed back down, thankfully it was mostly downhill

The section back into Girvan would make a great downhill race track, its fast, twisty, and brilliant fun, next time i will make it across to Barr.

As i sit catching a pixel tan, i can feel a pounding headache coming on, had a real cracker on Saturday, i just put it down to a cold coming on, but i don't have any other symptoms at the mo, ah well, it could be a lack of getting out on the MTB

Ayrforce One

Finally got out on the MTB, not been out on it for months, well it seems like it.I knew it was going to be a good day when i reached the steps, and flew down them, i was half expecting the trail to be a mudfest, indeed some parts where, but in the main, it was dry.

Headed along the promenade, and was surprised to see some hardy souls already hitting the beach, now i was out at seven thirty, maybe eight by the time i reached the shore, and there were bodies already pitching tents and windbreaks, sheee, just goes to show you, one little bit of sun, and you cannot move for peely white bodies.

Ok whats with the council down here, i know i have mentioned this before, but what clown thought this one up, part of the cycle path is, guess what, no cycling allowed, like duh.
I managed to reach Failford today, and boy was i chuffed, was even tempted to go in and try their real ale, but thought better of it, maybe next time.

Got back and started to graze as soon as i got out of the shower, its amazing what you can stuff down your features in a short time, crisps, Mars Bars, milk, energy drink, toast, spread thick with butter, then coffee

Hope to do it all again tomorrow

Damn, This Trail Is Getting Big

What a day so far, not that i got out on the MTB, got a phone call from Paul, as per usual we gibbered about everything under the sun, he did mention that he would like to get out on his MTB, however, life seems to be getting in the way of that happening,i might have to go up to Glasgow and kidnap the sod, that's probably the only way he will get out on the MTB.

What else, had an idea to put my trails on either a website or on a Word document, that way others will be able to follow where the hell i have been, got the idea from Wheemax, his site has been a godsend for me, found more than a few trails on it, and he is quite willing to let you know where there are good trails, thanks bud.

So if i do go down the route of putting pen to paper, i might rope in some help, already asked Craig, he is another unfortunate that life stops him getting out on his MTB, also might ask Ronnie, don't think he has a bike, but he has written a few good short stories, so i know he can at least string a coherent sentence together.

So, been looking at maps, and reading emails and websites that show me more trails down here, (Ayrshire), and now it seems that i am heading into Dumfries and Galloway, damn this trail is getting big.

I have now been pointed in the direction of a couple of longish trails down by Glentrool, which on the map, look so damn shiny, problem is, if i do them, its going to take at least a day, maybe even two to complete them, and, (should be a drumroll there) i have spotted that the Southern Upland Way joins the cycle track close to the Big Country Trail, which means that i can now rejoin the trails here, and go either across country to Girvan, or follow NCN7 back to Maybole, damn i am beginning to love this trail, hell i say that at the moment, wonder if i will be so happy when i have to ride the damn thing.

This trail is like those Russian dolls that you get, every time i think i have it sussed, another bit appears, dear god, no more, who the hell am i kidding, gimme more, more i want more trails to add to it

Trail Is Getting Bigger

Never got the chance to go out today on the MTB, however, not too long ago, i got an email telling me about a long route down at Loch Doon, it seems that my proposed trail comes out somewhere near the middle of it, and it was suggested that i try this trail out, so if i like it, i might add it to the Ubertrail, (dear god, just how long is this trail going to be).


Checked on the web awee while ago, and found out that it is an official trail, (shiny), and its called the Merrick Circle, what a boring name, when you consider what the names of other trails are called, The Soor Plooms, The Bombhole, The Ginger Beer, and whats the long route called, the Merrick Circle, sheee.

Here is the links, its in three sections, section one, section two, and finally section three, this is not the route i will take, i will more than likely join it about the witches Bridge, now i don't reckon that it is possible for me to cycle this in one day, so it looks like its time to start either reading up on how to camp when mountain biking, or find some B&B's close to the route.

Its funny how things work out, one minute i am having a problem with one section of the Ubertrail, the next, the trail has almost doubled in length thanks to advice from fellow MTBers, at this rate, i can see it crossing the border into the Lake District, hey, it ain that far from the Galloway forest to the border, now that would be an Ubertrail and a half, and dont forget, i am seriously considering adding the Southern Upland Way, and the West Highland Way, if i ever, get that far, then i will consider adding some sections in the Highlands, oh i do know that there is a cycle trail along the Great Glen Way, and onto the Speyside Way, but hey, i am not that ambitious, hell who am i kidding, i would love to be able to ride the entire length of those trails, from my front door all the way up to The Cairgorns

New Trails

Well the weather has been lousy for the last couple of days, wet windy and frelling cold, typical Scottish summer weather i suppose, so not out on the MTB, sigh.

One thing did happen that has perked me up quite a bit, i got an email from a fellow MTBer, who suggested, some trails that i might like to add to my Ubertrail, seems he has been following my blog, and when i mentioned that i was looking down at Kirkoswald for trails, that could lead to Girvan, he asked if i was willing to make a detour to get to it, hell yeah was my reply, i want to make the Ubertrail a couple of days worth of riding, with shorter sections within it, for quick blasts.
So he has sent me a description of the route, not a detailed one, he will send that later when he can find the book that has the routes in it, seems it is a walking book, rather than a MTBing one, but one has to adapt.

Quick description, no distances as yet, but from a quick glance at the map, it looks long enough.
Kirkoswald to Craigdow Loch (i know about this section, just have to get onto it and find out its condition)
Craigdow Loch to Craigdow (hill i think) swing around the hill and head towards Glenshalloch Wood, once in the woods, (after looking out for bears, marauding ramblers etc) swing north to Craigfin Wood, passing through the wood, turn west and exit onto the road.

Cross over the bridge ??? then swing north till you come to another road, (this is national cycle route 7) now turn south and follow NCN7 till you reach The Witches Bridge, here you leave the road and head west into the forest, (never to be seen again, hopefully not) following the forest trails till you reach the road, then swing south again till you reach Stinchar Bridge, then its follow the road south again until you get back onto NCN7.

Then a short distance down the road at Cairnfore ??? there is a right turn into the woods, follow this until you come to Fardin, then its straight on ??? till you come to Ferter, then swing south.
until you arrive at White Clauchrie, (are these names made up)
Now follow the trail west till you come to Shalloch Well then its north westwards till you pass the cairn, then its westwards till you come to a road, which you don't follow, here you swing north westwards once more along a path till you come to Pinmore Mains, at the B734 turn left, and at the A714 turn right.

Follow this till you see a minor road on your left, follow this till you see a path on your right, its just past a farm, this path runs north eastwards for a while, then swings back to the northwest, where it comes out just South of Girvan.

OK, that ain't a brilliant description of the route, but at the moment its all i have to go on, i have checked it out on a map, and boy does it look hilly, and in places, damn lonely, there is no frelling way that i could do it in a day, so its time to start looking for B&B's or possible campsites.

Good thing is, now i can get to the cross country trails that lead to Patna, which is what i was trying to originally, now its just that i am getting there, the long way round mind you, but i am getting there.(is that not a song)

Oops

Sunday went down to Kirkoswald on the lookout for some new trails, might have found a way to get to Girvan, granted its by road, but they are all little country lane type back roads , err things.
Anyhow, its looking promising, sometime during the next week or two, i am going to head down to Dunure, and see if there is a path along the coast to Culzean Castle, not too impressed with the trail over the Carrick hills at the moment, its overgrown, chewed up by cattle walking on it, its a good route, but maybe its not worth the aggravation, (my word for today).

Today, well i headed along the Ayrforce One trail, and boy it was a real pleasure, most of it is fast flowing tracks, however, me being me, i have put a couple of hard push bits in, i am just perverse that way, i don't think a trail, well to be more accurate, a long to medium distance trail, is any good unless i have to get off and, lift/push/carry the bike for a while, not too much i hasten to add, i am pervers, not a frelling massochist, i spotted a load of other cyclists out on the trails, hmmmm, some of them had better learn the rules of the trail, lost count of the times that i had to slam the anchors on, seeing as i was enjoying myself, i just laughed it off, and went on me way.

Had one of those embarrassing crashes, i was on a single lane road, and a car was coming up behind me, so i pulled over to let it past, put my left foot down on the grass verge, and errr, well there was no verge, the damn grass was covering a ditch.
In ultra slow motion i felt myself fall over, and then because its me, there had to be a frelling thorn bush lining the ditch, now, anyone else would have had a normal hedge to fall onto, but not me, i get a thorn bush.
As i lay there cursing, and turning the air blue around me with a few choice expletives that i have picked up over the years, i hear the car driver running over to see if i was all right, give her, her due, she did seem concerned for my well being, after i convinced her that it was more damaged pride than anything, she finally drove off