Last night was cloudy so I wasn't able to see the International
Space Station pass overhead. By morning the sky had cleared and
there was dark starry sky with Ursa Major visible through the tent
door. At 5am it was 2degC outside but dropped to zero just before I
packed the tent away.
There was a heavy dew on the grass so I put plastic bags over my
cycling shoed to keep as much water off as possible. I wheeled my
bike across the now muddy field and on to the road. The sky was
still clear as I set off but the sun wasn't high enough to warm
things up. I kept an eye out for black ice but the road was dry so I
was OK. Just before I entered Penpont I noticed a stone egg shaped
object on the hill to the right. I left my bike in an adjacent lay
bye then through a gate and up the hill to investigate. It was a dry
stone structure of sandstone about 2m high. There was no information
board to say what it was.
I cycled on to Penpont and stopped to photograph the War Memorial. I
asked a man walking with his newspaper about the art structure but
he knew nothing about it and suggested I call in at the shop to ask.
I did and the man said it was by Andy Goldsworthy and he lived just
outside Penpont to the west.
Penpont memorial
I kept an eye out for a possible house and even rode up a side road
to investigate one but the gallery didn't open till 11am and the
gate was locked. I rode on to Moniaive then along the B729 to the
west. I hadn't gone far when I saw a monument on the hill to the
right. It wasn't far up the field so I walked up to investigate. It
was in memory of Rev James Renwick (1662-1688) who was born nearby
and executed in Edinburgh on 17 Feb 1688 because of his support of
the covenant cause in Scotland. He was the last of "the Covenanter
martyrs". Yet another case of legalised murder because of a slightly
different religious belief.
Memorial to Rev James Renwick (1662-1688)
Rev James Renwick (1662-1688)
Rev James Renwick being taken for execution in Edinburgh
I rode on to start the long climb over Stroanshallock valley and
pass. It was mostly through the trees so they kept the sun off. In
the sun it felt warm when working on the climb but over the top I
had a very long descent and needed my windproof on. I had great
views of the Rhinns of Kells ahead as I descended to Kendoon Loch. I
followed the east bank and rode on to join the main A713.
National Byway
This an interesting moment as it is when I was reunited with a much
younger me as the last time I cycled the road was in 1966 on a Youth
Hostelling Holiday with friends from the Ribble Valley Cycling Club.
We were on our way to Ayr at the time.
Bridge up a side road
I rode on a short distance to Carsphairn where I saw a sign saying
bacon rolls. Nearby was a cafe so I went in for a bacon roll and cup
of tea. It was a welcome break and chance to get something to eat. I
continued through the village to the heritage centre but the
isolated building was closed with sign saying when or if it would
open. The road ahead was several long easy climbs but many high
speed motorbikes were very annoying. Eventually I started an
impressive and winding descent into Dalmellington.
Bacon roll and tea
The Town sign said ‘A Place in the Stars’ but no indication what
that meant I called at the Cooperative shop to buy water and asked
the young lady about the stars comment. She said it was to do with
an observatory but didn't know anything else. I continued up the
steep hill, turned left and descended back to the A713 but crossed
it to join the B741 towards Straiton. There was a steady climb at
the start then higher up a digger was partly obstructing the road as
it dug out the roadside ditch.
Camp at Straiton
I rode past and out into open country with good views all
around. There were many wind turbines on the hill to the left and
two sets of pylon power lined. As I started my descent there were a
few annoying and thick clouds of flies. One was so bad I had to stop
and dig out my protective glasses from my bag. I reached Straiton in
warm sunshine and rode through the village to the sports field.
There were many people out enjoying the nice weather. The car park
by the sports field was almost full as I wheeled my bike across the
field, past the goal post and on to the far side of the field near
the river. I reckoned this was far enough away from everyone and
pitched my tent. There was no phone or data signal so had to use
satellite link to send my location home.
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Whittle Wanderer
