Sanquhar to Paisley

I just couldn't get going this morning...stiff, sore, and a bad night's sleep (there was an owl calling from the woods near my window - normally, I'd think that was great, but last night...and when I didn't have a gun...).

I managed to get downstairs before breakfast finished (9am!). I even managed to set off as early as 11am. (There's no rush. It's supposed to be fun.)

I took the A76 as far as Cross Hands, and then took a diversion through Moscow (it's really there, check it out) to by-pass Kilmarnock and pick up the A77 to head straight into Glasgow. On the first part of the ride the scenery was stunning, but the towns were very run down and some of the roads were really rough. (I'm starting to fell a bit tender, and when you're tired you really feel every bump.) But the second part of the journey (from near Waterside to Glasgow) was perfect - a broad, recently surfaced off-road cycle path runs for 15 miles or more alongside the A77, almost without interruption and well in towards the city centre. (Perhaps this is what Boris has in mind for his London Cycle Super-highways?) So although the first part of the day was slow and steady, the second was much faster and more comfortable.

The cycle path was being well used - I saw lots of cyclists going the other way (an omen?). But none of them wanted to wave (there's usually pretty good camaraderie between cyclists on the road; we're all in it together and we have a common interest; but these guys seemed really unfriendly).

Still, nice to arrive at my next stop in the middle of the afternoon and to be able to spend the evening with friends.

Saw the weather forecast just before bed - same forecast that we've had since I started: the sunny dry weather is still just a couple of days away. I was going to post the waterproofs back home tomorrow, but I might just hang on to them a little bit longer. (And I must remember to buy some insect repellent tomorrow...Am I getting onto the repeats?...the bugs in the Trossachs can be really nasty)

Total miles so far 705.41
Total calories so far: 31,993 (if only that was a calorific deficit - I'd be at least a stone lighter by now).