Well That Was a Tad Disappointing

When you are a child everything seems brighter, bigger, better. Perhaps it really is the age of innocence and wonder. Realising that our holiday location was close to Maybole stirred a distant childhood memory of the Electric Brae and balls rolling uphill.  So much so that I even packed a couple of tennis balls so I could demonstrate what was one of the 7 wonders of my childhood world and watch the family's faces light up in awe. Fair to say I had mentioned it more than once on the lead up to the holiday and during our first couple of days.

Everything started out so well.  The rain of yesterday had all but gone this morning and by lunchtime the skies cleared and the sun came out. I packed my tennis balls and excitedly herded the family towards the cars.  To be honest there was a noticeable difference in their levels of enthusiasm compared to mine, there's being somewhere on a scale between reluctant resignation and indifference. Still, they will soon change their tune, I thought as I started the car and said joyously "Hey Google take me to the electric brae!"

The excitement built steadily, first a turnoff with a brown tourist sign, proudly declaring this way to the electric brae, then a sign saying "Caution Electric Brae ahead slow moving vehicles on carriageway." And finally a parking bay with a commemorative stone bearing the legend THE ELECTRIC BRAE and an explanation of the phenomenon. "Whilst there is this slope of 1 in 86 upwards from the bend to the Glen, the configuration of the land on either side of the road provides an optical illusion making it look as if the slope is going the other way."

Jumping out the car I avidly read the inscription in full and asked Jackie to capture the moment for all to see.  Then after diving into the boot for the tennis balls, I checked both ways for traffic and stepped into the road to place the ball and jumped back.  Caught in the breeze, the ball rolled sideways for a bit then lodged in the uneven road surface. Undaunted I marched 'uphill' a couple of paces and tried again. Same result. So maybe the layby and commemerative stone don't so much mark the start of the brae but simply provide a convenient and safe place to park off the road. The road definitely looked uphill so I tried again halfway to the bend and watched as the ball moved sideways and lodged against a stone. Turning towards the car, wishing I had brought a bigger ball, I was encouraged by the smiles on the faces of my adoring family, that is until the wind dropped a bit and I heard the hoots of laughter.

Back in the car, I remembered the road sign advising of slow moving vehicles, so I pulled back out onto the road and accelerated to 20 mph and put the gearstick into neutral. To be fair the car continued 'uphill' without the speed dropping (too much), but I have to confess that even I wasn't totally convinced.

Apparently during the Second World War  General Dwight D Eisenhower and other American personnel from the air-base at Prestwick often visited the Brae. I do hope they went home less disappointed than I did.

At least on the way home we got some amazing views of the coastline and Arran. Although even that was slightly tainted by Laura putting her car into reverse gear and gleefully shouting out the window "do you want to see a car roll uphill." Czytaj więcej