Kerr-coo-bree (that’s how you say it)

I did wake up to the sound of a distant pigeon, but it was soon drowned out by the drumming of rain on the tent. That and a general sense of confusion about how to pack all my stuff away, meant I didn’t hit the road until almost 10 am. At least the rain had stopped.

5 miles on, I’d already stopped three times. First after a mystery downhill front wheel wobble and then for a tuna sandwich (use by 23 Aug!). Then the impressive bulk of Criffell (549m high and just a mile inland) suddenly disappeared, obscured by rain . I ducked behind a wall as the rain blew over my head. Surprise, surprise - it was very windy.

The wall saved me a drenching but the sky was grey and it was only a matter of time. 20 minutes later, I was in the heaviest windswept rain I’ve ever ridden in. It was slow going. In Dalbeattie the man who made my lunch (bacon and tomato panini with a ‘tatie scone’ chaser and two mugs of tea) agreed that it was ‘crap for August’.
.As I left Dalbeattie, the sun briefly came out and I took my coat off! I decided to stop whinging about the wind and be grateful if it wasn’t raining
In Tour de France parlance, ‘I didn’t have good legs’ today, and called it a day at Kirkcudbright. I’m enjoying the ‘showers and toilet’ luxury of the Silvercraigs campsite.Read more