Roads trip goes down a storm
Storm lashed cyclists from the Ayr Roads/ Harry Fairbairn Club braved the elements for a trip to the exposed Mull of Galloway.
A trip to the Mull had been arranged weeks ago by Alan Thomson, the club’s oversea member from Northern Ireland.
Alan had arranged to meet his father at Portpatrick where the two had planned a weekend mini tour of the Rhinns of Galloway.
They faced gale force winds and torrential rain on the second day with Galloway bearing the brunt of the storm.
On the outward leg along the exposed Luce Bay, they faced gale force winds and, as they approached Drummore, the coast road was obliterated by flying spray and debris.
The climb from Drummore to the Mull of Galloway lighthouse was another hard slog, especially for the elder Thomson, before a rest at Mull of Galloway tearoom, where they were advised that the coast road was closed due to flooding.
The thought of a good tail wind and the pair were looking forward to the return leg, via Port Logan on the Irish sea side of the Rhinns.
With a photocall on the Mull, the pair were soon on their way.
That’s when the weather broke. Monsoon rains hit them, with the roadway from Port Logan over to Luce Bay a torrent.
The pair battled on to the hamlet of Ardwell and homewards. Both reckoned it was one of the hardest days they had experienced on a bike.
The third outing of the Rhinns tour had to be postponed, as the coast road at Cairnryan was closed and with Alan, having to head back to catch a ferry, a long detour by way of Newton Stewart prevented another morning on the bike.
Meanwhile, members experienced similar conditions on the Sunday run with Ayrshire roads flooded.
A circuit from Low Coylton to Dalmellington was the favoured route, before taking the hill road to Straiton.
At Bogton Loch, club captain Bobby McGhee was first to test the water level on the flooded road, before approaching the climb to Straiton. Safely through, it was then by Straiton, Cloyntie Toll and Maybole onto home roads.
Roads were well represented at the Scottish Cyclo Cross Lapierre Event 3 on Sunday, when five members headed to Dunfermline.
The club’s AGM is on Friday, November 3 at 7pm in The Citadel.