On your marks get set go ...

I had a lovely lazy day off today.

Sometimes you just need to charge your batteries!

I got up, stuck a couple of washing loads in, and then attacked the tyres on the bike. for today, I was going to cycle!

And cycle I did. I headed off after a hearted 20 minutes pumping up the tyres, and headed for the cycle path which runs past our house. The first 200 yards went went. All downhill! Good start.

As I turned onto the golf course - the wind hit. It was blowing directly towards me, and despite the sunshine, was pretty dang cold. It also slowed me down.

Other obstacles on this part of the path, included the Golf Course Gardiners, who were driving little tractors up and down to transport sods of lawn, serious cyclists - complete with lycra and dayglo, and ladies who lunch walking their incy dogs. (Two of whom I nearly killed).

Then within 8 minutes of setting off, I hit the first point I didn't want to cycle past. Break Time at the local secondary. The Bike path runs past the Smokers haunts. I had to cycle past four groups of underage smokers. Why are the ones who smoke, the same ones who have a really weird idea about how hair dye should be used?

I got by without incident, and then headed along the part of the path which goes between the golf course (yes, another one), and the cemetary. This part was sheltered so the wind wasn't quite so much a problem.

The next section ran behind some rather nice houses and ANOTHER golf course, (This is Troon of course, there has to be at least seven golf courses to fulfil the needs of the community!

The nice houses gave me a bit of a problem. As I cycled along, a bit slower than I had been, so that I could glean decorating ideas, and feed my envy, I kept hitting other ladies who lunch (not their dogs, the actual ladies)..... Ooops.

Next section, was the best. It was the last section, but also the most open. This section runs between The Portland Golf Course and part of the Municiple Golf Courses. The Portland was my Dad's course, so it was nice to cycle along side the areas I used to walk with my Dad, and where I would be "amazed" at his ability at golf. He liked to tell me in great detail how good his swing, his drive, his put was.... (he was actually he had a handicap of 3 (i think)).

Nant deposited some of Nunk there too last year.... so it's nice to think of the pair of them pottering around playing golf as long as their hearts desire now!

Half way, I had to stop. There was a hill, and the hill together with the wind, was crucifying me. I climbed up a little bridge which links the Beach to the Cycle path, and also the Smuggler's Trail. There was a gentlemann standing there, and said to me "I'm enjoying the view.....that's my excuse, the wind and the hill almost killed me".. I nodded in agreement, because I hadn't got my breath back yet.

This is the view from the top of the bridge. From the picture I took yesterday, this is to the left out of shot. Troon really is a pretty little place when you look closely.

I carried on once I had my breath back, and finished the cycle to the Airport. Total miles : 3.7 It had been my intention to climb aboard a train home, but decided after daydreaming and staring into a little burn for ten minutes, that I felt fine enough to cycle back... and so I did, improving my return time by 15 minutes!

7.4 Miles in total! Not bloody bad going for an unfit middle aged mam!

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