Making a swift exit I rode back down to the main road where I followed the cycle path until it ended and kicked me out onto the road where I had no choice but to take my chances in the fast moving traffic.Īfter a couple of miles I took a breather at Carsluith castle a ruined tower house dating from around the 16th century. The Wicker man hotel Wicker man oven Oven peel Thinking that it was all getting a bit surreal I said yes please, so she took me through to the back of her living room and there in her kitchen was the actual bakers oven that was used in the film along with the paddles or ‘Peels’ used for removing the loaves or bodies whichever you prefer. When I mentioned the film one of them said do you want to to see the oven that also featured in the film. (I must watch it when I get back) Unfortunately it was closed and the two old women on the opposite side of the road informed me that it is rarely open these days. I knew it wouldnt last You dont say Galloway forest park Handy bike shopĮventually I reached Creetown where I had been told there was a pub called the Ellangowan Hotel that had also been used for several scenes in the Wicker man. It wasn’t all going to plan however as at Palnure the route decided to leave the main road and climb a steep hill before wending its way through the scenic countryside where I had a brief stop at the Galloway forest park which is a mecca for walkers and mountain bike enthusiasts and even has a bike hire shop and cafe. The roads were wet so it had obviously rained at some point although thankfully this time I had somehow given it the slip. Cycle path to Newton stewart George and Danny Bridge poetry Bypassing Newton Stewart along the A75 Sustrans marker On route I met George and Danny who were indulging in a bit of low tech touring around Scotland. The track then routed me through the outskirts of the town before turning South down the opposite bank. Just before Newton Stewart I took the cycle path which ran alongside the river Cree where poetry presumably by your man Robbie Burns was scrawled on the bridges crossing it. Thanks for all your comments, (keep em coming)ġ0 August 2015 Carty port to Kircudbright 37.3 miles MTD 2958 Mechanically Marvin is showing some serious wear and tear after 4,250 miles, but apart from a new chain and brake blocks nothing has been replaced and I’m hoping to get to the end without changing anything else.
The weather lately has been exceptional and has certainly helped to keep my morale up, I’m hoping for a nice SW wind to blow me back along the South Coast. Its been a brilliant adventure and even with some serious hillage to contend with in Wales, Devon and Cornwall I am managing to put in some good days on Marvin. I’m not making excuses it just hasn’t been as easy to do as I expected and apart from the lack of internet and finding somewhere to keep my gadgets charged up sometimes when I crawl into my tent after a hard day on the bike it is the last thing I want to do. I apologise to those people who look forward to my posts but the problems associated with keeping it up to date were beginning get to me. With regards to the blog which I realise is way behind, I am determined to finish it but for now I am going to concentrate on finishing the journey. This will be my final corner and all being well I hope to reach Sandwich (My start point) in a couple of weeks.
I am currently in Cornwall just short of Lands End, which I should reach tomorrow. Marvin is going well despite the wear and tear and apart from a few aches and pains I am Ok. I still plan to finish my blog as there are so many people I have to thank and who deserve to see their names in lights. I will fine tune my arrival time the day before I finish.
It has been difficult to predict when I will actually finish but I plan to cross the finish line at the Quay in Sandwich on Tuesday the 20th Oct at around midday which should leave me a few hours of daylight to celebrate and get back to Canterbury. The nights are drawing in and are pretty chilly which means I have to find a place to stop a lot earlier. After a great day cycling with my son from Chichester to Brighton I am currently holed up in a youth hostel in Hove simply because there is nowhere around these parts to wildcamp which is a bit of a pain.Īfter the killer hills of Devon and Cornwall since leaving Weymouth my route has been almost completely flat and apart from a cold Easterly wind in my face progress has been good, not that I am in a rush.