Still soaked and very cold, and by now hungry as well, we arrived in Gourock to search out food.
Here Ian struck gold, negotiating with an Indian restaurant (the Taj Mahal), not only to let in 3 soaked cyclists, but also let us bring in our even wetter bikes!
Despite leaving pools of water everywhere, their hospitality was fantastic,and we enjoyed the local Scottish speciality…..Jalfrezi’s and naan bread
Over an hour later we were warmer, fuller and a bit drier. Again the helpful waiters advised that the best route south was the coastal road, rather than negotiating across Gourock towards the main road, so off we went.
The weather by now was back to glorious sunshine, the road was flat, we were speeding along and drying out rapidly. It was then that a false sense of confidence set in.
After a brief stop in Largs, despite David feeling a bit tired, we agreed that we could make it to Troon, thereby getting a whole day ahead of our plan.
It soon began to dawn on us that we might have misread the route cards, and Troon was further than we thought……. Then, when we did eventually reach the outskirts of Troon, Google only identified one campsite, which we had a spot of bother finding. After stopping for directions, we went off to the Town centre and eventually found it, only to discover a small, scruffy, caravan only site. With a bit of desperation starting to set in, we set off again, stopped another pedestrian who said they knew a site in Prestwick. Off again, with another wrong turning causing a double back on a dual carriageway, only to find another caravan only site. Further cycling into Prestwick itself, replenishing at a petrol station, and on to Ayr in the gathering gloom. More people asked and we found yet another caravan only site in Ayr. Now totally dark, google found us a site at ‘Heads of Ayr’ with a phone number. Duly phoned, we were told we had to get there before the bar closed at 11:30. After more requests for directions, we were eventually off on the right road. With a further phone call to the site and now getting extremely late, Mark, as the only one with lights on his bike, shot off to book us in, making it just in time. It was on this 3 mile sprint that he recorded 41mph, in pitch black, down a hill!
Pitched the tent in blackness, downed a can or two, and went to bed…..

Total distance 132 miles, 371 cumulative in 3 days!