Saturday, June 15, 1996
From Ayr to Johnstone
38.8 miles
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As the distance I had to cover wasn't too great, I took my time in the morning and left the camping site at half past ten. For this day I had planned to cycle to Johnstone, find a place for the night and spent the evening going out to dinner. I had chosen Johnstone for my last stop, because from there it is only a short distance to the airport and you don't have to go through Glasgow.
I first rode into Ayr and there I strolled along the pedestrian area they have there. It was sunny and warm and there were a lot of people on the streets. Hey, and I have to admit, that I enjoyed the looks I got from them pushing my bike along the pavement.
From Ayr, I rode along the A737 over Irvine to Dalry, and from there on followed the road towards Johnstone. Although this road was marked as a minor road on my map, there was an awful lot of traffic.
When I arrived in Johnstone, I found no tourist office, so I asked a local who was taking a walk with his family, if he knew a B&B in town. He didn't, but he described me the way to a place called "North View Guest House" where he meant I could find a place to stay.
Well, when I arrived there and rang the door bell, a man opened, looked at me and then said 'What can I do for you, my son?'. I told him I was looking for a room for the night and I was lucky, as he still had a single. It did cost 27,50 pounds, but that was alright for the last night. It wasn't en suite, even better, I had my own bathroom. And in that bathroom, there was a big tub. Can you imagine how I felt lying in the hot water after three weeks of B&B and camping site showers?
I then lay on my bed and watched the football match Scotland vs. England (did I tell you that the European championship was going on?) which I didn't like too much, because Scotland lost.
What I have to tell you, I didn't have to put my bicycle somewhere behind the house or in some shed; Mr. Thom told me, I should place it right in the lobby. I nearly didn't dare to put my bike, which surely wasn't very clean, on that carpet. But this nice man should surprise me even more the next day.
Later that evening I went to a restaurant not far from my lodging -- I don't remember the name of the place, but it was something with some kind of bird -- and had a very good dinner there. I stayed there quite long, talking to the waiter and the people at the bar before going home and, for the last time in Scotland, going to sleep.