Wednesday 15 August 2012

coal mining

We had an afternoon out on our bikes last Sunday and went down through Old Dailly in the Girvan coalfield...of which one token bing (tip) and winding gear is left.

By the village shop is a small park....
That is a long time for mining to be here...over 500 years, yet there is little to be seen, and you'd be forgiven for believing it to be solely an agricultural area.

We called past a pottery, but no-one came to talk when we called, except the guard dog.....
and so on to the cycling club's clubroom aka hut, for lunch as a light rainshower fell.

then home through Barr and over the Carrick Hills (mountains!!) via Glen Ala, the so-called easy route!!

My strategy?   Bottom gear, watch the cadence on the cycle computer and synchronize breathing and pedalling.  I only walked two short sharp sections during the whole ride.  
It was breathtaking to be up in and on the hills again and I was quite proud to find that the promised ride of just under 40 miles was actually 10 miles further!.

We even got home before the rain and the washing on the line was dry!!

9 comments:

Andrea Ingram said...

Well done you! Hope the weather is keeping ok there. It is glorious here

gz said...

twenty minutes after writing, the washing is ready for the line....and it is raining!!

Kath said...

love those amazing benches! and the scary guard dog :-D

Zhoen said...

I know a woman who does metal work who would drool over those benches.

Good dog.

Relatively Retiring said...

Oh yes, wonderful benches - and a charming guard dog!
Well done with the breathing, too!

yeractual said...

I do like those benches, nice ironwork. The guard-dog looks as useful as our old buddy, Jack! Glad you're enjoying the old homeland. The area in general is not unlike your own. But it is almost time for a real bikeride surely - Wales-Scotland - a Celtic bonanza!!!

red dirt girl said...

Oh I do like those benches. They don't look comfortable to sit on, but very interesting to look at ...!

Love the guard dog.

So good to read you're out and about and happy ...!!

xxx

Michèle Hastings said...

those benches are beautiful!
sounds and looks, like you had a long enjoyable ride.

Jo said...

Excellent photos! The ride sounds like it was fun: am very jealous about you getting home before the rain :)