Monday 28 March 2016

building and riding

 We've been busy still sorting boxes, finding things, making the house more of a home.
Also,at last, we have good enough weather to grab an hour or two out on the bike. Using a turbo trainer is all very well indoors in inclement weather but it does get difficult to stay enthusiastic about doing it...
We're very glad that like Imogen, Storm Katie has chosen a more Southerly track!

The Pirate was unsure about leaving his "stamping ground" of 25 years, South Ayrshire...but now we are in East Ayrshire we are discovering a network of lanes.
This toll house is by Ochiltree


Last week we rode 25 miles, but stayed within six miles of our village!
Today we rode through Sinclairston, skirted Ochiltree then found a "new" lane to take us over to the road to Stair.
 Big skies...and himself coming back to see why I'd stopped!
 Past the site of another Ayrshire village,this one demolished as late as 1953.


 If you search online for "the lost villages of Ayrshire" there is a wealth of information.

Once home, with the rain still holding off, we did an afternoon of garden construction...the first deep bed is looking good,with beetroots and carrots and a few parsnips...
 Now the second is on its way. We have some bought topsoil, but first we need to collect bags of horse manure (free) and council compost from the recycling centre (also free!).   The compost and top soil mixed together 1:1 go on top of the manure.

The much traveled fruit bushes also need re-potting into tubs...but we've done enough for today!

7 comments:

Zhoen said...

(o)

Peter said...

Lovely photos, I do like the hedges,the winter trees, and the "big sky". Your mention of "lost villages" sent me on an interesting internet search. Quite a fascinating subject!

Tracey Broome said...

Glad to see there is a light at the end of the tunnel! I will be unpacking and sorting boxes in another month, much to look forward to!
The last farm we bid on but didn't get was named Ayrshire.the farmer that owned it was from there.
I had to look it up, did not know the meaning. What a lovely word and village.

Relatively Retiring said...

It all looks very promising, and such an interesting area. Possibly best of all....free manure and compost. Almost enough to make me move north!

kjsutcliffe said...

Brooding sky and excellent photos. The raised beds look very promising :)

Michèle Hastings said...

What beautiful countryside to bike through!

Julia said...

Waves from her Sunday morning bed :)