Dumfries, afternoon of speed

 To Dumfries yesterday, to collect Pirate's phone that he dropped in friend's car on Monday...no missed calls or texts, which is strange as that phone works hard!!

Shopping first, and buying the wherewithal for a picnic lunch.

The car parks were nearly full and we were lucky to be able to use Pirate's Blue Badge to park by the river on Dock Quay. I wonder what boats came up the river to dock here?

First a picnic on a bench by the river...and this sculpture on the railings..or had there been knobs like this on other parts of the railings?

Then to the finish/start area on Whitesands, just below the river..full of bikes, riders, kit, coaches (the human kind)...we found out way to the spectating area 2, where we could see a big screen, with shots from a motorbike cameraman following riders, and from a camera on a drone, as well as results and other information on the World Championships.

The overall...and finishing..speed was impressive!! Under 28 minutes for 11.5 km..

There was more municipal art.. simple and effective in the breeze

And the river behind..with tree trunks perched on the weir

We saw all the recumbent bike handcyclists, but realised that our three hour parking limit was less than half an hour away. We saw some of the next group warming up...those without full leg length, so sort of kneeling and sitting to pedal by hand. We thought...coffee and cake....but at 3pm the café was closing!!...With plenty of people around needing refreshment...as we were turned away, half a dozen more were coming in, to be turned away...

Then past the footbridge back to the car.

Then home again on quieter roads.