Good and bad

 Yesterday I posted the good sale, on our way to Castle Douglas to have lunch with a friend.

Pirate was feeling a little better, the sun was shining and we enjoy going there for whatever reason.

After lunch and a top-up shop, I suggested that we didn't just return straight home.

Pirate navigated the way on quieter roads and small lanes to Glen Trool on the Newton Stewart to Straiton road, and we aimed for a stop at the Bell's memorial to check on the bench.

It wasn't there.....

Despite heavy duty steel anchors and concrete, it had gone.

Pirate is heartbroken.

A near(2 miles or so) neighbour to there commented on a public post I made on fb...he has CCTV at his property which covers the passing traffic...and went there to check.

It was obviously a professional job probably to order. The memorial itself was graffitied and drug paraphernalia scattered around...plus the place used as a toilet..

We won't return there ever again.

It must have happened about Wednesday...as the grass was mown by the Forestry commission a week ago, and cycle tourists visited there at the beginning of the week. 

I am spreading the news on every grapevine I can find, and we speak to the police on Monday.

Pirate's Birthday Drumup

weekend out

 The Bell memorial, remembering a cycling author who wrote about this area of South West Scotland.

 Looking across the valley...I think this is The Awful Hand, the Meyrick (the highest) is just to the right. 
The Memorial is near the junction of two roads, one the main Ayr to Newton Stewart, the other goes via  Nic o the Balloch and Glen Ala, and over to Crosshill or Dailly on the way to Girvan.
The wind here can treat tall trees like matchsticks.

 After checking that the site was good for the following day's plans we followed the road down to Newton Stewart, and all the burns and rivers were full after a couple more days of heavy rain.

 In the riverside car park there is a sign asking you to watch out for the ducks!
These were on a dash to a splash...probably competing for a lady's attention....

The Sunday started damp, but we loaded the car with firewood,my bike and a few provisions and headed back to the Memorial...
The Cyclists Touring Club had organized various runs converging there for a traditional drumup....

 the Billy is made from a clean baked beans tin with a stainless steel wheel spoke as a handle..

 New friends are made, and a passing rider found a novel way to warm his gloves...

 the locals investigated and left...

 and groups of riders came to share lunch and a brew...

 Another rider had started the fire and The Pirate kept the billys boiling..

In all there must have been nearly forty riders out.

Afterwards he stayed to see the fire finished and safe and I rode the 25 miles home...thankfully mostly with a tailwind!

 past tree harvesting...

 and the signs of Spring.