Another month!

 We had a break and a day out on Wednesday, and went to see the Galloway Hoard exhibition at the new Gallery in Kirkcudbright. 

New to us anyway!! Four years ago we saw the building covered in scaffolding as they began renovation and adapting the building to be a gallery. They have done a good job on it..the building has retained its integrity, and they have changed as little as possible but it is now a modern usable gallery and space.

The exhibition is very interesting, showing not just most of the hoard items but also short videos of the processes involved. One piece is far too fragile, but with scanning of various kinds they have been able to investigate the contents and create a 3D printed model of the small jar without unwrapping the delicate textiles around it.

It is there until 10 July 2022.. not sure where it will go after that.

We had a mooch around the town, seeing the window dressing left from the day that the cycling elite championship came to town...

Clann is a very good café in an old bank. Clann means children in Gaelic.

We saw people playing bowls...and old buildings being renovated.

The old harbour building, saved and turned into a gallery over a hundred years ago, and a fishing boat by the quay. 

We left "Artists Town" for Newton Stewart, just to have a wander around the town and a local (of course!) made ice cream.

After last week's rain the river was running high..not as high as when it came over the banks and demolished a long section of river wall...but still high and fast!! There used to be a footbridge over the river as well as the road bridge, but that hasn't been rebuilt.

Home over the upland road to call in at the pub where we were married four years ago in May...good to see friends and chat.

Then home again.

Now we are in July already!!

Yesterday we talked to the carpenter who will be helping us fit the conservatory roof, and Pirate started cladding the front...and I saw where it wasn't quite right....He isn't happy, but at least the wood from the first side will do the job properly on the other.

Thanks be for buildings that are not perfect!!

Monday is my pension day so I should be able to order the roofing materials..this job is taking far longer than hoped, but at least it is all slow steps in the right direction 

a day out,a sunset..

 Out in the car to the South of Ayrshire, and on the bikes from Barrhill into the Galloway forest.
No photostops in the first half of the ride, too busy keeping going against the chill wind..but the sun was nice and warm and we saw two red deer hinds on the edge of a forest stand. Down to Knowe,now just a very small hamlet and the inspiration for a few word puns...Knowe and then, Knowe-all...et cetera!!

The roads were rough and pot-holed, but even main roads are in bad condition now.

It was a relief to turn onto a smooth surface for a while, with the sun and wind at ones back!  Over to Bargrennan and the main A714 (Newton Stewart to Girvan) and back up to Barrhill.

 At 4pm the warmth was just going from the sun..and we went to Girvan for a "fish supper". Pirate has the fish,I have most of the chips and we both have mushy peas!  Well prepared in Grazianos,the chip shop by the harbour..and run by another cyclist!
Then chips by sunset..

 looking south..

 and out to Ailsa Craig,about 10 miles off shore.

 Going, going, gone...and the crow flew from the pole by the harbour...