They say the best-laid plans often go awry, and our grand scheme of conquering the 5 Ferries Social Ride was no exception. But fear not, dear readers, for where there's a will (and a trusty backup plan), there's always a way! Issues with the ferry from Ardossan meant we had to change our plans an we opted to cycle round Arran instead.
Picture this: 23 intrepid riders, ready to take on the open road and the salty sea air, all geared up for a day of cycling. As dawn broke on the morning of our much-anticipated Social Ride to Arran, we woke up to clear blue skies, but there was frost on the ground. The forecast was looking like it was to stay dry, partly cloudy, but only with a high of 10 degrees.
Now, any seasoned cyclist knows that the battle against the elements begins long before the first pedal stroke. Long sleeves or short? Shorts or bib tights? The eternal struggle of the cyclist's wardrobe. Opting for the warmer attire seemed like the obvious choice at the time. Oh, how wrong my choice of clothing was! As we boarded the ferry from Troon to Brodick, the sun decided to make a grand entrance, turning my cozy layers into a sweat-inducing cocoon faster than you can say SPF 50.
But hey, who needs perfect weather when you've got a band of merry riders and the stunning scenery of Arran to keep you company? With the sun shining down upon us, we set off on our two-wheeled journey, ready to conquer whatever challenges lay ahead.
And conquer we did! Well, mostly. You see, there's this hill coming out of Lochranza – emphasis on the "hill." What began as a leisurely ascent quickly turned into an epic battle against gravity itself. The temperature may have only been a modest 10 degrees, but with every pedal stroke, it felt more like 20 (or so we told ourselves to ease the pain).
But fear not, dear readers, for every uphill struggle has its downhill reward. As we reached the summit and beheld the breathtaking vista stretching out before us, any regrets about our sartorial choices melted away faster than ice cream on a summer's day.
Our cycle around Arran was finished off with a very much needed cool beer while waiting on the ferry to take us back to the mainland, reminiscing about the day's highlights and already planning our next adventure.
The ferry ride home was a welcome opportunity to rest after our 55-mile ride. But of course, no adventure is truly complete without a proper send-off, so myself, Richard, and Kenny couldn't resist a stop at the Wee Hurry for some delicious fish and chips to end our day.
So, what did we learn from our Great Arran Adventure? Well, for starters, always expect the unexpected – especially when it comes to planning ferries and the Scottish weather. And secondly, embrace the hills as the downhill reward is well worth the climb.
A MASSIVE THANK YOU to all of you who came along and we hope you enjoyed your day out. Until next time, happy pedaling!
*Thank you Merle for photos.
