Seasoned Cyclists Experience Scotland's Seasonal Weather
Today was a classic introduction to Scotland's fickle skies. We started under cool, bright sunshine, but spent the rest of the day playing a constant game of wardrobe roulette. The sun would break through the clouds, prompting us to strip off our jackets, only to duck away moments later, forcing us to layer right back up. Occasional light showers drifted through, but they were a minor inconvenience. We laughed off the unpredictable weather all the way until the final five miles.
Our journey actually began at Loch Leven's Larder, a fantastic farm shop and café where the van dropped us and our bikes. Resisting the intoxicating scent of warm, baking pastries was our first major challenge of the day, but we managed to hit the road.
We skirted the fringes of Lomond Hills Regional Park, a stunning 25-square-mile expanse of rolling hills, lochs, and moors that became Scotland’s first Regional Park in 1986. Joining the National Cycle Network, we coasted past the striking Falkland Palace, a beloved haven where Mary, Queen of Scots once took refuge from the political and religious storms of her reign.
From there, we made our way to the coast and into St Andrews. The town was buzzing with golfers arriving like pilgrims to the iconic Old Course and its famous Swilcan Bridge. As non-golfers, we respected the history but would have preferred exploring the town's older soul. We wandered the medieval grid of streets, soaked in the coastal vistas, and wondered where to find the University (founded in 1413) and the clifftop ruins of St Andrews Castle, imagining the dark history of its medieval bottle dungeon.
The final leg took us deep into miles of beautiful forest and park lands. Then, the sky broke. The horizon turned a menacing black, unleashing a torrent of heavy rain and freezing sleet. The deluge was so severe it knocked out several of our GPS devices, turning the final stretch into a blind, sodden scramble—but we made it to our hotel, wet but triumphant.
Wow! Aussi un magnifique pays❣️Mais, quelle "saucée"!😳 L'Irlande nous a aussi bien arrosés, mais sans grésil !😅...La douche chaude a très certainement était très agréable!🫠 Bonne suite...
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