Day 8 Tarbert to Brodick

Tarbert

There was no great rush to get started, with the ferry not leaving until midday. I tried to have a lie-in, but the body clock seemed programmed for an early start, so I bought a paper and sandwiches, then had breakfast. There were no concessions for a healthy breakfast. It was a fry-up or nothing. Then I went back to the Cafe Ca'Dora for a coffee, where I was all but driven out by the loud piped heavy metal music, then read in a small shelter before getting on the ferry. It was almost 2pm by the time I left Lochranza on the Isle of Arran.

'The String', Isle of Arran

To avoid the A road I took the minor road around the western shore, which was initially easy until I rounded the corner and hit the headwind, which instantly knocked 5kph off my speed.A nearby buzzard launched from a telegraph pole and glided along the road in front of me before lifting itself up to settle on the next pole. As I came alongside it repeated the feat, flying effortlessly into the wind without a single wing beat while I flailed along behind. It landed on a pole and watched me approach, before repeating its performance for the third time. I began to think that this was some sort of avian piss take, and as I caught up to it I was fully expecting a repeat of its show. But it just eyed me intently as I approached, shat, then took off and disappeared over a hill.I crossed over to the east side of the island via the B880 or 'String Road'. The traffic was reasonably light but I still pulled over a couple of times to let trucks pass. There was descent, though the tarmac was so patched I held back the speed fearing a blowout. I was in Brodick a couple of hours after leaving Lochranza, much faster than expected. I stocked up on food and water and headed off into the dunes near the golf course and camped for the night.

Day stats 40km 589 Metres of ascent
Off road 2km 
A road 3km 
B road 9km  single lane 

Unclassified road 26km