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After almost a week of incessant rain and wind, I was really determined to get out today! It was a murky overcast day with rain threatening as always but it wasn't stopping me today, I wasn't expecting to get any photos in the murky conditions but to my surprise it actually brightened up a bit after I reached my destination at Kirkmuirhill! It was pretty mild for near the end of October, around 12C and just a 10mph wind for a change!
This is brighter, honest!
I enjoyed a lovely big descent just before this climb, its a tough climb going the other way!
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Looking back towards Kirkmuirhill!
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The autumn colours are really coming through now!
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I continued the climb up to Auchenheath where I would have a lovely descent down into the Clyde Valley! The dark clouds were still looming but I still hadn't seen any rain so that was a bonus!
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The climb ends here at this farm and I was looking forward to the descent now, the roads were very quiet so I was in cycling heaven!
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Ready for the descent! We ride on the left over here but I prefer to take my photos facing the traffic, just after I took this photo a car came speeding round the tight bend and luckily there wasn't anything coming the other way! I was poised to throw the bike at the hedge just in case...
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Part way down the descent I always like to stop here for photos of the valley below, amazing colours to enjoy today! I wouldn't mind living in this little cottage and seeing that amazing view every day!
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I reached the valley and crossed over the River Clyde at Crossford, it was so good to see the river in full flow again!
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The bridge at Crossford!
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Looking west down the valley!
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It has been quite some time since I have seen the river flowing so rapid!
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Time for the big climb out of the valley, I elected to take the easier climb up to Carluke today as the steepest part is known for flooding down in the valley and I didn't want to chance it! It started to get pretty dark as I climbed up the hill and I really thought I was going to get wet, I turned the assist up and put the hammer down to get past the threatening clouds! I was in luck and managed to outrun the rain, I decided to stick to the main roads mostly on the way back home with the threat of rain all around!
I reached Newmains and took to the back roads again as it had brightened up thankfully! I had an uneventful ride home from there and I arrived home dry but with a very filthy bike, its all clean again and ready for a ride on Thursday which is looking hopeful so I might do a longer ride! It is looking a bit windy though but it will be mainly from the south which isn't a problem given the route I intend to take! It was so good to get out on the bike again, I did get out for some walks while the weather wasn't playing ball but its so much more fun on the bike!
I only have around 160 miles to match last years total of 5037 miles so I'm pretty sure I will surpass that by quite a margin this year, I'm not sure if I will reach my 6223 miles from 2020 but it is possible if the weather plays ball...only 343 miles so far this month which isn't helping!