Day 8 - Dumfries to Brodick on Arran

27/5 - Departing Dumfries we began being battered by the blizzard to Brodick on the Isle of Arran. The day began at 4.30 when I was deciding to go to the loo or try to sleep until the 5.15 alarm call. This dilemma only served the purpose of achieving neither. I gave up and paid a visit. Couldn't get back to sleep so a very early morning. Up at 5.15 and a quick bowl of cereal, repack the panniers load up and wait for Owo. He turned up on time with new panniers twice the size of the last and a replacement saddle. CFE & I are certain one pannier contains a kitchen sink! He will never be able to keep up with the CFE/TVR peleton now. He is not to be ridiculed however as he is OWO.
Wheels started turning at 6.13 and after a slight delay due to a minor problem with OWO's rear mudguard we set off with purpose to meet the 18.00 ferry from Ardrossan some 80 miles away.
The going early on was comfortable and at one point we decided to split from OWO. He was to take the low road whilst we took the high road so that I could see the stunning scenery.
We then had another chance to wear our newly purchased waterproof trousers as the heavens opened with rain and hail. Only the second time I have experienced acupunture to the face, We also had a headwind cycling downhill. A fine bloody start to the day! The headwind continued and made cycling very heavy going. We were on a time schedule so we had to persevere. At one point during the rain I was preparing to leave the road as I saw a van move out to overtake a car towing a caravan. As I shouted to CFE the van driver saw us and pulled back in!   Coffee shops and cafes were non existant in this part of the world which I have been reliably informed by OWO is because the local mining industry has closed down leaving economic voids. At Tarbolton we decided we needed sustenance and after asking at a few pubs if they did sandwiches. No chance. We then purchased sandwiches at the local Spar ( no water on offer was needed today!) We then had chance to experience the ambiance of Tarbolton's  finist dining facility as we sat in a bus shelter with Ethel who was waiting for the 12.45 bus to Ayr. This is definitely the holiday of a lifetime!
After our fine dining we continued to Ardrossan and after finding time on our hands we decided to stop and have a moral boosting hot drink. We found a new visitor centre at Dundonald castle and luxuriated with 2 cups of hot coffee.  The young waitress was very friendly and gave us £10 for our charities. Probably 2 hours work for her! Her generosity was heartwarming. 
We set off our spirits lifted and stopped at a Tesco on the outskirts of Ardrossan to a) wait for OWO and b) purchase food for tomorrow's ride. 
We had lost OWO again as we checked our phones and had a message saying his garmin sat nav had malfunctioned and he was off route but would find his own way to the ferry terminal. We loaded up with food and made our way to the ferry. OWO was there waiting for us! He had asked his sat nav to "take me to Ardrossan"
The 1 hour ferry ride passed quickly as we chatted to an elderly couple from Paisley who had a holiday appartment on Arran, During the "cruise" they fixed up accomodation for two German young holidaymakers and agreed to drive them to the accomodation. 
We docked at Brodick and immediately found our accomodation after 7pm
After our ritual of showering and doing our laundry we went out to eat. 
It was noticable how light it was at 10pm. 
Another hard day in the saddle covering 80.6 miles in 10 hours 6 minutes. 6 hours 37 mins was spent polishing my brass rivets! Another 1032 metres is climbing. We had now completed 660 miles.