Day one: Monday 5 September 2011
I had set off from home at 6-15am to get to Lancaster station in good time for the 7-30 train to Glasgow. Half way there the heavens opened, giving me a good soaking which meant sitting in a damp patch on the train for just over two hours! The forecast was for more rain and gales moving in later in the day. With a similar forecast for the remainder of the week I wasn't sure if I was really looking forward to this little trip!
I couldn't believe it as the train pulled out of Penrith station, the sun made an appearance, with plentiful patches of blue sky; surely this won't last? It did though, and arriving in sunny Glasgow at 9-45 I rode the short but very busy section of road to join the cycle path along the River Clyde. Once on the cycle path (NCR7), it was traffic free all the way down to within spitting distance of the Arran ferry at Ardrossan. I had missed the 12-30 ferry so had to wait around for the 3-30 one - a good excuse for a cafe stop.
At the allotted time I boarded the CalMac 'Caledonian Isles' under threatening grey skies. Had my luck run out already? Not at all! Blue skies and warm sunshine welcomed me to the beautiful island of Arran.
