Day 9 Luss to Glasgow

This morning looked dull and overcast so long pants and waterproofs was the the outfit of choice. we rejoined the cycle path which continued all the way alongside Loch Lomond for several miles then at Ballach we followed the river Leven to Dumbarton. This was a pretty section with fisherman every few yards casting for salmon. Interestinly, not a single woman! From there we joined the towpath along the Forth and Clyde Canal, once disused but now beautifully restored and a wonderful amenity.  The actual cycle path was well maintained with smooth surface and the grass neatly cut. The best bit was no traffic though we could hear it on the road behind all the bushes!

River Leven

This track took us neatly through the city on a disused railway track to the Clyde River and Clyde Bank a poor and run down area of Glasgow. The cycle track continued through the city, we stopped for lunch at The People's Park which was being prepared for The Prom in the Park tonight, we had difficulty finding a hotel for tonight, I guess because of that. Lunch  was in the cafe, a restored Victorian Glasshouse where there was wedding taking place surrounded by the public having lunch, very strange!

Victorian Glasshouse

The path continued along the Clyde, along the way We noticed hundreds of new homes being built, Neil was particularly impressed with  the standard of building especially as all the houses had solar thermal panels and other Eco credentials. We found out that they are being built for the next Commonwealth Games and will be sold later. Here we came across a a fellow bike rider in distress, she had a puncture and had been walking over an hour. Neil, the Good Samaritan, took her wheel off and then found our pump didn't fit her valve! He then removed the tube, put the tyre back and gave her a patch saying she should ask another mountain bike rider to borrow the pump and she could fix it with the patch. What a hero!

Commonwealth Games Athletes Village

Good Samaritan

I wasn't quite so heroic, when jumping off a small wall to have sneaky pee I fell over and hurt my wrist! such a nuisance as it's really sore and I have difficulty changing gears. Three reasons to push your bike seen today, you are a wimp up hills....me, you have a puncture....damsel in distress, you rode through dog poo and you front tyre was spraying it on to you.....someone else!

Sculpture in Clydebank

Our Hotel is outside Glasgow so we continued through Bothwell, very posh and on to Hamilton and the Avon Bridge Hotel. The total mileage today was 44 miles, 39 of which on cycle paths. perfect. Our bikes have fallen on their tyres again having a huge dining room to theirselves tonight! A long day but the fairly flat terrain and off road paths made it do able.