Second day, somehow I had it in my mind that it was going to be difficult than the first. It was not, probably due to the fact that I only had very light rain in the last hour of cycling and sunshine for most of the rest of the time. It is quite remarkable what a difference a little sunshine makes.

I left Strathaven at around 9:20, I guess it’s a B&B time rather than a camping time, and did the 14 miles to Muirkirk quite nimbly, after a brief banana break off again to Cumnock and then New Cumnock (to get to which I had to go trough some pretty steep hills).

The final bit I was fairly blasé about as it’s along the river. Well, would you believe it, it was the hardest bit as it was a continuous steep-up steep-down. There might be the outside chance that afternoon legs may also have been contributing to the problem.

Anyways, rain and very very wet ground makes camping really impractical and, while I feel a bit wimpish, I think it’s better not to be to hard on myself, as I’ll have many many occasions for camping in the next eighteen months.

With any luck I’ll be able to be near the border by tomorrow evening and, weather permitting I might camp for the first time.