Settling in on the Bonnie Banks O'Clyde

Pollock Park, on the cycle way into Glasgow

Mike and I have been in Glasgow, on the bonnie banks o'Clyde, for almost two weeks. We've settled in to our flat nicely, and are learning the Glasgow ropes. Mike has discovered all of the good junk stores, I'm a regular at the Waitrose supermarket, and we are both in search of the perfect pint --it is going to take a lot of sampling, but we 're up for it!. 

Since landing in town we've gone rambling with Irene and Al Whitney, spent the night in a yurt at an amazing organic farm (West-Moss Side), visited a growing peat bog, hiked some of the West Highland Way, and climbed our first Munro (mountain over 3000 ft) of the trip. I've attended a number of sessions at the Learning and Teaching Centre at the University of Glasgow, and have been warmly welcomed. 

We arrived at Paisley, the airport serving Glasgow, at 4:45 am on Thur, May 5. After a bit of a wait at customs we collected our bicycles and got them ready to ride into town. For the past month Scotland has been enjoying a hot, sunny, dry spell -- it has been so unseasonably hot and dry that forest fires broke out in the Highlands. We, it seems, brought the more usual Glasgow weather -- cloud and rain. But, at least it was warm. 



Mike on the White Cart Water



Paisley Sustrans (bike route) marker

  

By 7:00 a.m. we had ridden into Paisley and were ensconced at a small cafe enjoying a typical Scottish Breakfast - eggs, potato pancakes, blood pudding, haggis, beans, and bacon - great for the touring cyclist. Then, after a quick tour of the Paisley Abbey grounds (founded in 1163),  it was off to National Cycle Route7/75 for the ride into Glasgow. Mike and I did this route in 2007, but there have been a few changes. Today the route travels along a small river - the White Cart - for much of the time. Glasgow is a city of over 2 million people, and this no-traffic route through parkland and green space takes you right into the heart of the downtown. 

We found our way onto the University precinct and moved into our flat at 3A Southpark Terrace before noon. The building is quite ornate; a sandstone multi-storey with huge windows and high ceilings. Our flat is a very large one bedroom affair on two floors. The bedroom is on the second floor and looks out over the street. The living room, kitchen, and bathroom are below street level, with a small sunken walkway in front of the windows. 

Unfortunately, Mike discovered a major crack in the frame of his bike. It is not safe to ride. We found a bike shop in town willing to weld it back together, but Mike had to turn the living room into a bike repair shop and strip the bike down to the frame. It should be repaired sometime next week and we'll be able to get out for some bike rides soon. In the mean time we've been exploring Glasgow on foot, and going a bit further afield by bus and train. We've even been out in a car with Al and Irene, who are here getting their sailboat ready to put in the water.  

All in all we are enjoying our new digs and our new city -- don't be surprised if we come back with a "wee" bit of a Glaswegian accent.