On vaguely annoying development in Scotland

One of my "likes" on Facebook is Springbank Single Malt Scotch, made in Campbeltown under the watchful eye of manager Frank McHardy with whom I have partaken a pint or two. Anyway, amongst its chatter was a notice that there will be a ferry service between Ardrossan and Campbeltown, at least according to the BBC who tend to get things right. Also, from what I know of Campbeltown, this development is the talk of the town.

The problem is that it is almost too convenient! I want to visit Arran on my upcoming trip and this ferry service makes it too easy to skip Arran, yet again! ;-) 

Actually, this ferry serivce will stop in Brodick in Arran on Saturdays so maybe I will be able to take the ferry directly from Brodick to Campbeltown rather have to bike down from Claonaig. Then again, that road is very pretty, though somewhat hilly.

Then again, my cousin John of Campbeltown has kindly offered to give Leonardo and myself a lift on his sailboat about the Firth of Clyde assuming wind and weather, time and tides, etc. permit. Then again, he might possibly be very busy with the new ferry service as I know he has been involved in similar efforts in the past. Admittedly, he is officially retired, but he strikes me as the type of person to be involved in local politics in one capacity or another. He also likes to "muck around with boats" a fair bit, making it more likely he was involved.

Hmm, I should e-mail him about this.

On watching TV while (stationary) biking

I haven't got Floria out yet. Maybe later this week, but the forecast calls for cold temperatures (-6C) and the possibility (60%) of snow. Not the weather to start the biking season.

Consequently, I did some stationary biking in the gym this afternoon. As luck would have it, there was a cycling show on the sports channel visible on the TV screen near the bikes. It was a significant improvement of the show that preceded it which was a "flog golf" (notice the palindrome) equipment show which held negative interest for me.  While professional cycling annoys me a great deal for any number of reasons, many of which have to do with the moral vacuity it shows towards doping, the cycling show was broadcasting a live (I think) bike race from Belgium (Tour de Flandres I believe).

It is early in the season so the trees were pretty bare and most of the cyclists were wearing arm warmers and leg warmers. My Father disapproves of these on aesthetic grounds which only goes to show he is a bit of a twit.

Anyway, it was somewhat interesting to watch as this broadcast featured some of the logistics of pro bike racing including the support cars and associated mechanics. A few times, I saw a racer drop out of the pack and have one of his wheels replaced in less than a minute. It was kind of neat, even if it is "cheating" at a certain level. ;-)

It was also fun to see the show while on the stationary bike as it made it easy for me to dream of cycling while pedaling. Admittedly, I was pedaling nowhere but que sera, sera.