With Her lass at work, and the dog being dogsat, we took the bikes onto the 0930 train to the Weeg and mingled with the great unwashed and their carry outs heading eventually to Hampden.

A quick train change later, and we're bound for Balloch and the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.

More than 4 years have elapsed since we completed the penultimate section of the John Muir Way...a 212km walk from Dunbar to Helensburgh. We just needed the Balloch to Strathblane section to tie it all up. Rather than walk the 19 miles, we figured on cycling it (where possible) as we still needed to get from Strathblane to Milngavie for the return train, and biking seemed a sound plan to cover the 25 miles.

After a brief glimpse of Loch Lomond we turned eastwards, took a turn past Balloch Castle and headed off into the twisty back roads of Stirling and East Dunbartonshire. The sun was out, the birds sang, and there seemed to be tail winds and downhills a lot of the time. Sunglasses and short sleeves ahoy!

We stopped in Croftamie for water and pushed on, linking up to previously trodden bits of the West Highland Way ,(Gartness etc) 

Rather than schlep along the narrow track, we devoured thru Killearn and its 2 churches, stopped off at Glengoyne distillery ( mmmm! The aroma!) before finally rolling up to our last finishing point in Strathblane.  

Sun still blazing, we pushed onto to Mugdock and sat awhile in a field, supping chicken and sweetcorn soup, watching deer and a hare quietly munch away at their lunches.

Onwards thru the rather impressive mansions of monied Milngavie,  we arrived at the station in mid afternoon, just in time for the 1515 train to Glasgow. Except it was cancelled.

Next train? 1 hour.

Its 7.3 miles to Glasgow, its downhill, its a decent day? Shall we cycle it? Oh yes. Bearsden was suburban, Maryhill more gritty and as the Old Firm game ended, it was clear who'd won, judging by the activity outside the pubs on Maryhill Road!

A Panda heid or two were spied, and Sauchiehall St bike lane was marvelled at and then onto a train and home.

All back to mine, Her lass was left to mind the dug, as we settled into the Persiana woman's pork stew with yoghurt and rice and some gentle TV. Oh. And rehydration, too. (Just  the two, though) 70km; a decent wee adventure. Its set me thinking about getting another £12 train ticket for a third consecutive weekend. Achnashellach, perhaps? 

Extra is the Panda heid