Onwards towards the 'Dark North' ( West)

Tuesday 7th September 2010 After heavy overnight rain in Keswick, and more forecast... I decided to skip the bike trails of Whinlatter, and head North for better weather, looking forward to the starry skies I was expecting. As I travelled up North, crossing the border of Scotland,seeing the 'Last/First house' in Scotland...it reminded me of our cycle journey 10 years ago from John O'Groats to Lands End, posing on the bridge ( well Susan and Joseph did!).. As I travelled into Scotland I headed West, across long winding roads, quite pleasant, and relaxing .. My first stop was at Kirroughtree Visitor Centre, one of the Bike Centres in the area, http://cycling.visitscotland.com/mountain_biking/mb_centre/kirroughtree and where I was able to pick up some info.. No camping in the area, so decided to leave the trails for another day, and headed over to Glentrool...http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/recreation.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/ScotlandDumfriesandGallowayNoForestGallowayForestParkGlentroolVisitorCentre where the visitor centre was 'shut' due to power failure ! However the weather was picking up, so I travelled 3 miles up the valley to 'Bruces stone' http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/ourwoods.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/ScotlandDumfriesandGallowayNoForestGallowayForestParkGlentroolVisitorCentreBrucesstone a contest the Scots still celebrate winning !! Then headed back to Glentrool village, and to my campsite http://www.glentroolholidaypark.co.uk/ where for £12 a night I would be quite happy !! The weather was drying up all the time, intermittent showers , so I was hopeful for a night sky of stars ! http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7R5HHE as I was in the right location for the stars !! Later in the evening, after it had gone dark, although it was still cloudy I ventured out with my binoculars to see what I could see....it was better than being at home, but the clouds hampered my overall view, although I still managed to see a shooting star....and the Plough, along with snatches of other views...after an hour I headed back to 'Wally' and to bed... awakening at 4 a.m. I had a look out..to see a brilliant star studded sky, but, decided not to venture out, and to save it...and went back to sleep !!