After successfully completing the 76 mile Windermere to Dumfries segment yesterday, the LEJOG4THEBOG team have the prospect of another 86 miles in the saddle today (Thursday 29th June) as they travel through Dumfriesshire and Ayrshire – home to famous Scots poet, Robbie Burns.

Yesterday’s section from the Lake District to Carlisle was particularly arduous, given the hilly terrain and unseasonably strong headwind. No doubt buoyed by the prospect of their first “pint of heavy”, the second half of the day to the town of Dumfries was, reportedly, much easier.

Today’s route sees our four lycra-clad heroes heading up to Ayr, where they will then take the coastal route (with sadly no time for a few holes at the Championship courses at Prestwick and Troon) before reaching Ardrossan.

A 50 minute ferry journey will see them berthing at Brodick on the Isle of Arran, where they will then have a tricky 15 mile final stretch to their YMCA accommodation at Lochranza in the north of the island.

Excluding the 22-mile ferry crossing, today’s mileage is 86 miles in total. For their own sake, we hope that the Arran Whisky distillery and visitors centre is shut before our chaps ride into town.

Dai and the team have asked me to thank everyone for their kind support and donations to date.

So good luck today to the boys today and remember, in the words of Burns, “The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, gang aft agley”.