A trip to Ayr sounds easy enough but for some reason many obstacles are put in our way to prevent a smooth journey. The usual route to and from the North, over this particular weekend, was fraught with many train service alterations due to engineering works on the line. The earliest we could reach Ayr was 14:30, which leaves no chance for pre-match refreshments. A better plan had to be found. What follows may be described as madness but I�ll let you decide on that.
On the Saturday of the match we leave the house at 07:40 for a short 110 miles trip on the motorbike down to��.London Stansted airport !!. The route down is very straightforward via the A45, A46, M6, A14 and M11 and was virtually traffic free for the entire route. We arrive there at 09:25 and park the bike up in the free (m/cycle) parking area of the long stay car park. The free shuttle bus picks us up almost immediately and whisks us off to the terminal building. Our crash helmets and other gear are deposited in the left luggage office and we then proceed to the check in for the 11:35 Ryanair flight to Glasgow Prestwick. The flight is comfy and on time, touching down at Prestwick about an hour later. We are met by ITN and we reach the pub by 13:00 to start the refreshment procedures.
The match itself was full of ICT possession as they strolled through it for an all-too-rare away win at Somerset Park � 3-0. Que more leaping up and down like demented teenagers�!!
We had a lift back to Prestwick Airport, accompanied by The Fly, and we took off for Stansted shortly before 18:30. We touched down at 19:20, picking up our skid lids from the left luggage office and got a lift from The Fly back to the car park. We were back on the road home by 20:00. Unfortunately my direction senses took a battering and we headed down the M11 Southbound instead of Northbound so had to take a 20 miles de-tour to get back on course. We were further delayed near home when the exit junction off the M6 was closed but we did get home at around 22:20, ordered a taxi and met up with friends at the local Indian Restaurant.
The flight was �48 return for the two of us and it cost us �11 in petrol for the bike. To have gone by rail would have meant an over night stop in Ayr at a cost of around �44 and we wouldn�t have got home until 20:00 on the Sunday. Money well spent we reckon.
