Another day like yesterday. No sunshine but clouds higher + visibility better. Saw Arran + Ailsa Craig.1 Same light S.E. wind. Coughed terribly [?] after going to bed last night. Breakfasted at 9. Parcels arrived at 10 after 10.2 Gave Rennie3 the pheasant + some Panatellas.4 He kept his bed till evening. Left after 11 + cycled5 to Ayr (2.1), Dunure, Culzean where I turned towards Maybole but avoided it + went on via Cassilis to Dalrymple where I had a delightful tea at the same Inn where [gap] years ago a lot of us went on a cycle run.6 From there by Martnaham Loch to Coylton, Auchincruive and St Quivox = 34 or 35 [miles]. Had fine hot Bath + supper with oyster. Eddie Miller looked along [sic] at night.7 Fine moonlight night. The scenery at Auchincruive Bridge was lovely + not a leaf was stirring.8 I had the most extraordinary meeting with And. Hope + his wife who were passing in a motor [illegible word]9.
1 It is just possible that from Monkton Dr Muir could have seen Ailsa Craig which is in the outer Firth of Clyde and well to the south of Ayr.
2 Dr Muir was sending items Post restante in preparation for his forthcoming trip to his brother-in-law at Prestwick, Ayrshire.
3 The Reverend James Rennie (1826-1924), Church of Scotland minister, of Ladyton, Prestwick and widower of Catherine Stewart ‘Kate’ Rennie née Muir (1829-1915), Dr Muir’s sister.
4 Rennie evidently liked his small cigars because Dr Muir had made a gift of Panatellas previously, on 5 March 1921.
5 Dr Muir cycled an anti-clockwise route heading south to Ayr and then travelling via Dunure, NS254,159, Culzean, area of NS237,102, Maybole NS298,100, Cassillis, area of NS340,128, Dalrymple, NS359,145, Martnaham Loch, NS392,174 (and presumably passing it via NS391,178), Coylton, NS408,196, Auchincruive, area of NS387,230, and St Quivox, NS375,240.
6 Very possibly the Kirkton Inn, Main Street, Dalrymple.
7 Edward Caird ‘Eddie’ Miller (1864-1927), iron and steel founder, of Redstone, Prestwick [Monkton, Ayr], widower of Dr Muir’s niece Jessie Logan Miller née Rennie (1860-1920).
8 Oswald’s Bridge, River Ayr, Auchincruive, Ayrshire.
9 Assume Andrew Hope (about 1857-1928), mason, builder and Tenant Occupier of a house at Smiths Road, Darnick, Melrose [1911 Census; 1922 Valuation Rolls VR011600033-/897, Roxburgh County, page 897 of 993; death 1928, 799/1 39, Melrose].
[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/25, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1922]
Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes 