Saturday 3 November 2012

Being judged with the LHT


It was a cold start this morning. When I took Fly for her walk along the cliffs the sun was rising but the temperature was struggling to get above freezing. Fortunately as the day went on it got a little warmer and the sky cleared. After lunch I headed east on the Trucker. 


I have fitted a rear rack, as befits a touring frame, and threw on some old panniers I used to use on the Kona. They are boxy looking but have loads of heel clearance. They also allowed me to pack a flask, waterproofs and a warm top for wearing whilst enjoying the coffee. Oh the decadence!
The track in the above pic is a couple of fields up from the lighthouse which appears in the next pic.


Can you spot the lighthouse just to the right of the stem? After a quick run down by Cockburnspath and Bilsdean, I started the climb up to Innerwick which was a lot longer than I remembered but the mtb gearing worked for me. I just spun away and enjoyed the view.


At the back of Innerwick the old road curves down towards Thurston through trees that are slowly losing their leaves as the days get shorter. It's a difficult place to visit in a car as there is no room for parking but when this memorial was built cars were still in the future. Horses were the power source of the field and the steam engine was just starting to puff its way onto the farm.


In 1887, at the time of Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee, Richard Hunter of Thurston, a local land owner, had this horse trough erected in the philanthropic way of the late Victorians.


I think this is a wonderful piece. Mr Hunter didn't erect some sycophantic piece of art to commemorate the diminutive queen. No, he had a horse trough built to provide the beasts a well earned rest and provide a little reminder to the farmhands to look after their charges. If you read Queen Victoria's diaries you'll understand that she may have liked the sentiment.


After Innerwick I nipped across the A1 and rejoined an unused road back to the coast. Coffee time in the low winter sun. As I sat at the verge I watched a small flock of Curlews feeding in the stubble and listened to their plaintive calls.


Back on the move and this puddle was a bit deeper than I expected. Wet feet.


The sun was getting low so it was time to push the pedals and get home. This horse looked quite happy and well cared for in his winter coat.


The Trucker did me well too, and was never a drudge, so I gave it a wipe down and a wee squirt of oil when I got home.

4 comments:

  1. Great wee post ped, if i had been able this morning i would have come for a run with you, it was well after 11 before i surfaced.

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  2. Nice reading Ped, good to see shadow biker again -:)

    Oh i found you another GR post box today i will post up on the next blog...

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  3. Looks like a great outing. The light, birdsong, elements, and physical effort, coupled with a few civilized luxuries...sounds perfect.

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  4. Peter:
    What a nice place you got to ride around.
    I love the horse pictured.
    And, the Trucker looks great.
    Peace :)

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