Cycling around fences

The weather today was lovely, crisp blue skies, cool in the shade but warm in the autumn sunshine. I was sorely tempted to take the Long Haul Trucker for a ride but I didn't want to risk damage to the headset from the brake judder problem. I can wait another few days. So saddle back on the Falcon and a cycle up by Stenton.

Pondero had wondered if too many of his pics feature barbed wire fences. Not at all. Here's one on the road to Pitcox.

And here's a plain wire fence to keep this old lady from wandering.

 Some fields have no fences at all.

 And a very few have relics from WW2 costal defences.

There you go. A peaceful cycle in beautiful weather and an unhealthy amount of fence photography.

Mid Week Cycle 12 September

Over the last couple of weeks I've been using the Kona Caldera and although I've enjoyed the cycling, my millage has dropped. So this week I got the old Falcon back out to try and get a decent pedal while I still can.

The fields are nearly all harvested now and the countryside colours are changing quickly. I took the track out past the cement works and along to the Bilsdean bridges.

As I cycled along the side of the ravine to the next bridge pigeons were clattering out of the oak trees.

When I came out from under one of the arches I could here a Peregrine Falcon calling from up above which was most likely what was spooking the wood pigeons.

An old mile post, Dunbar 7 miles west, Edinburgh 35.

That might be the last of the summer mid-week cycles. I was really running short of light by the time I got home. The thought of getting up for an hours cycle in the mornings is frightening but I know I can keep going until the end of October before lights are the only option.
21 miles and I wanted to keep going.

Mid Week Cycle 23rd August

This week it was a Thursday cycle, not because of the weather but due to a tooth extraction on Wednesday!  At least I don't have to dread any more root canal work.

After work this evening I headed east in the evening sun toward Cockburnspath. I added in a little loop by Torness.

Down by Bilsdean and I had to take a picture on the bridge. The rusty railings sort of complemented the saddle and bar tape.

Further on I met these three Tups. The one on the left was whistling the theme from "The Great Escape"!

There was a road over the old bridge at Dunglass. It was stopped up a few years ago now but I went to have a look to see if it was still passable. Basically it isn't, at least not with the summer growth. I'll maybe look again in the winter months.

It was still good to have a look along a road that very few people ever travel. The views to the east and the Berwickshire cliffs were wonderful with pools of sunlight picking out distant fields. The little compact camera doesn't do the view justice.

There was also an added benefit of traveling the back roads by bike. The summer never really arrived this year but autumn brings its fruits.

20.1 miles in total, lovely evening sun, plenty of head space and too many brambles.

Mid Week Cycle 16th August

It was a Thursday cycle this week as yet again the rain was pouring down on Wednesday. I got home from what has become an increasingly frustrating week at work and grabbed the Falcon. I wasn't in any sort of mood to plan a route so I just headed out along an eight mile loop I use on winter mornings.

First time around and the wind was beginning to drop. The sun was still high in the sky but the shadows are starting to get longer every evening. The muscles were loosening up and so was my head.

Chasing my shadow and finding metaphors.

I ended up doing 31.5 miles. Four times around the loop. I got into the mindfulness bit and concentrated on the moment. Just pedaling, breathing, feeling the sun.

Work will be fine tomorrow.

Mid Week Cycle 1 August

As soon as I got home from work the rain started. I'm getting used to it this summer. There was a clear spell around 18:30 so I grabbed the chance and got out on the old Falcon.

With the weather being so changeable I didn't want to go too far so went for hills instead. Out around Dunbar then the climb up past Bowerhouse and on up to Little Spott. The sun was shining between the clouds and the fields are finally starting to turn golden.

Daniel's Brae was a fast drop down through the tunnel of dripping trees and on through the thankfully shallow ford. 

No point in trying 1980's caliper brakes after they've been in the water. We all know what the result will be.

The climb back up to Spott passes this memorial. There was a lot of witch burning in the Dunbar Parish during the 17th Centuary.  James VI suspected  plots by the Bothwells to usurp the crown. This was probably true but rather than trying to prove treasonous behaviour he had various poor souls accused of witchcraft. Records suggest that over 100 folks were executed during these dark hysterical times. Mostly probably due to falling out between neighbours.

The last burning of a witch in the south of Scotland was at the site of this stone in 1698. Marion Lillie was known as the Ringwoody Witch (the skinny or boney witch). Apparently she was accused of frightening pregnant women.

I cycled on to the bustling metropolis of Spott. They're not going to win Britain in Bloom with that wee tub.

At last the final descent back home and it didn't rain whilst I was out.

Only 9 miles but I had to work a bit harder than normal. 18 degrees, cloudy F2 Southerly.

Sunday Morning Lighthouse Cycle

Sunday morning and I was out early for some space before everyone else woke up. I took a quick pedal down to the lighthouse at Barns Ness. I visited here back in February "Frozen Barns Ness".  The weather was a bit kinder today with the sun peeping out from behind some threatening looking clouds.

I propped the old Falcon up against the lighthouse wall to get a couple of pictures. The bike is going great although the jockey wheels in the rear derailleur are looking a bit hooked. I think I might have some spares somewhere. Any new parts are for the LHT build. Poor neglected Falcon!

Breakfast was from the leaky wee flask with a decent Colombian 'after dinner' coffee. There were a couple of boats working their creels just offshore. I think they were the Triton and the (Jimmy) Sea Breeze. Apart from them, it was just me and the birds. A Cormorant was drying its wings down on the rocks and a couple of Terns swept north. 

The wind started to pick up as I headed home. The soil that has been dug out for the new quarry has started to re-seed and nature is finding its way. Poignantly its always the Poppy that can establish itself in the most disturbed ground. I pushed the exposure and played with the light in this photo to try to get a bit of an Impressionist feel about it. Not sure if it worked.

A relaxed Sunday morning.
11degrees, Intermittent cloud F3 SW veering.

Mid Week Cycle 25 July

This Wednesday evening was almost like summer! The sun was shining so I had a leisurely couple of hours cycling little back roads and lanes. I stopped at Preston Mill because its too fine a place pass by on a summer evening. There weren't any ducks on the mill pond but lots of Swifts shrieking and diving between the buildings.

The Mill in the was built in the 1700s although there has been a mill on the site for at least a hunderd years before that. It was still grinding oatmeal for the morning porridge in 1959!

I think that is an 'undershot' wheel which is not very efficient but relatively easy to build.

This is the mill pond which is fed from the river Tyne. No sign of any drowned Ophelias. There are usually ducks but the recent rains and high water have probably driven them to safer nesting sites.

This sluice controls the level of the water in the mill pond which then flows either back to the river, or can be diverted into the mill race to turn the wheel. 

The wheel then turns all these cogs, pulleys and shafts with wonderful creaks and groans. It all still works.

After the mill I cycled up to Lawhead and then down to Tyninghame beach. I took a photo of the Falcon outside one of the old farm buildings. There are few of these buildings used for farming now. Most seem to be converted to homes that are well beyond the pockets of anyone who works on the land.

Lovely couple of hours, 18 miles, 18 degrees ?F1 E.

Sunday Cycle to Cove for Coffee

On Sunday morning the rain finally stopped. I grabbed the chance to get the old Falcon out and went for a cycle to Cove, near Cockburnspath. This little harbour is one of the hidden gems of Berwickshire. I remember being brought here as a kid and fishing for crabs. In those heady days of the 1970s it was always sunny! The weather has changed but not much else.

Cove is a little village built around 1810 by the Halls of Dunglass to house the estate workers and fisherfolk. There has been a harbour of sorts since the early 1600's and in 1740 the access road was built. Just before the road reaches the cottages there is a tunnel that leads to the beach. You can see it on the far left of the above pic.

The road was a bit bumpy but not any real problems until my front brake failed, then it became interesting. There are a couple of boats still fishing from Cove. These creel boats will mostly fish for the lobsters. With all the rain this summer the sea is brown from the rivers. There's not a lot of fishing to be done in these conditions.

 Old frame, older stone.

The red house below the cliff can only be reached across the beach. Guess if you want a piano it is going to have to come in by boat.

I didn't bother with the stove today. Just brought a wee flask of freshly pressed coffee. A fine place to sit and enjoy Sunday morning.

As well as being a wonderfully peaceful little harbour, Cove was also instrumental in 19th Century Scottish art. From 1883 to 1888 an informal group of artists lived here. They became known as 'The Glasgow Boys'. Sir James Guthrie spent a lot of time painting the lives and people who farmed and fished in those days. The post box has 'VR' so must have been installed during Queen Victoria's reign. Given that post was the only means of long distance communication in those days, Guthrie et al must have posted their letters home from this very box.

There seems to be a resurgence of an arty feel to the hamlet although whether you can compare this with the work of The Glasgow Boys is a matter of personal opinion.

If you visit Cove by car there is a small parking area between the cottages. Originally this was a common ground where the workers for the Halls family grew their vegetables. The Scottish word for a farm labourer is 'Hind'. Guthrie painted a lass tending the vegetables when he stayed here.

James Guthrie's A Hind's Daughter, 1883. Photograph: National Gallery of Scotland




A fine Sunday cycle in a beautiful place. The coffee was good too.

19.5 miles. 12 Degrees, cloudy, damp F1 NE backing. New brake cable outer needed.