2nd June Hailes Castle cycle

Saturday was mostly lazy. In the evening I got my act together and went for a cycle to Hailes Castle and Haddington. This is the falcon outside the curtain wall.

The castle dates back to the 13th Centuary when the Northumbrian family Gourlay built most of what's seen in the next pic.

Soon after the Gourlays ended up on the wrong side during the wars of independence (easy mistake to make) and at the same time Adam Hepburn saved the Earl of Dunbar from a "savage horse" and so the Hepburns had a new home.  By the 15th Centuary the Hepburns had added to the castle and repelled two attacks by Henry "Hotspur" Percy. See Henry IV part one ( W. Shakespeare). In 1446 Archiebald Dunbar took the castle and, as was done in those times, killed everyone inside. This was the beginning of the end as weapons and siege tactics advanced. Hailes was in a valley and was vulnerable.

In 1548 the English took the castle and tried to force Mary Queen of Scots to marry Henry VIII's son. No chance! 20 years later Mary was staying here before marrying the 'purple ape' James Hepburn, Earl of Bothwell - the Dauphin was dead, Rizzio was stabbed by Darnley, and Darnley was blown up by Bothwell- who was born at Hailes.

1650 and like in much of Ireland, the English hero Cromwell invaded, slaughtered, destroyed and generally upset the locals. By the 1700s the castle was used as farm buildings.

Now its silent, gently cared for, and the history is open for everyone.

After Hailes I carried on past Stevenson to Abbey Mill at Haddington. Lovely woodland canopy with all the song birds in full voice.

At Abbey Mill there were swans and swallows on the river. There must have been lots of insects for the swallows to be feeding but there were no trout rising.

After Abbey Mill I climbed back up to the old A1 and started the slog back up Pencraig. There was a slight easterly on the nose so it was work all the way. The next pic is from the top with Dunbar 6.5 miles in the distance.

An unexpected couple of hours and 22 miles added to the weeks total.  A fine way to spend the evening.

Sun 27th Out on the road today, I saw a dead..toad

(Apologies to Mr Henley)

Yesterday (Saturday) I pitched in with a few friends to help Jamie and Laura move home. It was one of the hottest days of the year so far and their temporary home is five floors up the steepest stair in Dunbar. So that was fun!

In the afternoon E's brother Daniel, and his wife Melody, visited. It was a lazy afternoon in the sun.

Overnight a haar had rolled in. An early start and the lower temperature made for an easy morning pedal. Then out on the White Sands road I saw a dead toad.

Poor wee soul. The road was mostly empty but the air was full of skylarks.

Down at the lighthouse the haar was blowing in and out. I caught this pic of the light tower, a few seconds later it disappeared in the sea fog.

Common Scurvy-grass. Much loved by sailors only a hundred odd years ago for its vitamin C. Like the Ramsons (wild garlic) a couple of weeks ago, I have to try some. Some folks complain it's too sharp but I find the leaves quite peppery and pleasant in small quantities.

The west quarry has been left to the wild. Its about 150ft deep at the left side. I watched sandmartins nesting and a flapping heron wake the drowsy water rats (apologies to WB Yeats).

I headed back to the shops for some coffee. Having a retro bike I took the chance of a retro pic. The phone still works but the elder tree growing inside hints at its lack of use. I should get the number so folk can call it to see if anyone ever answers.

Went down to the Heron in the afternoon, but its getting late now, so I'll keep those pics for later this week.

March 31st and I hurt myself today

Saturday morning and time to get to the shops for some decent coffee. After last weeks musings about moving to a single speed/fixed gear I thought I would try the bigger gearing required. I changed the cranks over to the Solida ( are these French made?) 52/42 rings that I originally bought with the frame. The plan was to stick with the 42 front and try to find a usable gear on the 5 speed hub.

This was hard work on the thighs but I quickly got back into it. A couple of miles of hurt and I was getting the speed up and feeling the burn and also forgetting the idea of a single. Gears were invented for a reason.

Road then gravel track out by Lafage and then back on the old A1 and into the Hallhill woods. The bigger gearing was great so long as I kept the momentum up. The woods were full of songbirds. They were darting through the trees in front of the bike and singing for all they were worth. Nesting time is getting into full swing. The last week of unusually warm weather has brought lots of plants into bloom. I hope we don't get a frost now are there will be no fruit come the autumn.

A brown Brooks saddle would look so much better but first thing is a new rear wheel. I've trued the steel rim too many times and it took a battering today. When I came back towards home I cycled past the swimming pool to go down by the Harbour. Last week I had commented to Jason that I was happy to go down the steep grassy slope on a "racer" nevermind a fat bike.

Guess last time I did it I was a lot lighter.

 Halfway down and the brake levers were tight against the bars and I was still accelerating. Left a couple of big skid marks before I bounced over the little wall at the harbour road. Yeah, I know what your thinking!

Down at Belhaven with the surf building.

Atmospheric shot on gravel roads. Or it could be that I've been fiddling about with settings on the camera that I don't really understand. The Scots Pine on the far right of shot really is that shape!

Nothing done to the Heron today. Too much swell running through the harbour. Maybe tomorrow.

Bright, occasional cloud, 5degrees NNE F2 gusting F3. 9 easy miles.