Sunday Sail

After all the exertion of yesterday's ride I took an easier option this afternoon and went for a sail on the Heron, my little Alacrity 19 sailboat.

Out of the harbour under foresail and then off around the rocks towards the other yachts that were gathering for the start of a race. I didn't really fancy having to sail hard so I just pottered around and put out a fishing line.

I soon caught a skinny wee mackeral and popped it back in to try and grow a bit bigger. I rigged a tiny bit of sail and put the tiller down. This achieved a slow drift and I sat back, soaked up the sun and gently rocked on the slight swell.

When it got too hot I sat down below eating a cheese roll and watching the sea. There was just the usual boat sounds of creaks and bumps with the tink, tink of rigging on the mast.

A couple of hours relaxing on the sea and I headed back into harbour.

A peaceful way to spend a Sunday afternoon. 

East Lothian Loop in the Sunshine.

I have had a couple of ideas about putting together a loop through East Lothian of around 100km. There is an accepted 'Tour of East Lothian', but it takes in Redstone Rigg which is a killer climb. If you start from Musselburgh, then the hard climbs are in the first half of the day. If you live in Dunbar then things are reversed and too much for me. 

So I devised a route that misses out Redstone Rigg and loops out to North Berwick rather than visit Haddington.

Saturday started out with that slight chill and beautiful blue skies. Everything pointed to it being a scorcher, or as close as we get to that in Scotland!

The first twenty miles skirted the hill foots from Dunbar to Pencaitland. Lots of ups and downs on deserted roads. Crossing streams in the shade of  trees, then slow climbs with the heat bouncing back off the road. The day was really getting hot and I would have been glad of the breeze, except of course it was a headwind.

I stopped at the shop in Pencaitland to take on more fluid, then headed along the old railway line to Whitecraig. All along this section are markers for the various coal mines. In the above pic there would probably have been three sets of winding gear for the deep mines. I think the last ones closed in the 1960s. It doesn't take nature long to reclaim the land. The cycling was steady and I picked up some time although this was soon lost when I left the shelter of the trees and had to fight the wind.

After Whitecraig I joined the path along the river Esk into Musselburgh. This is a lovely smooth route into the centre of town with cool shaded stretches and the occasional open view over the river.

Into town and I took the chance to have a proper break lying on the grass, just watching the world go by. Feeling suitably refreshed, I went on past the lagoons and on to the coast road. I wanted to get to North Berwick by four pm, so I got my head down and cranked it on a bit. I managed to keep a good speed up through the small coastal towns and fell in behind a couple of road bikes. I sat with them for a  couple of miles or so but began to notice the pace. When I checked the computer we had averaged 19 mph over the last mile so I backed off and watched the carbon and lycra disappear into the distance. A Long Haul Trucker is made for a slower pace, or at least, I am.

Along the 'mile' to Aberlady and I used the path through the woods. There wasn't a breath of wind here and the smell of the ferns and heat in the trees was intense. Then it was on past Gullane with helicopters flitting backwards and forwards as they prepare for 'The Open'. A golf competition apparently.

North Berwick was a welcome sight although it was very busy with holidaymakers enjoying the sun. The above pic is such a contrast from my visit on a cold afternoon earlier on this year.

The reason for wanting to get to North Berwick on time was to meet with Coastkid on his Pugsley for a catch-up and an erm.... ice cream. We had a couple of very pleasant pints of 'ice cream' in The Ship, then started back up hill out of town. CK had a suggestion of a track I had never been on before. It was mostly grass and hard packed earth and the LHT managed fine.

At Whitekirk I headed off east to Dunbar and Bruce went on his way to his secret HQ. The last few miles into Dunbar were a slog and I was feeling the exertions of the day. The route added up to just over 64 miles or 100+km so that's a bonus. The heat was hard, the highest I saw recorded was 27.7 degrees but it might well have been warmer in the full sunshine. A long day but a good one.

Mid Week Cycle 3rd July

I picked up a new bottom bracket from the Post Office this morning. Apparently they couldn't deliver the parcel as it was "too large". At times I suspect Wullie the Post just heads out on his round with a wee pile of red cards rather than carrying any packages.  It was soon fitted when I came home from work, along with some extra waterproof grease. 

Then it was an easy decision to go out for a test run in the evening sunshine.

I headed east past Torness, then onto the John Muir Way and single track along the sides of the fields before Bilsdean. The bone dry ground was a bit bumpy for a road bike but the views are worth it.

Then it was down to Cockburnspath and along to Pease Bay. The roads were empty, just the birds in the hedgerows and the occasional suicidal rabbit darting in front of the Trucker.

I don't need any reminding how lucky I am to have roads like this to cycle along. Twisting lanes winding between the hedgerows and dipping down to hidden coves with the summer sun sparkling on the sea.

The little test ride turned into twenty one miles.  I'm sure you understand why.

Surly LHT eating up the miles out of Edinburgh.

I have lots of photos from this ride and could put together a huge post. I edited a lot out and published it on the 29th. After reading it again I decided it was still too rambling so I've edited more and tried to concentrate on the cycling.

Friday 28th June and a day off work so I pedaled to Dunbar railway station and caught the 09:56 to Edinburgh Waverley.

Half an hour later and I am deposited with the Surly Long Haul Trucker in the Capital City of Scotland.  The clouds are dank, the rain is trickling down the back of my neck, all my photos have to be overexposed to get any sense of contrast. Welcome to summer in Edinburgh.

Above is the Scott Monument. It is a 60m high Gothic memorial to Sir Walter Scott. One of our wee country's greatest authors and, along with Queen Victoria, instrumental in the tartan kitsch that many think is the sole attribute of Scotland.

I carried on along Princes Street with the castle looming above, then turned up Lothian Road on to Morrison St to get to the Lochrin Basin at the Union Canal.

This area has changed dramatically over the last few years and there seems to be a concerted effort to redevelop the waterfront into a leisure facility. They're doing a good job.



Onward bumping along the cobbles and I was soon on the smooth towpath which made cycling into the westerly wind a lot more bearable.

This route out of Edinburgh was a revelation to me and I will have to make time to follow the complete towpath to Glasgow.

I was still in the heart of the city but it was quite tranquil with ducks and moorhens paddling past, and swallows skimming the water searching for insects.

The Slateford Aqueduct was memorable for being 60ft up in the air with a very narrow cobbled path. I decided to submit to sense, and the advice on the signs, and pushed the LHT across.

The smooth surface made for easy (and speedy) cycling through the bandit country of Wester Hailes and on across the Edinburgh City By-pass.

Why anyone would pay one shilling and sixpence to go to Falkirk is beyond me!

After a slow start through the city, I had made good time along to Ratho. Unfortunately for a couple of miles before Ratho the path is quite rough and is really only suitable for hybrid or mtb tyres. The LHT was fine although I had to loosen my grip on the bars as my wrists were taking a pounding.

From Ratho I cut over some steep and winding roads to Newbridge. I had somehow got the idea that it would be a simple matter to cross eight lanes of traffic. Thinking back, I must have missed a turning as I entered the industrial estate. I eventually found a route via lots of little crossings, so it was reasonably safe, but it must have taken twenty minutes to cover half a mile.

After Newbridge I followed the A8 back into Edinburgh. Past the Airport, another nightmare of crossings, past Gogarburn and on to the Gyle. After another traffic hopping extravaganza I took the road to Maybury. There was a link down to Cammo which I started on and then changed my mind and rejoined the main road.

After the Bentleys, Range Rovers and Porches in Cammo I went up market into Gamekeepers Row in Crammond. If the people who live there have cars, I couldn't see them. It's all high fences and security. Maybe if they walked, cycled, or God forbid, talked to their neighbours, they wouldn't be so paranoid.
I stopped to rest the 'trucker, and my weary legs, at the shore at Crammond. This little river mooring is unusual on the east coast of Scotland, but all the more wonderful for that. There has been a multitude of Roman artifacts recovered from this area, showing that even two thousand years ago, folk new a safe haven.

Unfortunately there are a lot of folk who aren't quite so clever these days. Above is Crammond Island. Twice a day it is cut off by the tide. Where I took this picture from, there is a huge notice board with regularly updated tide tables. Even so, mouth breathing individuals manage to get cut off most weekends in the summer. The RNLI volunteers from South Quensferry give up their time and wearily go and get them.

I think I had now covered about twenty miles so I finally started heading East and stopped having to battle the headwind. The island of Inchmickery is in the distance. When you sail up the Forth the WW2 gun emplacements give it the appearance of a battleship on the horizon. Whether this was intentional is debatable but it certainly must have been alarming for any U-boats.

The next section was along the coastal promenade and provided  a chance to get the average speed up a little.

Well it would have if I hadn't kept stopping to take photos. This piece of sculpture used to sit on the shore at Skateraw, just along the coast from the lighthouse I visit regularly. It was called "Mr Floaty" then.

Great leisurely cycling, eating up the miles along to Granton.

Just before Granton square is this lighthouse. It used to be beside the water but as more and more land has been claimed from the sea for building development is now half a mile inland.

That little orange boat is the "Wee Star", it used to be moored in Dunbar. From Newhaven I kept to the coast through Leith, Portobello, Joppa, Musselburgh and on into East Lothian. I took a few pictures but it was really overcast and they are all quite dark.

At Port Seton, and about 43 miles, I stopped for a decent break and ate some desperately needed pasta and a banana. I also took the chance to top up on water.

The wind was getting stronger, but at least that meant the cloud finally began to break up.

 At Longniddry I turned off road again and followed the old railway line to Haddington

Fantastic cycling through the tunnel of trees.

In Haddington I was back on road again and followed the cycle route through town and out towards Hailes Castle.

The last twelve miles back to Dunbar were very familiar but still full of lovely views.

When I got home I knew I had been on the LHT for five and a half hours but still felt quite fresh. It really is a great bike for covering distances. Sixty three miles in total so that makes a nice metric century and a fine day away from work.

As a foot note; when I was cleaning and lubing the bike this morning, I noticed the bottom bracket seemed to have a tight spot. I stripped it down and sure enough, the left side bearing is goosed. I've ordered a new BB as they're only £12, but that one only lasted about 10 months which is frustrating. The new one will be getting packed with silicon grease to see if that helps.