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The Weather Turns?
A late start, maybe something to do with a late night and too many beers? Today's plan was straight forward, continue over
the hill I bottled out on yesterday, past Knockhill circuit (as made famous in 'A racing car is born' and others) across the Forth bridge and
into Edinburgh. Straight forward enough.
I also toyed with the idea of pushing onto Galashiels if time permitted. This would allow me to
get into Carlisle earlier on Friday, so I could do some shopping. However in the end time didn't permit.
The 1st hour out of Dunning was really hard work. I ended up pushing and cycling the bike up the hill, which went on for ever (3 miles), but once I
got to the top it was worth it. I always struggle for the 1st hour in the morning. Something to do with sore legs, and full Scottish breakfasts I think.
But once I got to the top the scenery was brilliant. The road was flat for a while before a fast descent (20mph) down into the village. By now it was raining
and I got very cold and so stopped at my earliest convenience for a coffee and a piece of cake (fat boy).
I have an uncanny knack of choosing good routes, because no sooner was I at the bottom of the hill I had to start climbing again. The A823 which I followed
was a lovely and quiet road, but I figure it must be the highest in the kingdom of Fife. But anyway it made for a fast descent into Dunfermiline.
I thought I was going to struggle to find the Forth bridge, and the cycle path that crossed it, but all
went very well. I had a couple of moments; the first was when the A823 became the A823(M), and the second was when I was on the A90 approacing the bridge with all
motorway traffic behind me. Both sorted themselves out, and crossing the bridge was straight forward. The Route 1 cycle path re-appeared, and I followed it into
Edinburgh and then out the other side.
This was complicated by the fact that I got me second puncture 5 miles from the city centre. I rolled over twigg and
got it wedged in the front wheel. The thorns would only allow me to pull it in one direction, so I might have several punctures. I ended up cycling the bike for
half a mile, pumping up the tyre and the cycling half a mile more which took some time....
When I finally 'twigged' that route 1 was no longer taking me to the city centre,
I made a hasty retreat to the nearest biggest road and started searching for the city centre from there. In the end I am not sure where I am, but it could be near Holyrood Palce. I went past a big building in its own grounds.
I gave up on finding a hostel, and located a B+B on the 3rd attempt. It is a lovely place with internet access, so I am going to update my web pages, fix the puncture,
and have an early night. Tommorow it is on to Hawick along the A7. (50 miles.)
I have decided that if I am going to have big breakfast in the morning, I probably don't need big meals at night.
P.S. It is p.... it down. I made the right descision not to push onto Galashiels.
P.P.S. My new TomTom Rider has arrived, Rosie will bring it to Carlisle on Friday night.
Speak to you tomorrow Phil
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