A Mid Summer Dawn Ride to the Coast...

Been a roasting week weather wise, drought conditions and clear blue skies in East Lothian...
Weekend off and after a shakedown ride on Friday affy on the Grey SURLY Pugsley latest progect; the  KramPug.  It was up at 3.30am Saturday morning for a dawn ride to the coast on the Pugsley...
Riding at 4am and it was already light with a fiery sky...

I rode up to Kilduff for a good viewpoint, and at 4.27am as predicted...

The sky exploded in colour ...

Time to ride West...

You just know today's gonna be an amazing big sky day...

I avoid the road from Drem to Longniddry usually as its crazy to cycle on with folk passing you often far too fast well under the 3ft width, but at 5am it was deserted, only one car passed as i rode west...

Longniddry...

Red Pan Tiles, trademark of East Lothian...

Along side Scotland's first dual carriageway...

Temperature is getting warmer as the sun rises...

Down through the woods to Port Seton, and along a new (to me) trail...

And to the coast...

Cockenzie Power Station has now been closed and slowly getting demolished. I like many will miss the twin chimneys if they are dropped as they are a part of our East Lothian Industrial heritage and a landmark...

6am, amazing light on the water...

Quiet at Port Seton Harbour, the boats all decorated for todays Gala...
There were a lot of things on this Weekend to celebrate summer, also the Traprain Law Hill running race which my big brother once won. The Traprain Law race is part of East Linton Gala Day - my nearest village 3 miles away, but to be honest its like most Gala days and for folk with kids,  and being single i kinda feel a bit of a loner to all these types of days and events, and want to go miles away from them...
dunno why but i just do... we do not have an East Fortune day, so for me i will be a lone rider on the coast...
I single not through choice, just kinda ended up so!, spent most of my life trying to work out why that is... still, to be single and alone on the coast is not too bad a thing to be on a morning like this... alone with your own thoughts...

Me, i`m riding east to North Berwick, low tide is 8.20am...

Onto the sand at Seton Sands...

A ping and a twisting grip, 5 1/2 years of saltwater finally corroded an allen bolt on my lock - on grips...

`Do not panic!` keep calm and carry on... it cannot come off with the Hope bar end, but the rock riding further on will be interesting...

Longniddry beach...

And on to Fernie Ness...

Then Gosford Bay...

7am, and alongside Kilspindie Golf Course before the first golfers are out...

Those red pan tile roofs again...

Cart wheels in the mud from a bygone age, when Kilspindie was the Port of Haddington...

Onto the salt marsh trail, that i first rode on an MTB over 25 years a gao with friend Max. It still has not changed!...

This view has changed from over a 100 years ago here though, early AA road books like the 1933 one i have describe Aberlady Village as a quiet seaside village with bathing. Whereabouts?...

Well it was right here before the sand was covered with mud flats...

I have loads of old pics to do an Aberlady post when i get round to it...

Parked up against a stone that does not belong here at Aberlady. Click on my friend Gary Buckham`s website to fine out about the Garlick Rock...

Weaving through the salt marsh...

And make it to the bridge, apart from a camper van fast asleep no one is here...

Out across the Reserve, going to be a Big Sky day...

water refill at the now filled in Iron Ore mines, this was piped by the Gullane greenkeepers many years ago, it tastes amazing, no chloride...

Gullane Beech, not a bad view!...

coastkid is very happy today... this is what it is all about...

It was so calm and peaceful today with no wind, massive clear sky, and just the noise of seabirds as i sat on the big rock at Marine Villa...

On towards North Berwick, and i should have met another fat biker by now who was riding west from North Berwick...

Sea Urchin, been made a meal of by gulls...

Onto Broadsands and there he was, Gavin like myself was riding slow as stopping to just soak up the amazing scenery today...

Flounder...

Horse...

Cookies... -:)

Gavin always brings loads of goodies when he goes cycling on the coast!...

Overhead planes left vapour trails...

Big Sky day -:)

I turned round and rode west with Gavin to do a wee loop...

Back to Marine Villa...

Over head Gordon from East Fortune Microlights flew over, who i did my Microlight flight, be great up there today...

We rode up the Renaissance trail past the exclusive golf club...

It is an amazing immaculate place,  though i would rather be at Whitekirk... its just more me -:)

Gavin was flying today... as we rode to Dirleton Village...

And he split a choccy muffin with me, i like cycling with Gav... -;)

Down the Garlic trail again as on Friday....

Yellowcraig car park was packed with day visitors to the coast now it was 1pm...

Quiet in the woods we rode east to avoid the packed beach and dropped onto Broadsands...

And around the small beaches into North Berwick...

What an amazing day, this is what beach riding has been missing after last summers washout and the cold spring of this year, good weather gives everyone a lift which can only be a good thing...
Time to head for home as now 2pm and feeling it being up so early...

Proper day out, first summer epic beach ride done with 43 miles...

Absolutely this is the best bike i have owned, love it... needs washed but will have to wait as have earned that cider today...

Happy Days...

UPDATE;

Gavin just did his blog post of his Perfect Summer Days ride...