In search of ice cream - coastride to John Muir Park and Dunbar...

 All pics today by friends Craig or Brian where credited...


Saturday and time to go cycling with friends again.  Brian, Craig and Jason all arrived at my house and we were soon heading east for John Muir Park and then Dunbar.  To say you will probably end up with sore lungs with laughing than legs from cycling with us lot pretty much sums up a day out with us lot and we had a lot of laughs as we rode  via East Linton and along the John Muir Way (JMW) where we met fellow bloggers and cyclists Esther and Warren,  Check out their blog and amazing pictures and adventures,
I also met a Facebook friend and cyclist Tom and his partner walking at John Muir Park as we did a couple of loops through the lovely sandy trails before we headed along from Belhaven via the cliff top trail to Dunbar harbour to soak up the coastal views and lovely architecture of the red rock Victorian buildings then line the coastal town. We stopped for pics and laughs as usual at he WW2 QF 25 Pounder gun, if your grew up in East lothian you may remember there was three of these guns once sat overlooking the castle and harbour.  The harbour has not changed much, most fishing boats now only fish with creels for lobster.
Returning to John Muir Park we headed for ice cream at Cools which has moved from Gullane village to here at East Links Family Park a John Muir Park. More sandy single track trails and we headed back to HQ for a need coffee via the JMW trails to and from Whitekirk Hill as the temperature started to drop again.
All in a grand day out cycling with friends...

John Muir Way (JMW), pic by Brian...

John Muir Park....

Hedderwick sands, pic by Brian...

Weird mirrors....

Bridge to nowhere, Belhaven, pic by Brian....

25 pounder Howitzer, Dunbar...

Dunbar Harbour...

Pic by Brian...

Bridge to nowhere, Belhaven...

Off to the new Cools shop at East Links Farm, pic by Brian...

Views from Whitekirk Hill, 3 pics by Brian...

Whitekirk Hill, cracking pic by Craig...

I shot some film on the old Go Pro between the John Muir Way and Dunbar,
Song is `Brooklyn to Kingston` by Phontaine...

Vimeo

East Coast fatbikes; John Muir Park and Dunbar; Feb 16 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.



and YouTube..




More soon...

Surly ECR-Escape Common Routine...

Another day on holiday and another day cycling. I blew off the cobwebs on the Surly ECR and headed east on the National Cycle route 72 to Torness Power Station, and returned home along the coast on the John Muir Way trail...

Imagine if Tonka that make a tipper like this made a bicycle?, too bad Surly got there first...  :D

This big Deisel loco was loud!

Around Torness...

ECR-Escape Currant Rapids...

Ideal BBQ site at Skateraw...

The coast from Skateraw to Dunbar is an interesting area for people with an interest in geology. But sadly it has been neglected by East Lothian Council.  As a kid i have a lot of happy memories of days spent down here with my dad and Victor the resident ranger. The coast was litter free, and information signs told of the amazing geology and history of this part of our coastline. Gone also is the Barnes Ness Campsite. It all feels a bit  run down now for a visitor, be that local dog walker, bird watcher or tourist visiting East Lothian and looking for information on the Geology here on the coast which is a shame...

Alfine drive chain ideal as the detour paths through the Marram grass avoided the flooded path...

Seaweed galore...

Pic for my Mum...

Once all trees here...

I took the JMW around the East Links Golf Course and i bit my lip when a golfer i had waited on to put out on a green with his three partners said ` Don`t do any skids now`.., this was after i watched him not repair his or anyone else's pitch mark...what a toss pot!...
Etiquette is very important in golf, as is manners and that arse had neither...

Moving on and again amazing colour and texture in the rocks along the coast as we neared Dunbar town...

Had to time it to not get sprayed!...

Information boards at the harbour...

Creels ready to be loaded and catch lobster...

Propellor monument to Robert Wilson of Dunbar who invented the screw propellor...

From the cliffs overlooking the coast it was on past the Bridge to Nowhere and through John Muir park, and home...
John Muir no doubt the most famous son of Dunbar... sure if alive now he would like the low footprint left by our fatbikes on the coast!  :)

More soon...