In search of snow...

With fresh snow on the tops of the western Lammermuir hills i drove up to see if i could get on some snow for the first time this year, looked good for a loop around Meikles Says Law - highest hill in the Lammermuirs at 1755feet (535meters)...

Waterproof walking boots and gaits would be needed to ford the Fasney burn on the way up and possible hike a bike through drifts after the summit....

Through the water crossings ok that were wheel deep the snow was not that deep as we started to climb on the vehicle track...

 

Nearing the summit and several inches of dry fresh snow...

The strong headwind made for a tough climb and i walked two steep short sections to stop overheating as the wind was freezing and nearing the summit the track was scoured of snow as the wild wind blew snow around and small snow showers swept through...

Trig point - on top of East Lothian...

I planned to ride south across to the summit of Little Says Law to descend on the track down to Fasney burn, but the snow was real deep - waist deep in places where i went through the drifts walking across to get  onto rideable sections...

Under the snow it was frozen solid ice but rideable...

I missed the track down so make my own way down across the hill where the heather was low from grouse management burning and soon reached the Fasney burn and follwed the track to Fasney shooting lodge and returned to the van, the last crossing washing the snow off the bike
At the van i sprayed the chain with WD40 to stop it rusting-will rub it dry and re lube later in the evening. I was surprised how wet i was with sweating, under layers sweating from the hard work in the deep drifts higher up after the summit...

Home and a warm stove and a smile on my now rosy cheek face from the cold,
Another solo ride that could have been real hard and again missed meeting the Grim Reaper :)

Wee film, Song is `Open The Light` by Boards of Canada


Lammermuir`s Snowride; Meikle Says Law, Feb 2020 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


More soon...

Mid Week Cycle; Winter storm high tide sunset cycle at John Muir Park

WW2 firing range target marker recently uncovered...

2 1/2 hours daylight now after work so more time to get a cycle and wee bit filming after work,
Love cycling after work, usually the coast is quiet, and you can just zone out and enjoy the scenery,
It`s February and usually that means cold, wind, rain showers, but some evenings you get some nice light and wrapped up from the wind it`s fine,

Today was a real high tide, with the approchig date on a fulll moon it was a 5.8 meter high tide at 5pm, so there would be no beaches at JMP to cycle today, plenty trails through the woods and along above the high tide line to ride...

A lot of wood and debris this winter, some logs to saw up and get home for fire wood...

Last light of the day as i cycled around the tide line, a vey different view here with no sand...

Salt marsh submerged, looking north from bullet hill...

Through the woods, now mostly thinned out with the recent forestry work and a pic in one of the remaining WW2 buildings

Wee film, Song is`Actium` by Aphex Twin...


Winter storm high tide sunset cycle at JMP; Feb 2020 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.



More soon...

Midweek Cycle High Tide Cycle; Tyninghame...

Real high tides this week as we approch another full moon, I met Chris for a cycle after work at Tyninghame, despite the tide right in there is still plent of mud free dry sandy loam trails to ride if you know where to look here. We ended up riding 12 miles doing a big loop through the woods. so much riding i made 5 films, starting here cycling towards Mosshouse point using some of the winter Enduro Series from last year,

Pt 1; Moto Enduro Trail, Song is `Kompromat` by Barr Brothers...


High Tide Cycle at Tyninghame Pt1 Feb 2020 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


You can see here at Mosshouse point just how high the tide was, at 5.7 meters we would have to go through the woods as the salt mash trail was submerged. Was a lovely eveningto be out cycling as we wound through more moto trails in the woods...

Film 2 more moto tracks, song is `White Noise` by Mogwai


High Tide Cycle at Tyninghame Pt 2 Feb 2020 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


Love this old gate with hinge designed to be operated from horseback...

Film 3, Using the moto trails we would join the tank block trail leading to Links Woods,
Song is `Miscrants` by Mogwai


High tide cycle at Tyninghame Pt 3 Feb 2020 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

Chris`s bikes chain was skipping now under any pressure and we soon diagnosed the problem with missing teeth on the front big chainring, we continued with Chris spinning away on the lower front chainring,  and we enjoyed have the trails to ourselves while the waves lapped the high tideline below us as we wound our way along the tails...

Stopping after the ditch on Secret Trail after Chris tried another line around the ditch and took a tumble but was ok, Chris noticed and pointed out the old tree i was leaning on was rotten and hung up above our heads!,  this could be dangerous, so we moved on!...

Film of Secret Trail next, Song is `George Square Thatcher Death Party` by Mogwai


High tide cycle at Tyninghame Pt 4 Feb 2020 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.


Sun was setting as we stopped at Willowbrae Point for some coffee and snack, then along the last section of trail to Ravensheugh and from there back to the cars...
Last film of the ride, Song is `Sailor` by The Brian Jonestown Massacre


Hig tide cycle at Tyninghame Pt 5 feb 2020 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

Loads of riding here even at high tide, a fun cycle to unwind after a busy day at work...

More soon...

A corner turned, A walk in the woods...

A lull in Storm Dennis last Sunday and with some some winter sun on my back i took a walk around the Estate ponds early morning where i grew up,
It was so quiet out of the wind that has been blowing for nearly 2 weeks now, and it was nice to enjoy the ponds and reflect on recent things and changes...
Today i opened a letter that arrived the previous day with results of the recent CT scan i had last month for my 1 year post Op for Kidney tumour removal, and i am all clear!
no recurring Cancer cells... a tear in my eye over that news and a great weight off my shoulders...
Feels i can get back on track again, just the MS treatment to get sorted in May but i can deal with that myself, i have had to learn to deal with a lot of things in life alone, it`s just the way it always seems to pan out for me...
While sad to be single again, i now have focus on the future with these positive health results,
And taking stock of everything `Life is Good` - a saying i like to use when good new comes...
I am now in a good place of work with a great bunch of supprtive guys, and i could not wish for better friends and a cool place to live,  and cycle through the Seasons with friends...


So on with the Alice in Wonderland Gosford Pond tour!...
Curling House, proper curling has not been on the ponds since the big freeze in the late 1970`s, everyone on the estate was there and we have family pictures of being on the ice...

Boat House, also now locked it has lovely woodwork in the rafters...

This stone conduct feeds fresh water into the pond from a stone floored burn that circles the ponds and overflows exiting back into the Ha-ha lined burn keep the ponds at a constant level and the exchange keeps the water fresh and less algae...

Gardeners bothy...

Autumn is probably the most scenic time here though soon the daffidols and bulbs will nbe out adding colour, winter sun lights things up in the meantime...

The House, North wing has no roof, removed for tax reasons, along with many windows bricked up, something you see on many big houses of the period...

Nearby the House are some buildings more modern but now nearly 80 years old, the former WW2 No16 POW camp here on Gosford Estate housed nearly 4000 Germans by 1945, the Coolers, Guard house and Gymnasium are a half mile east of the main camp...

Locked up todaythey used to also be open and you can read all about them Here....


The Lily pond, which leads to the ice house...

Like the Curling House the Ice House has the same Gothic finish with volcanic stone and shells...

In Victorian time blocks of ice were lowerd down inside where meat was stored...

Near the waterfall one of the pond overflows exit, this burn along side a Ha-ha wall has a stone lined floor, we used to walk along it as kids...

And nearby the Musoleum, You don`t need to go to Egypt to see a Pryamid, the tomb is lined with shelves for coffins but there is only one coffin in the centre, You get a huge echo if you knock the door but don`t wake the 7th earl who is still inside...

`Happy as a Pig in SXXX` so the saying goes for this fellow...

 More cycling soon...

Sandstorm cycle ...

A storm was forecasted for Saturday evening but the day would prove clear cold and breezy so worth getting out and enjoying the coast in winter sun despite the increasing wind as the day went on,
I rode west from North Berwick out to Aberlady Bay through the woods and dunes avoiding the headwind before winching out across the sands of the Bay to the sub wrecks...

Out here the sands were dancing and the sand bar was real smooth so i winched out the two miles to the Peffer Estuary enjoying the remoteness of no one around...

I was looking forward to the 10 mile tailwind ride back to NB!...

As you will see in the film riding along effortlessly with the sand blowing along side in the low sun is i think amazing...

 I was soon back at the westerly sub wreck, a few pics then an easy ride non stop back to NB the car park beaches now busy with day visitors i can enjoy them mid week now after work where you often get the coast to yourself...

 Wee film, Song is `Satellite` by Bosco


Sandstorm Cycle; Aberlady Bay, Feb 2020 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

More soon...