Another local backyard overnight camp...

 

Thursday and part time weeks work done I was home and shower changed and ready to head off for a nights camp locally, G had the bikes out and prepped and packed and we were soon off out of town riding the John Muir Way to NB town, where we departed along the coast to camp ...

The light was superb as we rode west from NB into the setting sun...

Campsite for the night, previously in work I was estate manager for the beach here, but we would do a stealth camp setting up at sunset and packing up leaving no trace at sunrise - unlike a lot of people who do not and leave a load of rubbish behind...

Sunset and we fired up the ace wee box stove burning small salt dried twigs off the high tide line that burned easily and kept us amused as we sat and chatted until the hip flasks were empty...

Falling asleep to waves breaking is so good and we both slept well...

Up early next morning and porridge and coffee made on the stove and quickly packed we were soon cycling and returned inland in a big L shape on the map home off-road on a mix of grass and gravel tracks...

Enlarge pic below and you can see north to the coast at Archerfield, and our route through the former RAF Drem airfield to climb up to Kilduff to then ride home east, back to the coast...

Over the river tyne...

And the village of East Linton, and having used no fuel driving to get away a camp G suggested a treat at local Bostock Bakery... These are called Caruffin`s  - that's a muffin and croissant, and were rather nice!...

Happy days, home on a Friday afternoon and still the weekend!...

Wee film, song is `Windpower` by Ian Ritchie

More soon...

Willys Jeep, out and about...

With some sunny evenings it's been good getting out in the Jeep after work. Screen down and roof rolled up I love driving the Jeep like this. It shows the low profile -part of its design for use as a scouting vehicle amongst its many roles...

With showers this week the harvest has been a bit sporadic and as soon as cut fields are baled and often the bales removed straight away, which is a shame as harvest views on sunny evenings are lovely,  I often have a short drive around town and try get some pics, and this evening the light was good, so along with pics I got some film while out a wee drive around the back roads...

 This time of year in 1940 the UK was deep in combat in The Battle of Britain as young pilots fought desperately their counterparts for air superiority,  dog fighting along with fatigue killed many. And many died flying before they even got the chance to get in on the action. 

This weekend is the 80th Anniverseary of the death of a 23 year old pilot killed near here in the local Lammermuir Hills while on a routine navigation training exercise. His remains still buried with his Bolton Paul Defiant aircraft and now marked with a memorial stone. We have a planned cycle with friends to pay our respects to one of many young men, some really just boys who gave the ultimate sacrifice. 

Owning and driving a Jeep whose Heritage - engine and a few parts are from WW2 is I think something special and pays a respect to many brave young men. So for this film I used some recorded interview audio with 603 City of Glasgow Squadron A.V.R Spitfire Pilot Sandy Johnstone recorded in January 1941, while they briefly rested during the Battle of Britain here at RAF Drem...

More soon...