Storm `Desmond` hit the UK this weekend and Forth Bridge closure put paid to some folks making it to this years East Lothian GFBD ride, but 17 hardy folk still turned up despite the gale and fore casted torrential rain due around midday. But once again the East Lothian Enigma would see us miss the rain with just a few sideways spots and we just had the gale to contend with, which was wild!, 35 - 55mph gusts!,
My day started with a headwind 3 mile cycle to Drem rail station to meet Ben and Duncan just after 8am...
Then in typical me fashion i tried to use the off road short cut to Drem airfield via the recently harvested Sprout field, but the usual perimeter track was deep mud and flooded, so we put our fatbikes to good use and pressed on using the sprout leaves for traction and eventually made it across to the airfield and old railway line into Gullane where most folk had arrived...
Soon rolling it was down onto the coast and east to North Berwick along the sandy trails, rock sections and flat beach where the retreating tide had exposed to get some food in North Berwick at Craigs cafe.
A message in a bottle washed up revealed a religious pamphlet and we continued now feeling a bit enlightened, well i did after we got the hip flasks out for some slow gin and Glenmorangie!...
A flooded Eil burn made for a detour and a brief stop to fix a puncture and we were soon in Town...
Joke was on me after mentioning Greggs...
Soon we were out across Aberlady Reserve and it was quite a winch out to the sub wrecks where the group photo, pics and hip flask toasts were made before a fun knee high sandstorm tailwind charge east across the sands, returning to the clifftop trail and climbing to the Millennium Cairn on the top of Gullane Hill...
It was then hill, and down wind! to The Old Clubhouse for for a few pints before everyone departed, i
We had an interesting side wind cycle up to Drem Station to see Duncan off home on the train before i had a freewheel ride home in the gale that was getting really wild!. What a great day out with like minded folks!
I did some filming, it`s a bit long at 12 minutes but i wanted to get everyone in who made the effort in the extreme weather!
Songs are `Break to the Future` `Feels like Home` and `Wellingtons` by Phontaine...
