Tomorrows Harvest...

Winter Wheat is sprayed off and harvesting should be starting around Whitekirk tomorrow weather permitting!...

Harvest time is scenically my favourite time here in East Lothian, the countryside changes to a sea of gold over the next 6-8 weeks and the sunny evenings of long shadows on fields of round bales is a sight to see...
Today was a ripening day!...

29+ time...
29+ bikes i have found to be best for cycling harvested stubble fields, despit having owned two specific 29+ bikes-a Surly ECR (now sold) and the little used Surly Krampus, i find the Surly KramPug best for cycling harvested fields. While a KramPug (Pugsleywith 29+ whels) has a raised BB with 29+ wheels fitted and makes for the bike to handle a little odd on hard twisty trails, across stubble fields the high pedal clearance is welcome and comes into it`s own.  You see every bike however old has it`s good points!.
I will prob use the Alfine IGH option on the Yellow bike this harvest as no problem with drive chain clogging if cutting across unbaled straw...

The beast awakes...

Look forward to seeing and hitching a ride again hopefully over the next few weeks!...

In the meantime here is an ace film showing the big beasts at work and the East Lothian harvest landscape by friend Gary and his Drone from 2014...

More soon...

Another days cycling... Easy tracks and End Riggs...

Really enjoyed having a long weekend at home, relaxing, recharging, and re cycling local loops of trails,
Monday i rode another loop of 35-40 miles soaking up the East Lothain landscape and big sky views...
Again had to pick a route avoiding many overgrown trails.  A Internal gear hub (IGH) drive is best for this time of year on the trails and i have a choice of two Surly Pugsleys but wanted to ride the Singular Puffin again today, the days ride was ok with not to many entangled drive chain incidents!...

Garleton Hills...

Saltire Centre, Athalstaneford...

Garletons...

Seaton Hill, wholecrop wheat `Rye`, apparently Dairy farms often use it... and this stuff is crushed and used in an anabolic digester to make gas!...

Old green road to Lime Kilns nr Longniddry...

Longniddry, in the wall the remains of WW2  Home guard defence `Flamme Fourgasse` site...

Lunch at mums then around the coast from Fernie Ness to Aberlady...

Bickertons Tomb, on the post mans walk east of Aberlady,  tomb of Sir David de Lindsey 13th C Crusader Knight...

Lufness Mains...

Fenton Barnes, former WW2 RAF Drem airfield...

Looking North and east  from Kilduff...

Cracking bike the Singular Puffin, esp in 29+ mode...

And back to the crossroads where i took today`s first pic...

Some film shot on the Go Pro,
Song is `Round the Rigg`  by Chris T


Singular Puffin Fatbike; 29+ trail ride Pt3 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

Singular Puffin; 29+ trail ride Pt2; Dawn ride before the rain...

The Humid muggy weather continues and Sunday morning i was up early to get in a cycle before the fore casted rain arrived midday,
I swapped out the Singular Puffin`s Fat wheels for the Halo 29+ wheels again and went in search of ride able trails that were not too overgrown-July is always when trails are overgrown, hard to get a good loop to ride as we wait on Harvest to start and acres of stubble fields to cycle...

Lavender i think?

Former East Linton Station...

I rode to East Linton and followed a slightly overgrown riverside trail to Hailes Castle, too overgrown to day to wing it along what is usually a fast trail, arrived at the castle soaked in sweat with the close muggy weather...

The old road south from Hailes is a lovely old green road and thankfully not to overgrown, it led to the main road to Haddington where via the Aimsfield estate wind dust trail i rejoined the Tyne trail into Haddington and then climbed up through the woods to Barney Mains Hill and it`s Transmitter masts...

Hike a bike here and hard work in thigh high grass...

Sweating bullets...

As the weather closed in and the drizzle came on i t was off the brakes down the ridge road and would soon be home...

Here is some film shot with the Go Pro, impossible to stop sweat smearing the lenses when it is on the chest mount in such warm conditions so it all look a bit blurry-same as the compact camera lenses!...

Song is `Oh! Vanity` by The Charlatans


Singular Puffin Fatbike; 29+ trail ride Pt2 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

More soon...

Trail spectating East Fortune Airshow...

Pic by Craig...


Saturday dawned clear and sunny skies-ideal for the annual airshow here at East Fortune. Though the day would cloud over and be a bit dull but stayed dry...

Craig texted and popped over to ride some trails to the coast then up above East Fortune to watch the airshow at Pencraig then Markle...

The Red Arrows opened the show and as always are a superb performance-amazing skill how close they fly apart, that`s why they are the best display team in the world,
The Typhoon blew eardrums with it`s stunning performance, what that plane can do is nuts!
And the skies of East Fortune once again echoed to the noise of WW2 Rolls Royce V12 Merlin  engines of a P51 Mustang and later a Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF)...the noise of those Merlins is quite moving...
We were joined at Markle by Dave G also out on his Pugsley, a great day out..

In not the right order some pics by Craig...

Some film of the day...
Song is `Loose Fit` by Happy Mondays...

Trail spectating East Fortune Airshow 2016 from coastkid71 on Vimeo.

More soon...