Sun, Sea, Sand...and a bit Snow...

The Weather turned a bit mild on Friday night and as forcasted a thaw started Today...
rather than slog through deep wet snow for the day i opted to head for the beach as i thought it would make for some different pictures of our coastline...
And im glad i did as i stumbled across some excellent snowpacked trails to ride!
With the roads the best they have been all week i drove to Gullane village and parking i rode up to the top of Gullane Hill, 9am and the Hill to myself (lots of sledge tracks/footprints) and some great views...
West across to Cockenzie Power Station and Edinburgh and its snow covered Pentland hills...

Across the Firth of Forth Estuary and the `Paps of Fife`...

And east across Muirfield Golf Course and Fidra Lighthouse at Yellowcraig...

with the deep snow cycling wasnt easy even on the pugsley but tracks compressed by The Golf Courses Greenkeepers utility vehicles made it easy going...

The path was a bit soft and slow going along the cliff tops to the snow covered `Maggies Loup` named after a woman who took her life after receiving new of her husbands death at war...

Strange to see snow on the coast here!...west down to the Nature Reserve...


Snow meets sand...

There was a lot of razor shells washed up...

The sky was an amazing colour of blue today where clear...wonder what causes this?...

If you live in Alaska you may be used to these views but for me here snow on the coastline is strange!,even last winter the snow wasnt deep down here...


Down again onto the sand...guess this is the high tideline then...


Out to Gullane Point on the Reserve and some amazing looking snow...chunks? below the tideline...


Around the point the deep snow onto of the high tide line usually soft sand was hard going and i was down to 1st gear even with the Alfine hubs 26T front 20t rear gearing!...


Still got through though...about a 10 minute workout up onto the main path in the lagoon where i came across cross country skier tracks!,on the coast!..this is a first...hats off to you sir who ever you are!...

Across the reserve on the main path and passing the 12th Green of No2 Course and some vehicle tracks took me up and onto the `metalled road` that crosses the 12th/13th fairways of no2 course...a hardcore road built as an access track for the Home Gaurds coastal defence during WW2...

Some of the WW2 Anti tank blocks...

Then i rode across gullane No1 course on snow packed tracks...despite it being 15 years since i worked here i could proberly ride blind fold across here...and these hardpack tracks were ace on the pugsley...

A snow motorway...riding over a Historic Open Championship golf course would normaly proberly get you the jail...yet everyone i met out walking today commented on the pugsley being an amazing bike...happy days...

Climbing back up to the Hilltop wasnt too hard on the tracks as long as you kept balanced...

Then from the Millenium cairn a great descent down to the main road...


Back at the car and driving along the coast to Longniddry to visit the Folks i couldnt believe the depth of the snow...weve had it before on the coast but this has been a week...


I had to park at the railway station and cycle down as the snow is that bad and theres no street parking!...unheard of here...

Theres gonna be a few piles like this for a while...

What a great day out...happy days...

-12 commute...

Coldest commute here ever for me today. it was -12 at 7am and i could feel the skin nipping around exposed skin of my eyes...was a stunning morning and so quiet...

I rode in -20 last year up on the local hills but I've never been out to work in this cold here near the coast,
gritting last night helped beat the war on the snow although last night here at home was a heavy snow shower...

But at work today there was no need to plough with just a light dusting of snow and just had gritting to do...
I went out onto the Golf Course and cut a hole to measure the snow depth... its 18 inches!,no golf here for a while...

The snow scenery is lovely and a bit of sun just helps make it all shine...



Riding home at 10.30am it was still only -6C despite the sun out and it would only reach -2 by mid afternoon...

Road salt is struggling to work now and minor roads are snowpacked...

And the main roads arnt much better...why arnt they using much grit everyone is asking?,i would prefer it like this and we all used snow chains than watery slush for a few hours during the day...

I stopped for some pics beside this old bike dug out a ditch recently...

Theres alot of deer and hare tracks everywhere...

And its nice to hear and see geese over head...

Back home and our street still hasnt been dug out and now its all frozen...

Now the temperatures are dropping here at night im awaiting the power cuts as we have overhead powerlines...got the stoves,tea candles etc, looked out...

Plenty food,bread and milk and booze and firewood...open fire for heat and bath water...all prepared...
As the pugsley sits in the kitchen thawed out and ready to go...
I feel a snow nightride around the local woods is on the cards...

Mid Week Snow Update...

Well its been an interesting week so far...i reckon about 2 1/2 Feet of snow has fallen then thawed since Sunday,maybe more...
We have had awful wet snow here Sunday to Tuesday then a real chill was in the air late yesterday afternoon, this morning was about another 8" of powder dry snow and everything underneath is frozen solid...
The snow has spread from the east coast across most of the UK now and its caused chaos...
Today's News reports;
Theres a recorded 54cm 20 miles up the road in Edinburgh,
Many roads are shut across Scotland and Northern England with drifting snow,
East Coast Railways are closed north of Edinburgh,

Airport is closed,
Nearly 4000 Schools have been closed all week,
The Forth Road Bridge is closed due to Snow-the first time ever...
No Bins have been emptied here,
No Post delivered since last Friday here,

This morning looked like this outside at 6am...

Only country Roads on Bus Routes are being heavily gritted,
Our Square is still unploughed and were all digging out the cars daily,though im cycling and to be honest it feels a lot safer to me...
current snow depth is about 9" but the last 4" is solid and takes a bit scraping with your boot or a shovel,
On Tv it showed Eastern Siberia where this weather front originates from,Over there it is -53Celsius... -53!!!.. good job its warmed up a bit coming over!.
With everything alot drier this morning with the drop in temperature it was back on the Pugsley to work and it was like last winter all over again...
snowpack roads empty of traffic...the lonely road...


Mid morning i get away from work and the frozen back roads were a delight to ride on the Pugsley...

After yesterdays slush on top of ice on the Hardtail xc bike today it was easy peasy...

So i did a bit filming to show how amazing this bike is in these road conditions...
Yes i have now realised its now 1st of December!...

Then again off road on a farm track all frozen ruts and ice...

I took a chance mid day and drove to the Supermarket 5 miles away at North Berwick for the 3 vital supplies (Milk,Bread,Cider) to see through to next week and the roads were`nt too bad due to the lack of traffic...

Took some pics as snow was drifting across the fields...




Extreme Skiing down NB Law anyone?...

Road was starting to cover as i drove back...

Back home i did some tweaking to the Pugsley, fitted a 26tooth steel inner chainring i got from friend TJ and swapped the rear 22 t sprocket for the original 20tooth as the currant set up of 32 front 22 rear just isnt low enough...


well top gear is now really a bit too low for the road but it will do until i get the 18 tooth rear i just ordered,with the cut section of chain and the spare 8speed quick link i can lenghten the chain to use the 32 but will probably leave it like this as i need lower gears for really soft sand, a quick test ride around the old Hospital and its ace...feels like it would ride up the side of a house-or through it...


Yes i know the warranty is void using lower than 32/22 gearing but the hub sat for a year before fitting anyway, and at £150 to replace + £20 for the wheel build if it does 2 years riding then im quids in to replacing a cassette,chainrings,mechs,shifters etc... and if it does blow up i can swap wheels and single speed it home -:).
Later my mate Alan popped in too see me and he filmed me riding about on the pug...
the untouched snow is 8" deep,watch the float at it cuts through compressing down about 6"...i love this bike...though i need to change that rear disc i cant straighten as the noise is doing my head in!