Second Evening ride, to Portobello and West Musselburgh, not using Innocent
Thursday, June 8, 2017 6:25 PM BST Distance: 18.2 miles Duration: 2 hours, 44 minutes, and 53 seconds Average Speed: 6.6 mph Minimum Elevation: 161 feet Maximum Elevation: 961 feet Total climb: 1350 feet Total descent: 1832 feet
Link to Map https://drive.google.com/open?id=1yc3PNTIYiVco0ds6T-K65RZSCzs&usp=sharing
15deg wet, some sun, some wind.
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Only Six wet riders met outside All bar One for tonight's ride. The probable reason is that it had rained all day, and the aquatic pounding all day Tuesday was in everyone's mind. Plus no doubt a distrust of the forecast of glowing sunshine from 18:00 to midnight. Certainly there was no sign of the sun at 18:45 when we set off. but at least it wasn't raining.
(There would have been a seventh rider, who had enthusiastically emailed us from Holland and would have joined us, except the hired bike he had arranged, didn't turn up. Shocking. It appears this deliver-bike-to-hotel system doesn't work too well.)
Across the standard route to the Canal, then Fountainbridge and down the bumps. Past Lidl then Russell Rd and up the zigzags on to Roseburn path. We are now in the fabulous traffic free path system of North Edinburgh. Plenty of flooding, and cyclists cruising with both feet in the air to remind us of the day's rain, apart from that it was an uneventful part of the ride. Down to the three way junction at Craigleith and up the Blackhall path, emerging onto quiet roads at Davidson's Mains. From there we followed the blue cycling signs to steer through Barnton, between two golf courses to Whitehouse Rd, to School Brae, then turn right (East) to follow the Almond out to Crammond. A watery sun decided to put in an appearance at this point.
We had a very pleasant cruise along Silverknowes promenade, albeit uphill and upwind a bit, more than compensated by the scarcity of pedestrians and dogs. On to Granton and almost at the Old Chain Pier, where we turned inland to use the paths again; Trinity path to the five-way junction and then the nicely restored Chancelot Path. Turning Right to follow the Water of Leith Path, we exited to Eildon St and its creaky stone tenements, and skirted round the Botanics (a no go for bikes) and through Inverleith path up to Craigleith again, where we joined the Roseburn Path again, homewards.
Emerging at Russell Rd, we intended to retrace to get home, but life had a couple of surprises; first the leader had a puncture and had to leave the ride early; and second, a road accident happened. No-one harmed luckily. So we retraced to Bennet's Bar, and a well earned isotonic refreshment and some relaxed, genteel post ride conversation.
A great evening, and all's well that ends well.
Lead: Verity Photos: Michael Trace: Jim Text: Jim









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