Wednesday 29 August 2012

Midweek Cycle; trails to the coast - east side...

Weathers back to same as July with mixed torrential rain between good sunny spells.
Saturday was overcast but dry. Sunday dawned a cracker.

Sunrise at work...


Combines have been out when its dry. A repeat of the wet harvest 2 years ago when one day you several fields of ripe Spring Barley, Wheat or Oil Seed, then next day their all cut but you miss seeing anyone about!, just a parked up combine harvester. Combines now are so big they take no time at all to harvest fields...

Bank field, Whitekirk...



Down to the east end of East Lothians coastline Tuesday to ride some of the trails to the coast.
Sadly this trail just over the border county in Berwickshire used to be a good half mile of amazing single track on a slight descent that despite being used by horses was buff and smooth and fast. A game keepers quad and the resulting ruts left by the wet summer has put an end to cycling fun here...

Rode down a stone floored stream to this 8ft high tunnel -:)

Need to return with lights and film as the sides are grippy and rideable...


Dunglass Dean shoreline...


Bilsdean...

The Arches at Bilsdean...

The Five Ten Canyoneer 2 `wet shoes` have been a great investment for coastal riding, soles are firm enough for all day cycling and grip like a leech on wet rocks...




This is not a rock pool but a man made storage pool cut out the rock, there are quite a few along the East Lothian coast, once used to store caught sea food and possibly bait for fishing years a ago...

Sunset at Cockburnspath WW2 Royal Observers Corps post...

Light was not great and a couple of showers passed over but did some film.

Song is `Break to the Future` (extended by myself) by Phontaine...

Thursday 23 August 2012

Edinburgh Festival fringe...



Visiting Dad in Hospital in Edinburgh  the city centre has been buzzing with the Festival fringe, the worlds largest arts festival...

Last night after seeing dad, along with Big Bro and O...

I went  to the Traverse Theatre...


To see Mark Thomas preform  his latest preformance `BRAVO FIGARO!`
A sell out show that already has won two awards...


I have already blogged about Mark a few years back,
Along with Nick Crane`s  excellent series Map Man... ,
and Al Murray`s  Road to Berlin..
Mark Thomas`s CH4 series `Secret Map of Britain` is one my favourite UK TV series.
I blogged links to the excellent series on Youtube...

BRAVO FIGARO!
This preformance was an intense hour of stand up comedy mixed with an emotional story of Mark`s father`s life..


 An amazing show...
We all have a father, or through life a father figure which i think is how everyone can relate to Marks story and feelings, there is a interview here with Mark on  the BBC Culture show...
Go see BRAVO FIGARO!  over the next few months as Mark preforms around the UK; Show dates

Walking to the train i had fireworks from the Tattoo at the Castle Esplanade...





Return to the Toon...

Back in `Auld Reekie` tonight and using the park & ride i cycled into the Meadows  to drop off a rim and hub for building for the Salsa Fargo build soon.
I took a cycle about for an hour soaking up the festival vibe, scenery, and exhaust fumes, and got a  few pics around town...

Stick the kettle and pour a brew as quite a few pics...

People watching...

No jelly donoughts for him!...

Muddy Fox Courier, back in the city where it belongs...

If your Scottish and  don`t know who This dog  is then shame on you, as this is one of the many famous stories of Edinburgh...


Victoria Street...

Bought a few old maps here over the years...

Took a pic of an old kids tricycle in a shop window and by accident took a pic of my bike too in the reflection, which turned out quite cool...

Grass market, like back in Holland with the street cafes...

If your names not down you ain`t coming in...

Grass Market...

Queens Scots Greys Monument, Princess street...

Green City...

The Gardens...

Street Art...

The old  `Disgrace of Edinburgh`...

And new `Disgrace of Edinburgh`...

`Sunshine on Leith`...

 .Pentland Hills to the south...

Princess street and The Castle...


You may recognise this from the start of a famous cult Scottish Film...-:)

Royal Mile...








Heading south for the car and home...