670 miles cycled now, another two days and we'll be over the border and back into England. Somehow today has felt like we've been playing hookie from the cycle trip, don't know why because we've done nearly 40 miles, the weather has been overcast and there have been plenty of ups and downs - but because there were no facilities at the campsite last night (being refurbished) we were off and away by 8.30am.
Talking of thieving birds (in a previous blog) we suffered another sneaky attack yesterday. While we were enjoying the sunshine of our private campsite we put the stuff that needed to be kept cool under some trees in the corner of the field. Roger suddenly looked up and saw a large blackbird attacking the loaf of bread - had to cut various sections of the loaf out to get rid of the peck marks - meant for some very strange shaped butties today.
As we had a free nights camping we celebrated by treating ourselves to bacon butties and a cup of tea from a shop we passed - sitting on a wall at the side of the main road, with the view of the dust-cart that parked up in front of us. Roger really knows the way to a girls heart. A few miles further on came across the first Asda of the trip - do like Asda -went in really to buy a couple of cheap paperbacks as finished all the ones I brought with me (and swapped for new ones at hostels etc) - seemed strange buying books from Asda when we'd just cycled past the enormous Amazon warehouse. Can't do without a book to read..... Also stocked up on milk bottle sweets and Haribo Star Mix (for Roger) and Jelly Babies and Jelly Beans (for Sue).
A very varied terrain today - a bit of everything thrown into the mix, including 'ducking and diving' around towns along little snickets and hidden pathways. Stopped at Silver Sands Beach for lunch - a lovely little beach with a small kiosk selling hot tea (2 cups each) and ice cream (Sue's second of the trip) - lovely view across the Firth of Forth over to Edinburgh and Arthur's Seat on the opposite side. Over the Forth Road bridge to Queensferry and instantly into the hurly burly of very busy traffic - but the route soon took us away from this and up 'Nob's Hill' past some lovely large house, many of which were modern houses that both Roger and I like. There was a campsite shown on the cycle route map, about 4 miles from the centre of Edinburgh - off the route and down a long long hill to the water line of the Firth of Forth - very glad to see a sign saying there was actually a campsite when we got to the bottom as would have meant a trek back up it again if there hadn't been. One of only two campsites in the Edinburgh area - the other is right over the the other side of the city - we stayed there 3 years ago with Elsie and Dean on our way to Iceland with the vehicles. About 10 small tents pitched on our intimate tent field - has an open sided but covered camp kitchen with a couple of benches and tables which is great - am sat at one writing this blog up, listening to all the birds singing around us. Was awakeearly this morning listening to a cacophony of birdsong from all around - 360 degree stereo sound from the ring of trees around the tent. I'm reassured from this trip that all is well with lots of the bird species - there are so many birds!!! It's a good job they don't attack people or else it would be really bad news for the human population. The last few days as we've been cycling down hills we are passing through huge numbers of small flying insects - our yellow windproofs or teeshirts are almost black at times, there are so many of them. Your mouth, eyes, nose and throat get them stuck - so if there are so many of them why do the bloody birds have to keep pinching our food......
Next to where I am sat writing this is a pile of half used and open food and looks remarkably like 'freegon' food - hope so anyway as Roger has been and taken the coffee, I'v had a peanut butter buttie and two half used calor gas cylinders have found their way into our tent - we're struggling at the moment to find anywhere to buy any - called in a caravan place we cycled past today but no joy.
Just now about 10 cycle campers have just arrived - lovely to be sat here showered, doing my blog, tent up, Roger cooking tea and watching them unload etc - is usually the other way round with us being late arrivals - we were here by 4.30pm today. Also a single guy has just turned up - if you think we're mad then he's madder still as imagine carrying all the camping and cooking stuff on your own!!
An Australian couple here, so been really interesting talking to them - telling us about disused railway line cycle track routes in Australia that they recommend.
We're back on track with the schedule today if we don't have a day off tomorrow - neither of us too worried about this as we looked around the city when we were here 3 years ago.
Shay asked for a photo of the bikes loaded up - will do this tomorrow - look very elegant really when loaded, looks like a lot of stuff when scattered to the four winds of the campsite!!! Felt very heavy today when having to push them up some short but extremely steep sections - could hardly manage it - can't believe that we have been cycling up hills with all that weight and managing itwithout too much agro (most of the time anyway!!).
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