July 7-8 Views from the Edinburgh Condo Balcony

 
Here are a few of  the pictures captured from the balcony of this amazing condo we are staying at in Edinburgh.  To say it is a million dollar view is not an exaggeration.

July 8, 2017 Rest day in Edinburgh

Agnes and I slept in this morning and got kind of a slow start on doing any touring but I think that is what we needed.  The last week has been pretty hectic.  A nice lazy morning was just what we needed.  Although Agnes was busy looking stuff up on the internet and scoping out the best deals on Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tours.  She found a deal which had a 48 hour pass and fast pass entry to the Edinburgh Castle, Royal Yacht Britannica and Holyrood.  With the number of tourists in town there are 20-35 minute waits just to buy tickets.  So we jumped on the city bus and headed downtown. 

We got our passes to a bus tour and were off.  The bus wound through the narrow streets and the commentary pointed out all sorts of birth places of famous people, Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Tony Blair, etc.  There were lots of famous names and places to be sure.  Before long we were at the Edinburgh Castle so we hopped off and went to see the castle.  To say that it is amazing is really an understatement.  To say it was crowded would also be an understatement.  However when I was asking the bus driver a questions he also added that good thing I was here on a day which wasn’t too busy. 

The Edinburgh Castle is built on top of an ancient volcanic plug which goes straight up 430 feet.  People have been using this a defensible position since the earliest bronze age.  The earliest castle works though date back to 1107.  The castle has undergone hundreds of rebuilds as a result of different wars and sieges which have attacked the castle.  Most of the works which are currently in place now were added in the 1700 to 1800 century.  We had a beautiful clear sunny day and you could see the entire city and harbour laid out below.  The castle has played a very important part in Scotland’s military and royal history.   It was great wandering the streets of the castle and soaking up the history. 

After the castle we got back on the bus and rode around marvelling at the different buildings and listening to the audio guide.  We had open air seats on one of the double decker tour buses.  It was so warm and sunny.  It was hard to imagine that we were here on maybe the nicest day Edinburgh has seen in ten years.   After a couple hours the bus was getting close to our condo so we jumped off and walked home.

Tomorrow we plan to be out there early and pick up the Yacht Britannica, Holyrood, and the Royal Botanical Gardens.  We can see the Firth of Forth Bridge which is a World Heritage site from our balcony and we will ride across the Forth Road bridge on Monday and I will get good pictures then from my bike.

Supper in the condo and a relaxing evening sound like pretty good ending to a great day.

Terry

July 7, 2017 Selkirk to Edinburgh

I don’t know what the problem was this morning.  We got up at the regular time, at breakfast at 7:30 Am which is the regular time then got out to go get on bikes and things just broke down.  There was more messing around and fiddling about than I have seen in a long time.  Finally I went and sat in the van with my eyes closed until we were all ready to roll. 

By now the brief sunny get away has turned to threatening clouds.  The rain held off for the first 6 miles (10 kms) but it did finally catch us so we had to stop and put rain coats and shoe covers on.  The rain only lasted a few miles but now I was hot and sweating in the rain coat and didn’t dare take it off as I would have frozen in the wind which had now picked up.  

At about mile 9 (14 km) we turned off the road and on to a pathway.  The first bit of the path was paved and rolling on the side of a river.  However this didn’t last and before we knew it we pounding down a horrid rough track.  It seemed like the rocks were all sticking up above the dirt and were far enough apart that the wheels had to roll up and over each one.  No wonder Jos’ fillings came out.  You really had to make sure your tongue was not in the way or you would bite it. Fortunately the really rough section was only a mile or so and then we were back on the pavement.

At mile 13.5 (21.7 Kms) the big climb of the day started.  It wasn’t very steep at 3.5%-5.5% but it lasted until mile 21.6 (34.8 kms).  Patrick set the pace with myself not far behind him.  There was a false summit and then an additional 2 mile (3.2Kms) of 4-6%.  From the summit there was an incredible view.  You could see all the way to Edinburgh which had to be 20 miles (32 kms) away.

We rolled down to meet Agnes for lunch which was a takeout sandwich from a supermarket.  We sat in the car and ate it.  I was freezing as my jersey was soaking wet from being under the rain coat.  Newton’s third law of motion was at work and I really didn’t want to get out of the van, however with Jos chiding me, I rolled out and we pedalled off to the condo. 

The ride into Edinburgh was only 10 miles(16 kms) and downhill so it wasn’t very hard.  It was mostly on paved paths, with only short sections on roads.   We touched down on the main ocean promenade which wraps around Edinburgh and from there we rode to the condo which is right on the ocean overlooking the Firth of Fourth.  You can see the world famous Firth of Fourth bridge, and Edinburgh castle.  What a terrific place.

Pizza for supper --- Yahoo!

Terry

PS__ Stay tuned for cool night shots from the balcony

July 6, 2017 Bellingham to Selkirk

We were on the road at 8:45 this morning in spitting rain.  The clouds were very heavy and almost down to the tops of the hills, giving everything a dark and gloomy appearance.  However today was to be a good day as it was all paved roads and the forecast was for sun in the afternoon.  The first section of the ride was 43 miles (70 kms) from Bellingham to Hawick where we were meeting Agnes for lunch.  This section had the majority of the climbs in it and the biggest climb of the day.  The second section was from Hawick down to Selkirk where we are staying.  Although the second section did not have any big climbs it did have a lot of short but really steep climbs.  Most of the climbs were under 0.5 miles (1.0 kms).  The total day was 59.5 miles (95 kms) and 5250 feet (1595 m).

Today we left England and entered Scotland.  So we stopped and took pictures to mark this important mile stone of our journey.   I must say the accents have really changed and a couple of times I have just had to guess what was being said as I had zero idea of what was being said.

At about the 30 mile mark we hit the big climb for the day.  It was over 3 miles long (5kms) and 1500 feet of climb (500 m).  The steepest section I saw on my Garmin was 22%.  This hit a false summit, a short downhill followed by another climb which was about a mile long at around 10-15%.  The climb was tough enough but on the climb there were thousands of flies. They were landing on your hands and face and because the climb was so steep you couldn’t ride away from them.  Where all these flies came from I don’t know as we were out in the country with woods on either side.   

The climb done we rolled into Hawick and met Agnes for lunch.  After lunch Jos and Agnes went off to visit a woolen mill.  Patrick and I decided to roll on.  With only 16 miles to go we took our time and made lots of stops to take pictures and enjoy the sun which had come out and was playing across the fields and hills.  As Patrick and I rolled into the hotel Agnes came out to meet us.  Jos had been trying to catch us and rolled in less than 10 minutes after Patrick and I. 

Tonight we are staying at the Glen Hotel which is a beautiful small hotel on the edge of town. Turn of the century place which is absolutely stunning.  Check it out:  Glen Hotel 

Over all a great day of riding.

Tomorrow is into Edinburgh and two back to back rest days.  Looks like and easy day as the ride is only 52.5 miles (84 kms) and 3420 feet (1043 m) of climb.   In Edinburgh we are staying in an ultra-modern condo across from the Royal Yacht Britannica.  Weather forecast looks very favourable with a slight tailwind and mixed sun and cloud.  Yahoo!

Terry  

July 5, 2017 Penrith to Bellingham

Today was a tough day no matter how you slice it. The ride was 74 miles (119 kms) and 5250 ft (1600 m) of climb.  However it really wasn’t the distance or the climb which made it tough.  Maybe it was the 6 miles (10 kms) off road trail which was maybe the roughest road I have ever ridden, which was a killer.  Even Surly with his 32 mm tires was complaining about how sharp the rocks were and how many mud puddles there were, which made it so tough.  Or maybe it was the constant straight into your face wind which seemed to cut right to the bone which made it tough.  Although it was only about 48 F (10C) it shouldn’t have been as cold as it was.  If you rode with your rain jacket on you boiled in side of it, if you took it off the wind froze you.  I choose boiling. Maybe it was the hills which although there were only a couple of hills which were more than a mile in length there were an awful lot which were hills which, although short,  were up to 20% grade.   But maybe it was just the heavy gray sky and constant drizzle which cast a pallor over everything.  

Today we visited Hadrian ’s Wall.  The Romans started construction of the wall in 124 AD and completed it across England a total distance of 88 miles (142 kms) with a fort every mile in just four years. It is named after Hadrian who was the emperor of Roman at the time and who ordered it constructed.  The purpose was to keep the barbarians out as they were sneaking across the border illegally and picking lettuce, working in chariot washes and doing yard work.  It worked quite well for over 350 years until the Romans left England.  It was huge you would love it.  We stopped at the Vindolanda museum which was a huge Roman fort along the wall.  The University of Western Ontario is currently doing an excavation at the site.  The fort area is huge and has provided extensive insight into Roman life.  Then over to the Roman Army Museum where we watched a 3D film on the Roman army (Agnes and I watched it ,  Patrick and Jos slept through it).  The wall was originally 18 feet high and varied in thickness from 10 feet (3 m) to up to 30 feet (10 m).  Today a lot of it has sunk into the ground and stones have been scavenged off it for 1600 years so it is little more than 6 feet (2 m) high.  Never the less it is a very impressive site.

Tonight we are staying in the Hotel Cheviot in Bellingham.  It is named after the Cheviot sheep which are raised around here.  I will try and get a couple of good sheep pictures but a lot of them look pretty scruffy.  Although the building is probably 300 years old the room is the absolute latest with a huge queen bed.  

Tomorrow looks like an easy day with only 60 miles (100 kms) and  4900 ft  (1500M) of climbing. We enter Scotland.  And maybe a little sunshine and a bit of a tail wind.

Terry