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Category: Bike Rides 2008
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Summer Hang's On

"Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Some trails are happy ones, Others are blue.
It's the way you ride the trail that counts,
Here's a happy one for you." ~
Dale Evans

The good weather brought 21 people out to this month’s Spokes Ride, which went to Linlithgow. A lovely autumn day for a bike ride, it started off cold, about 7 deg C at the start. Off road was certainly a little muddy as a result of the terrible weather on Saturday. So we followed a more tarmac alternative (especially as some people didn’t want to get their new bikes dirty!!) . Thanks to all those who turned up to make the ride a warm and wonderful experience. The blue sky has been a rare sight this year, we were fortunate to have one today.

The Painter

Thanks to Dave and Leo for supply of Tea/Coffee. Leo even had some of his paintings on view, you could buy 4 of his postcards for £1. See his website for more info, http://www.leodufeu.co.uk for more details.

The cycle path was showing off the last of its summer green and shade. From Cramond and through Kirkliston a NW breeze made cycling a little more challenging.

Once on the canal, we enjoyed shelter from the breeze again. After all, it does not matter how fast you go here, although its flat, I find it interesting. The surrounding landscape either enveloped you in dark green, or opened out a mixture of yellow wheat, brown with a touch on green from winter sown crops, or the blue sky reflected in the canal. Even the mud on the path colours your bike. Sometime gray, other times red.

Nature's Coloured the World, Enjoy.

On the way back, the temperature soared to 18 deg C, which was typical as we were going up hill. Who needs roadside art and red sheep, when nature paints walls of green and yellow, the skies are blue and the yellow sun shines down. In the distance, grey mountains could be seen, and the Ochils in front, dark green, and yellow fields flowed down to meet them. Once at the top of the hill, the ride down was fast and easy, especially when the wind is behind you and pushing you down the hills. As we headed home, what clouds had formed, melted away. And at Ratho Inn, enveloped by warm sun, blue sky and green vegatation, we had warming conversations.

As I headed home. A pale crescent moon slowly rose over the Pentlands. The sun was starting to sink behind me. Summer’s last kiss touched the back of my neck, Autumn returned, chill and cool.

The Excuse

Did you get moaned at for getting back late? Was the opportunity to stay out to much for you? Well when all was said and done, you can state, with smiling happy face, why you were late. “The sky was blue, the sky was blue.”

Warm Regards,

Explore, Dream, Discover

Ride Statistics

Distance:       64 km (39.8 miles)
Average Speed:  19.3 km/h (12 mph) (Max 47 km/h)
Total Climbing: 442m (1450 feet) (Max Height 159m)
Time:           3 hours 18 minutes
Max. Temp.:     18 deg C (64.4 deg F)

Route Description

Start:  Usher Hall
Out:    Fountainbridge, Roseburn, Silverknowes, Cramond Brig, Burnshot, Kirkliston, Niddry, Canal Path, Linlithgow
Return: Linlithgow, Dark Entry, Bridgend Farm, Faucheldean, Winchburgh, Niddry, Newbridge, Ratho, Canal Path
End:    Craiglockhart

Interactive Route Map

The map belows shows the route that we took on the October 2008 Spokes Ride.