Day 7 of JoGLE – Kinross to Livingston via Edinburgh
A month ago I parked up for a night near Lochinver. As I was cooking dinner, a couple of cycle tourers who I’d already driven past arrived and set up their tent on the hill behind me. They had tent setting up to do, I was busy eating and we didn’t speak, sometimes that’s just the way it goes.
3 days later I headed to a picnic area and when I got there noticed two bikes, the bikes of those tourers. When they came back, we talked and swapped travel plans and stories. They also gave me their phone number and said if I needed anything on my way past Edinburgh on my ride then to get in contact with them.
I didn’t need anything. I’d stopped the day before with friends so had clean clothes, was showered and ready to carry on. Edinburgh was also a detour that I’d been toying with. I’ve never been there and wanted to go, but detours on a 1000mile ride need to be considered carefully. Need and want are two very different things though, I wanted to meet up with these people who are mad enough to cycle tour and wild camp on hugely hilly roads in all sorts of weather. They’re the sort of people who inspire my trips places. So at a days notice, I sent a text to see if we could meet up. I was genuinely excited when I got a reply.
The climb out of Kinross was a slow drag but my legs felt good after a days rest, the sun was shining and I was happy to be on my bike. It was 20 miles to the Forth road bridge, a mile section that has played on my mind more than any other of the ride. I’m really not a fan of bridges. I don’t like walking, driving, or riding across them and the Forth one is huge. But it was a busy day, plenty of people around and clear blue skies – I sailed across it without thinking, a bit of a relief. I was disappointed to note that there was no one painting it.
8.5 miles after the bridge I’d been told to look out for a bike with a blue basket and a bike with grey and yellow pannier bags. I couldn’t miss them and I was guided into Edinburgh before we spent the afternoon in the sun in a park in the centre of the city.
I would happily have stayed longer but I had 17 miles to go to Livingston. I must have missed a signpost and the 17 somehow turned into 23 but I didn’t care. The sun was still shining and I’d had a fantastic day.
Thank you to Heidi and Mark for looking after me so well and for being such good company for the afternoon, I’m so glad we managed to meet up.
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