Skywatch Scotland 6

Two different views across Loch Leven , Kinross-shire on a glorious summer's day.

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Drookit at Innerleithen on Sunday

If you look very carefully at Baz's leg you'll see a minor scratch which he claimed was a major injury and proof of his bravado on the slippy slopes we encountered on Sunday at Innerleithen! "Drookit" by the way for the non Scots means bloody wet or soaking which is what we were in the heavy rain on Sunday morning.

Baz emerges from the undergrowth into the rain.

The Cycle path round Loch Leven

I'll describe the path from Vane Farm around the north shore of Loch Leven to Kinross as a cycle path and risk the wrath of all the folk who walk it rather than do the sensible thing and bike it!! (only joking by the way, don't want to upset the rambling fraternity!)

Did it on Saturday for the first time and though I was born and brought up there I saw the views round the loch in a completely different perspective from before. The journey from Findatie car park to Kinross was approximately 7.5 miles and the cup of coffee at the Bistro beside the pier at Kinross where the boat takes visitors to the Castle Island of Mary Queen of Scots fame was very welcome. On the way we passed by my birthplace at Grahamstone Farm where I emerged bawling and screaming into the world. On the return journey we did a short detour up the track to the Larder, another restaurant cum coffee shop and had an ice cream, well it was a warm day! The wild life would appear to co-exist with the walkers and cyclists as the birds seem unnerved by their presence and we even had a deer run over the path in front of us. Well worth a visit if you're ever in the area.

The Sluice Gates or "Sluices" as they are known locally, which control the outflow of water from Loch Leven.

Grahamstone farm where I was born with the Bishop Hill in the background.

A labradoodle we met en route to Kinross.

Looking across to the Castle Island from the pier at Kinross.

Skywatch Scotland 5

The Falkirk Wheel caught midway on one of the better days this summer.

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No blood spilt today (for a change)

This must be the first time for quite a few weeks that I haven't either spilt blood or bruised some part of my anatomy on a cross country ride. Probably the fact that I walked down one particular section that has been my Nemesis of late helped this! Heavy rain meant it was Glentress today which stands up to the wet better than Innerleithen even still we came home with an admirable amount of muck on our clothes to test the washing machines! Nearly 25 miles done today to continue the build up to Ten at Moray near the end of August.

The Red Devil!!

A sheer(ish) drop negotiated safely!

Riding the wall of death!

The bottom car park at Glentress showing how popular the sport of mountain biking has become.

Slight mishap to report

This was the result of an unintentional parting of the ways between me and my bike this morning, it could have been worse, the bike could have been damaged!

Skywatch Scotland 4

Not strictly Scotland this week but sunset at Sisi in Crete. The picture was taken by my daughter in law who is Scottish however!

You can see more skies at http://skley.blogspot.com/

Innerleithen when its wet and greasy!

Back down to Innerleithen again yesterday and compared to the last few times we've been there it was wet and very greasy due to the heavy overnight rain. After the climb to the top of Minch Moor we made our way along the Southern Upland Way to the Three Brethern before the drop down through very slippy singletrack to Yair. Clive was yet to be convinced of Henry the Hawk who patrols there and remarked that the only thing with wings that he'd seen was a butterfly he called Bertha. However Henry made an eventual appearance and though he was not quite as aggressive as before did a few impressive low flying passes with a wild banshee like squeal each time. I suffered quite a few mishaps on the ride and arrived back at the car with more than my fair share of bruises and scrapes, but no ride is ever successful without something to show for it!!

We did over 30 miles in quite difficult conditions but it was worth every ache!

"OK, just where does this so called hawk hang out?"

"Just down there a bit, it's got an eight foot wing span!!"

The twin chimney towers of Cockenzie Power Station, East Lothian look remarkably pollution free!

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Musselburgh to Longniddry by bicycle (slowly!)

Accompanied by my other half we cycled from Musselburgh harbour by cycleway to the outskirts of Longniddry today, a journey of 19 miles there and back. The sun shone most of the way and there was a very slight breeze with the result that we both burnt quite badly especially my head which hasn't much to protect it these days! We missed a school of dolphins by about 10 minutes which had appeared in the Forth just off Port Seton, just my luck as the camera was ready for anything of interest. The ice cream cone back at Musselburgh rounded off a good trip.

The little mermaid of Port Seton?

Colourful wall at the shore in Prestonpans

Don't know who built these chimney towers at Cockenzie but they don't look straight!

Skywatch Scotland 2

Peace and quiet on a high meadow in Midlothian

For more skies of the world go to http://skyley.blogspot.cm/