Beautiful Bike Ride

Its summer, or close enough. So on the third Sunday of the month I run a longer Spokes Ride, starting earlier. The summer weather has obviously not attracted enough people, only three people, including me, are at the Usher Hall. One of them isn't a Spokes Ride regular, he is Willem, from the Netherlands, but he has been sent by a person who has been on a few Spokes Rides.

This long ride starts by heading west, straight through West Lothian to Muiravonside Country Park for the lunchtime stop. During lunch I show the route we'll be taking back. They're not impressed, as Livingston looms large.

The afternoon involves continuing west to Avonbridge, then south through Armadale to join National Cycle Route 75, turning off to head south through Seafield and West Calder. At the end of the B7008, we turn left on to the A70 to return to Edinburgh.

On the A70, we stop above Harperrig Reservoir. The cattle seem to be heading home . There are dark clouds behind us. Willem turns to me and says ""When you showed me the route we were taking in the afternoon, I didn't think it would be so beautiful".