With a forecast that was 'improving', I went off out on the bike. Fueled by granola and tea, it was off west on the cycle paths at a gentle rate. A heading wind, you see, so I thought I'd go warily and throw caution to the tailwind on the return journey. I crossed under the city by pass at Edinburgh Park and then had a brief skirmish with the public highway before opting for the canal tow path. (With a head wind, it's much more sheltered and easier than doing battle with the breeze, esp as it's uphill)

With the Cigs stumbled across just on the county line, I pushed on to Livingston and skulked about on Nettlehill Road; I spent a year in a van here reading War and Peace in  about - 2004? It's not changed much; so I took some photos and then wound my way through the modern version of back to backs that is Craigshill and onto Almondvale. A flat white later, I bought Tom a Vans hoodie (£16) and Adidas boots (£10) and was summonded to apply fake tan. 
Route 75 is entertaining; it may have been better suited to a MTB but fun nonetheless. but not as fine as my favourite 2 miles of road to cycle. From Drumshoreland, screaming round the blind corner at the farmhouse and the downhill sprint to the hump back bridge over the canal with the 90 degree left immmediately afterwards; another 50 yard sprint down hill and another sharp right under the railway bridge and across the M8; and the final 90 degree sweeping right hander (loose gravel - beware!) and onwards! All a tout vitesse; sun shining, down hill, tail wind, biiiiig smile on my face. 3 minutes of the biggest gear got me onto the A89 and then the A8; shifting into town channelling my inner Tony Martin.

Tan applied it was straight back out to Asda at a much more realistic pace; another flat white and an equally leisurely return to hers; dropped the shopping and went off to deliver the birthday bounty - he was thrilled. 

A shower and a change of clothes and back off to meet her at Hanam's; she had a couple of hours to kill before going to see her lass at the Story Telling Centre.
The menu has changed and they're now charging corkage but still tasty and relaxing and good; we strolled down the High St for 2045; I kissed her tenderly on the cheek and went to grab the bike; clocking up the final few KM to get to 100 for the day and in to catch up on the World Cup with a cup of tea