Hawthorn.

Fortunately, the sun shone on the brave today. On the last day of the Lothians cycle-fest, I was back-marker on a twenty mile run around the tracks and minor roads of Mbra and Midlothian. We stopped for lunch at the Dalkeith country park, in a field full of wonderful old hawthorns and oaks. The trees appear to be unmanaged, so I didn't join those sitting underneath their branches to eat my play piece. I used to go camping, the worst mistake you can make is to pitch your tent under an old tree, large lumps falling off them is the main cause of death to those sleeping under canvas.

This hawthorn is either several trees that have merged into one or, one tree that has branched out from its base; My bet is on the former.

In the evening, we had a cycle powered cinema, it was a big mistake. Since the projection and sound systems are powered by sweaty cyclists, it is held outside. At this time of year, the evenings are light so that it's difficult to see the picture, there are plenty of midges and it is rather cool. To keep warm you have to volunteer to provide the electricity, in which case you do get very sweaty indeed; that comes after a day of cycling, so I had just had a bath and put on clean clothes. The other little detail is, that the saddle on the bike I was using was not at all comfortable.

The film shown was "Sunshine on Leith," from my point of view, it is a film without any redeeming features although it was popular when we showed it in Penicuik. Its theme song is used by the local football team, Hibs, who, much to the delight of Hearts fans on the other side of town, have just been relegated after a disastrous season.

If we run the rally again, I might just give the cinema a miss.