A quiet night with the exception of the noisy call of a fox.
Although I don't have many miles to ride today I still decided to
get off early and was packed up and wheeling my bike along the
riverside path before 7 a.m. I reached the road and started my ride
up the long steady climb. Being Sunday morning it was extremely
quiet with no cars for quite a while. I generally find this in
Scotland on a Sunday morning as I assume the Scots enjoy their
lie-in.
Entering Fyfe
At the top of the hill I was on flat ground and soon reached the
main A977. Thankfully my route was not along it and I crossed over
to the B913 on the far side. The ride was very pleasant on the
gently undulating road but the overcast weather I'd had previously
continued. For the next few miles I caught the occasional glints of
the Firth of Forth on the horizon. I reached the village of Saline
and as I climbed out up the steep hill to the east I took a minor
right hand turn past the golf course. After a left hand bend I was
at the top of a long descent and had an excellent view out to the
Firth of Forth.
Aloa & Dunfermlin cycle track
I was able to free wheel for over a mile before taking a minor road
to the right and joining the main A907 into the village of Carnock.
I turned off through a small housing estate and along a narrow lane
with a sharp right then sharp left hand bend. There was a very short
but very steep hill to climb before an equally steep descent down to
the old railway which is now a cycle trail. I stopped on the bridge
to look down at the excellent tarmac surface then rode round to stop
by a bench where there was a rubbish bin where I could get rid of
mine.
Aloa & Dunfermlin cycle track
As I took a few photos a man parked his car at the path access and
began to walk his dog along the railway route. He stopped to chat
for a while and suggested I try a drive-through bakery in
Dunfermline. I thanked him and he continued his way to the east. I
soon set off heading the same way and we waved as I passed by and
road the next couple of miles to the outskirts of Dunfermline.
Although my route was to the right I took his suggestion and turned
left to find the drive through bakery where I went into the shop and
to see what was on offer. There were some tasty looking scotch pies
for 97 pence so I asked for one. The young lady asked me if I would
like it hot and I said yes. She popped it in the microwave for a few
seconds and tried to charge me an extra 20p for heating it up. She
made no mention of this earlier. I said I would have a cold one for
97p bought it and ate it outside. It wasn't particularly good and
gave me heartburn. I returned the way I come and re-joined my
continuing rout. The route continued generally on the line of the
old railway with some stretches of road to connect it.
The Forth and Queensferry Road Bridges
Inverkeithing then
Inverkeithing now
It avoided the centre of Dunfermline so I missed any views of the
town centre. To the east I turn right to follow the road heading
south to Inverkeithing. I recognise this as a route I've taken some
years before when I was riding South from Kinross. As I approached
Inverkeithing I had an excellent view of the new Queensferry Bridge
which replaces the Forth Road Bridge which was opened in 1964. The
route continued through the centre of Inverkeithing and I stopped to
take a few photos.
Queensferry Bridge towers
Crossing the Forth Road Bridge
I descended the long hill and then under the railway to join the
cycle track that climbs up to the start of the Forth Road Bridge. As
I started my ride on the eastern cycle way I stopped briefly to take
a picture of the railway bridge. The main carriageway is now
reserved only for buses taxis and authorised vehicles. I continued
over the bridge and turn left at the buildings on the south side to
ride through the housing estate and descend the steep road down into
Queensferry. Part way down I stopped at the Scotmid superstore to
buy water.
The Forth Railway Bridge
I went inside but the 2lt bottles had sold out and all that was left
was overpriced 1 litre bottles. The price of bread etc was generally
very high so I checked on my phone to see that there was a Tesco not
too far away. I had to return the way I come and climb up the steep
hill to the roundabout where I turned right to the new large Tesco
store. Inside I was able to get water at 17 pence per 2L and some
other food as well. I returned again and descended down into
Queensferry to turn right at the bottom of the hill and onto the
cobbled street. It was still very early and still morning so I took
my time and sat on a bench to eat some bananas while looking out at
the bridges across the Forth. Just before riding under the railway
bridge I stopped at the pier jetty to ask the lady who was taking
bookings for boat tours if this was the jetty used for the car ferry
before the road bridge was built. She said it was. I left the road
to take the rough trake that follows the coast and is also the cycle
way. Being a Sunday there were lots of people out walking and I was
constantly using my bell. To warn of my approach. It didn't take
long to reach Hound Point where I left the track and wheeled my bike
through the ferns and grass to a lovely flat spot looking across the
Firth of Forth. I have camped here on previous occasions. This is
where I stayed in February when I celebrated my 70th birthday.
Unfortunately as I was pitching the tent and pushing the single pole
through the sleeve one of the sections snapped. The pole wasn't bent
more than usual and I can only assume it was metal fatigue. The pole
bag has a spare section in it and also a temporary repair sleeve
which I used to slide across the snapped section to allow me to
reinsert then and pitch the tent correctly. I will probably need to
buy another sectional pole to replace this one as it is fairly bent
in places after many years of constant use.
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Whittle Wanderer
