It was the coldest morning so far with a
temperature of -4degC. The cycle track ahead was white and covered
in frost. Packing the tent away was like trying to screw up a sheet
of cardboard. A man who was walking his dog stopped to chat just
before I set off. His Scottish accent was so strong I could hardly
understand what he was saying. The track turned out to be OK to ride
on.
Forth Road Bridge
As soon as I reached the main A911 I decided to
stay on it and not continue along the track. In Milnathort I
followed the B996 south and through Kinross. The sky was still clear
but as I was cycling south the low sun was directly in my eyes and
also bouncing up off the road. My main worry was traffic coming up
behind me and being dazzled. At Kelty I turned right to follow the
road through the town. It was steep climb then a long steep descent.
Forth Road Bridge
At the junction at the bottom of the hill I
turned right on the B912 then a long climb over the M80 motorway. I
was on the outskirts of Dunfermline and for some inexplicable reason
the cycle track left the road and went down into a valley and
followed alleys through a housing estate. I was glad to get back on
the road and follow it to Inverkeithing. I started the long descent
over a fairly bumpy road to the junction with the main A90 road over
the Forth Road Bridge. Cycling over the bridge is my second main
objective of the ride. I followed the bus lane then path to the
lay-bye just before setting off across the bridge. I stopped at the
cycle track to remember back to 1966. On Sat 23 July 1966 while on a
Youth Hostelling cycling holiday with members of the Ribble Valley
Cycling Club I cycled over for the first time.
It was quite spooky as the cycle track was just
as I remembered it, except that then there was a very strong cross
wind. A stone tablet has the following inscription:
Her
Majesty the Queen accompanied by his Royal Highness The
Duke of Edinbergh First crossed this bridge 4th September 1964
The Queensferry Passage Named after Queen Margaret was thus
superseded after eight hundred years of continuous use
Forth Railway Bridge
== Queen Margaret of Scotland, also known as
Margaret of Wessex (1045 - 1093) married Malcolm III of Scotland
Around 1070, becoming his queen consort. She established a ferry
across the Firth of Forth for pilgrims travelling to Dunfermline
Abbey, which gave the towns of South Queensferry and North
Queensferry their names. ==
I thoroughly enjoyed my ride across and stopped
occasionally to take photos of the Forth Railway Bridge that was
completed in 1890. The rail bridge was the first major structure
in Britain to be constructed of steel; its contemporary, the Eiffel
Tower, was built of wrought iron. At the south end of the bridge
I left the cycle track to head into Queensferry. It was quite a
contrast as the track degenerated to a dirty unkempt way. I emerged
into a housing estate and onto the main road down to the harbour
area.
My bike half way over the Forth Road
Bridge
I stopped at a supermarket to buy some food
then continued the descent. At the bottom I turned right and onto a
cobbled road which was uncomfortable to ride on. I was back on
tarmac at the rail bridge but the cycle track was covered in ice so
I had to keep on the road. I headed up the B924 then along the cycle
track by the A90 and on to the Cramond Old Bridge. I was back on the
road through Barnton but had to be careful as there was still ice
about. Through a housing estate I eventually came to the cycle track
along to old railway. It was good riding and took me several miles
to emerge at Haymarket. Now I was back on the roads and traffic.
Inch Garvie under the Forth Railway
Bridge
Part of my route was back on cobbles but soon I
cycled along wide roads and impressive houses both sides. The nearer
to the city centre the busier it became. By Princess Street it was
very busy and after crossing the road I was at Edinburgh Waverley
Railway Station. It was just after 14:00 when I arrived. I bought a
£25 single ticket and had less than an hour to wait for the 14:51
Virgin train to Preston. This time the journey was without incident
or delays.
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Whittle Wanderer
