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The most annoying thing about last
night's attack on my tent is that the bottle that hit it was still
lying on the ground and I'd have to carry it out. It was a clear
morning and the sun felt warm as I wheeled my bike back up to the
Arria statue. I was able to take some more photos with the sun
coming from the opposite direction from yesterday. |
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Arria
yesterday afternoon |
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I returned to the lane I'd approached
from yesterday then along a cycle path through the adjacent housing
estate to cross over the M80 by the footbridge. |
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I then followed the roads around
Cumbernauld wanting to get away from the place as soon as possible.
The cycle trails were strewn with broken bottles as were some
sections by the road. Some of the housing blocks looked like a
depressed Russian town. It's no wonder the youth of the town feel
the need to throw things at strangers passing through. It was a
two-time winner of the Carbuncle Award 2001 & 2005. |
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Lovely
border on the canal.
Maintained by the local residents. |
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I was glad to find Walton Lane which
is a delightful ride through the countryside which then descends
under the railway where the M80 goes then to a short cycle track
down to rejoin the Forth and Clyde canal. It was such a wonderful
relief to begin riding along the towpath, through the sunny
countryside and leaving Cumbernauld behind. I continued to Falkirk
where I stopped on the outskirts to take a couple of photos of the
Falkirk Wheel on the canal. I was soon in the centre of Falkirk
where there is junction with the Grangemouth branch of the canal. |
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Figures
from Falkirk's history.
Dr Harold Lyon
Reginald Adams
& Rober Barr |
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This is the length I followed to the
canal basin on the outskirts of Grangemouth where the two huge horse
head structures called The Kelpies are located. They were also by
Andy Scott and even more impressive than Arria. Seeing a photo of
the Kelpies is no substitute to being there and standing under the
immense structures. |
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First
view of The Kelpies |
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The Kelpies by
Andy Scott |
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I was very fortunate to see them in
lovely sunny conditions. I followed the canal towards the Firth of
Forth then along the road through Grangemouth and the large areas if
industrial buildings and refinery pipelines. |
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I found these fascinating. I followed
the roads to Bo'ness where I stopped to look at a Motor Museum by an
undertakers. I went in but there was a hefty admission charge so I
left. On to Blackness I called at the castle to enjoy a sit down and
a brief bite to eat. |
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Cycle
track through West Shore Wood |
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First
view of the three Forth bridges |
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Two Road
Bridges and the Rail Bridge behind |
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The new
Road Bridge under construction |
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I returned to the village then the
cycle trail. I was concerned about the first bit because it was
across a field. Further on was a nice track through the trees then
some annoying diversions around a stately house where presumably
they don't want the peasants getting too close. Eventually I emerged
onto the roads and the start of the ride over the Forth Road Bridge.
I'd planned to ride the west cycle route as I'd not been on that
side. Annoyingly it was closed and only opens briefly at weekends. |
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It was difficult getting my bike down
the steps, through the underpass and up the steps on the other side.
I thoroughly enjoyed cycling over the Forth Road Bridge for my
fourth ride over. |
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The first was 49 years ago.
Through Inverkeithing I descended to the north shore of the Forth
and followed the cycle track for a while. I left it in Dalgety Bay
to find the Asda Store to buy some water for my camp then rejoined
it along Dalgety Bay. |
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St Bridget's Kirk |
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At the end of the cycle track I
reached St Bridget's Kirk which is a ruin surrounded by a well
manicured graveyard just above the shore. It dates from around 1170
and fell into disuse in 1830 when the roof was damaged. I left the
sea and headed up to the Fife Coastal path which is actually a road.
It took me to Aberdour where I explored a narrow lane to the ruins
of Aberdour Castle. |
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It was expensive to get in so I
returned to the road and continued along the coast. The track was
undulating and rather narrow in places. To my left was the railway
line and my plan was to camp near the shore before the track crosses
the railway line. Fortunately I found a flat area of undergrowth
before the track crossed the railway via an underpass. Just below
was a shingle beach along the Firth of Forth. |
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A bottle
of beer as a treat for my tea |
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Return to
Whittle Wanderer
