Help with coast to coast cycle - Irvine to Musselburgh

[Scoosh]

Haha @Pat "5mph" has all the answers

You can't begin to know the reality ... unless you've met our Pat !

 

[dianelc]

Haha I think I'm getting the idea

 

[Scoosh]

@dianelc - as I said up thread, I'm aiming for the Linlithgow Canal Centre for 1100. It's about 1 hour for you and a wee bit more for me, so I'll head off around 0930 and see you there ! Txt me if you're going to be earlier and I'll detour to the canal path at Philipstoun and head towards Liligow from there.

See you tomorrow !

 

[dianelc]

That's brilliant will text you when we're leaving the wheel. Forcast is dry again so should be good . See you tomorrow.

I will recognise you being the one with the trailer on the back for your phone

Can you tell I've found the imojies

 

[Scoosh]

If it's not too nippy, I'll have a CC top on with a yellow cap - otherwise a yellow rain jacket and a yellow cap.

 

[dianelc]

Great. I'm sure you will spot us a mile off. There didn't seem to be any amateurs on the paths yesterday.

Nathan will have a yellow jacket and mine is pink. We don't cycle fast enough not to feel the cold so you better might need your jacket on

 

[flake99please]

I've just finished work. I sense a small convoy.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Well? Are you all in the pub having a pint? Apart from Nathan, of course, our hero deserves the biggest cake ever!

 

[Scoosh]

I've just finished work. I sense a small convoy.

I'm afraid your/our convoy got a bit delayed. Turns out people who live in Falkirk and even those who work at the Falkirk Wheel** believe that 'there is only one canal', so my 'main body' to be escorted started off by going to see the Kelpies - which was very nice but unfortunately, in completely the wrong direction. I pootled along the right canal and met them at Polmont, to proceed to Linlithgow (where the Canal Centre is Closed until March next year) and the Park Bistro, where we (the riders and their travelling entourage/support/paparazzi) stopped briefly for lunch. We continued on into light drizzle, which soon stopped, then started again between Ratho and Harrison Park. Leamington Bridge was the next RV with the paparzzzi - where we caught them off guard, coming out of the bright sun . Gilmore Place had about 1 car on it so we were quickly and safely across the Meadows and I managed to find the Innocent Railway and then it was a lovely downhill run to the steps over the railway and the wonderful path down Daiches Brae to the main road and a 5 minute run to the finish at Fisherrow, arriving about 5.15.
Young Nathan rode long and strong, never complained (to me, at any rate but I don't think he is a complainer ) ate, drank and comfort stopped well and kept up the good pace we needed to finish before dark.

It really was a great privilege to ride with such lovely people, so my thanks go to the Initiator , his delightful Mum and all the family who made me feel so welcome into 'Team Nathan'. Well Done, young man ! and !

I have but 2 concerns:

1. riding on the canal paths is not very sociable - they are too narrow to ride side-by-side and are, frankly a bit boring after the first 5km
2. what is he planning next ?

**somewhere, they seem to have missed the purpose of the Wheel ...

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Oh no! Our fault: did nobody mention the upper canal to @dianelc?
I was sure it's signposted before you enter the wheel!
So did they end up at the Kelpies then had to turn back?
At least they got to see them.
Well done team Nathan!

 

[Scoosh]

Oh no! Our fault: did nobody mention the upper canal to @dianelc?
I was sure it's signposted before you enter the wheel!
So did they end up at the Kelpies then had to turn back?
At least they got to see them.
Well done team Nathan!

Not your fault at all, @Pat "5mph" - as I said, even the locals didn't know there are 2 canals !!! Diane asked if this was the route to Edinburgh - which it was, if you wanted to go via the Kelpies ... and Yes, they got to the Kelpies before appreciating that this was not the right way (Nathan claims he knew it was wrong ...) ... I suspect young Nathan just wanted some extra miles

 

[Brandane]

Well done Nathan , and his Mum , and the support team/convoy/press liaison . A brilliant achievement!

 

[dianelc]

haha. I have enjoyed a lovely cold glass of wine and we are currently awaiting a takeaway from our favourite Dalkeith Indian (Nathan's choice) although I think he has consumed 3 times the calories he burned in sugar along the way. Nathan has visited his friend that was one of his motivations to do the coast to coast (visit his friend while raising over £1800 for Anthony Nolan. I think his sense of humour was lost on our wee detour that added an extra few miles before we started today. But he was smiling by the time we reached the meadows lol.

No need to apologise @Pat "5mph" i did see on the map that the cycle route continued up the hill, but when several locals told me I was wrong I thought they would know best . We did get to see the kelpies tho and that made it obvious we were on the wrong path. Worth it for the photos.

@Scoosh went beyond the call of duty, giving up his full day to make sure Nathan got to complete his challenge today. I can guarantee I would have had us posted "lost in Edinburgh" with a finish time sometime tomorrow. It was great to get lots of helpful advice from an experienced cyclist which we has taken onboard. And he is of course just a genuinely great guy.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to helping Nathan complete his challenge your messesages and support have been invaluable. What a fantastic forum with fantastic people.

Photos to follow

 

[Scoosh]

Not really - just a CC regular who likes to help out when he can.

I believe the total raised is upwards of £2,000 too - so many others reckon Nathan is a

With so many people having pledged their hard-earned, we couldn't let him off with not getting to the end !

.. and thank you for your kind wurds.

 

[fimm]

I'm very glad to hear that you made it safely!
Well done everyone