crossing the forth bridge

Took me around 2 hours to get out of the city – this was the most miserable and unpleasing thing possible. So much traffic, so many roads, so many pedestrians – touring in a city is not for me – no way, not again.

Just on the outskirts of Edinburgh I cycled with a chap called Greg – he was a touring cyclist for around 30 years – he was well skinny! Anyway he was heading up to somewhere and I was heading somewhere else, but he offered kindly to show me some of the route to get over the Forth Bridge.  Oh my god he was so much faster than me – and he did a lot of this standing up riding – and well I lose my balance often doing this, so I was peddling like some crazy person trying to keep up with him – was knackered by the time we got to the bridge.

Asked him again where he was going – could he show me on my map. I actually had to pull open the map and open up the whole of Scotland to find his location – he was cycling for another 8hrs!! We parted at the Forth Bridge and I slowly made my way over.

After the Forth Bridge, the cycle track was really very nice. You can hear Edinburgh all the time – mustling in the background. The route was a lovely kind of walking type naturey nice thing – single track, nothing difficult – sun was shining (always helpful).

I arrived at the campsite I was staying at and pitched up for the night. Came back after getting some shopping at noticed some new arrivals – however, they were obvious pros at this camping stuff. Their tents were tight and well put up – I looked over at my sorry attempt of a tent pitching – it was all saggy and messy. I casually tightened up my guide ropes and changed some of my pegs bits about – seemed to help but thinking I’m such a joke.