I was in 2 minds about going out today, with a 30mph WSW wind and heavy showers predicted I was reluctant to chance it! After lunch I had a look outside in all directions and it looked brighter to the east so the thought of having that 30mph tailwind filled me with enthusiasm so I went for it! I think this was actually my easiest ride for a very long time, especially the first 28 miles with that awesome tailwind!
I had planned to head out to Dechmont and decide where to go from there depending on the rain clouds, when I reached the village I had a lightbulb moment and decided to continue east for another 8 miles and check out Edinburgh airport!
I arrived at the airport around 2.15pm and my average speed was 18.5mph, I was absolutely flying...excuse the pun!
I had set 3pm as my cutoff to head back home and my luck was in as the awesome Qatar A350-900 departed just before 3pm! I took loads of photos of course, Edinburgh is very scenic with the Pentland Hills in the background!
EasyJet A320 Neo landing!
British Airways A320 landing!
Jet 2 737-800 landing!
Aer Lingus ATR72-600 landing!
British Airways A320 Neo departing!
Ryanair Boeing 737 Max 8 departing!
Norwegian 737-800 landing!
A stunning view of the Pentland Hills in the background!
The star of the show for me, Qatar A350-900 departing!
It was now time to take on the wind all the way home, my first battery still had 76% remaining and I started with 90% so you can tell how much battery I used on the way to the airport! So I turned the assist up to level 2 and that pretty much negated the headwind on the flat for the first couple of miles! I grabbed these photos just as I was leaving the airport, I almost caught an EasyJet A320 landing in the same photo but I missed it by seconds...the River Almond runs alongside the airport!
So far I had managed to avoid the rain but it wasn't looking promising out to the west!
As I was approaching Winchburgh I could feel the rain in the air but it wasn't enough to even wet the road at this point, I continued west to Threemiletown and the rain started getting a little heavier and this time the roads were a bit wet! If I had continued west it would have taken me into Linlithgow, I decided to turn south towards Uphall despite it being darker that way but I wanted to avoid Linlithgow at all cost! I then turned west again on the back road to Beecraigs Country Park and thankfully the rain stopped, I made the decision not to take the road up to the park and opted to turn south towards Dechmont with the intention of using the back roads as much as possible!
At this point I was on Burnhouse road which is a cracking road and it was dry, its a proper rollercoaster road!
This is just before the big dsecent looking SE with the Pentlands way in the distance!
Time for the descent!
Just before Dechmont I turned west to take the quiet back road which would take me to Torphicen, its such a fun road to ride as long as you don't meet any tractors (its very narrow) and my luck was in today!
At this point things had cleared up and the roads were mainly dry, just before the big descent down into Torphicen I took this photo!
The descent is just sublime and in 2 parts, each as good as the other and the headwind played no part thanks to the tree cover! I was now heading for Westfield and just as I was passing the viaduct the sun made a welcome appearance!
When the sun came out the wind actually decreased significantly and the difference in temp was noticeable instantly, a short time later I turned north to take the back road into Avonbridge which starts with this awesome descent!
I had the road all to myself all the way to Avonbridge, where I switched to my second battery at 47 miles! So I had loads of juice left for the climbs ahead, my second battery only had 80% but that was way more than enough! I passed through Avonbridge and continued west towards Limerigg, the sun stayed with me for now and I grabbed a couple of nice snaps half way between Avonbridge and Limerigg!
As I neared Limeirigg the sun disappeared behind some dark clouds and it threatened to rain again, I stooped at the Black Loch for this photo!
I continued on to Cladercruix where I joined the cycle path that leads to Plains, it was rush hour now so I stayed well away from the main roads! I came across some nice horses on the path, another photo opportunity!
At Plains I took the back road up to the top of my home town to avoid the evening traffic and it worked a treat, arriving home soon after with a fraction under 60 miles in the bag so a little circuit near home brought up the 60 to satisfy my OCD...
My bike was filthy so I decided to wash it before dinner or I would have been washing it in the dark! It turned out to be a cracking ride and I didn't get soaked which was a real bonus, only 3500ft of climbing for 60 miles is unusual in these parts and I wasn't complaining!
I used to be a planespotter in the 80's and 90's but sort of got bored due to a lack of variety at Glasgow and Edinburgh in those days, Glasgow is still struggling but Edinburgh has really taken off (excuse the pun again)
and they are getting some really nice planes these days, including 4 United 757's daily until recently which are one of my favourite aircraft!
I really enjoyed my 45 mins or so at the airport and will probably make a habit of returning when the weather suits!
@Prairie Dog The Mt Fuji photos have me salivating!