We had the luxury of not only being at home in our own bed, but also of knowing we had a great forecast for today so nothing need be hurried for rain or any other schedule! A sunny breakfast in our own back garden and a lazy departure of 10.30 - luxury!
Because we know the Edinburgh routes so well we chose NOT to follow the JMW cycle route over Heart Attack (Corstorphine) Hill and down the other side on Suicide Slope —and instead we went our own favoured route over Maybury and down to the Water of Leith.
Once we got to Murrayfield (and saw rugby teams training for the first time since lockdown) we still managed to find new pathways, all enjoyable on a bonnie day. Allotments, the canal, swans, a dredger. Since the weather was fine there was plenty of time to take photos. ALSO we took along another phone to take photos as our own phones are busy mapping our route, firmly attached to the bike so it is a pain unhooking them every time!
Once we found the Innocent Railway we were back on known territory, heading out to Musselburgh. We stopped at the Brunson Theatre Bistro for a take away sandwich and then headed out along the coastal path to find a nice seat with a view across the Forth.
The path stuck very much to the coast and we passed through the the Mural Trail at Prestonpans, the delightful fishing harbour of Port Seaton as well as the contrasting dismantled coal based power station of Cockenzie.
The Coal Grinding Rings at Cockenzie
After this the train winds along through the fisher houses, and eventually we ignored the official trail and bumped down onto the flat sea wall built low on the seashore. A super, flat ride IF the tide is out.
Eventually we had to come back out onto the road along the Seton Sands Holiday Park all looking nice and trim and busy. While were were allowed on the pavement here we were soon forced onto the road, along past Longniddry Bents and towards Aberlady. This was perhaps the worst section yet of the whole JMW - a busy road and absolutely no relief for cyclists. Walkers can send their way on a sandy path but it is not good for bikes. We tried! Eventually we came onto a cinder path which took us past Craigielaw Golf Club and into Aberlady much more safely and pleasantly. We got to Ducks Hotel at about 3.15 and spent a very nice afternoon sitting in the sunshine and watching the world go by.
