Turf Zone – SelfStruggle
It’s been a while since my last turf blog, that was back in Turf Blog 14-05-25, when I took the new Trek Farley fat bike turfing along the East Lothian coast, collecting a few ticks along the way and to be honest I’ve not done much turfing since then, only a few sessions locally, more for the exercise that anything turf-wise. However, I did manage to add a few zones to the Edinburgh Roon mission while on trips into Edinburgh as well as a few turfer uniques but pretty poor show overall. Yet, when looking at my performance in those past few days, I have actually added another 15 turfer uniques to the collection, not bad going for this local and with the Edinburgh Roon mission, 10 zones added as well.
Oh dear, looks like I’ve lost my turf mojo again. What am I going to do? Cheer myself up with another bike? Hmm, better not buy another bike, might just equal a divorce. Maybe buy that 300bhp MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 I saw the other day? Hmm, perhaps not.
Anyway, I do enjoy riding the bike and from all the bikes I own, the fat bike, the chunky Brompton G Line, the standard 6-speed Brompton C line, the Sonder Broken Road off-road bike and the Ribble CGR SL gravel bike, the one I enjoy the most of actually Mr Bumble, the bumblebee yellow Brompton C Line I converted to single speed. Strange that, the smallest, quirkiest and least expensive bike I own is the most fun to ride.
However, sometimes things come along that rekindle that lost turf spirit. I’m referring to the first ever Scottish Turf Bonanza 2025, held in Edinburgh this coming weekend. And what got me interested again was the influx of foreign visitors arriving early for the Bonanza and each and every one of them is a turfer unique to me. So, off into Edinburgh this morning with Mr Bumble, the single speed Brompton.
Started at my usual parking area, Charterhall Road in the Blackford area, offering easy access to the south and the town centre. Yes, we do tend to call Edinburgh a town even though it’s the Scottish capital city. Managed to take a decent 16 different turfer uniques bringing my tally to a delightful 504. Also very pleased to have passed 500. Today’s collection included the following:
Grock, Turfmamma, Heureka, ellgesr, lönnen, Podde, mrcoolwhat, Moliso, BunnaB, Tempest, Pumac, Mani, Mr_Gixxer, Ribston, BonneLouise and MrJokerit.
But of course, hunting turfer uniques in not all plain sailing. Not only is there a fair distance to cover between them but there is always the risk of them being taken by Mr or Mrs A. N. Other before you reach them. I lost out on turfer unique Tanån at zone StookieGreek, which was taken by turfer JingsCrivens a few minutes before I arrived. The pesky TvT stats in Warded are sometimes slow to update and you think the zone is still a turfer unique but in reality, has already been taken. Perhaps I should pay more attention to the actual zone on the turf app rather than the delayed TvT map?
At Edinburgh castle esplanade I had to persuade the security to allow me access to the moat wall in order to take the zone. He was reluctant at first but eventually allowed me in, keeping a beady eye on me all the time. I explained all about turf and the Bonanza but I don’t think he will be a convert. Also lost out on another turfer unique on the Royal Mile, by the name of Grock. However, came across this one again down in Holyrood Park so another one off the list.
So, a good morning session in Edinburgh hunting turfer uniques. The TvT map was still showing other turfer uniques out to the west of the town but I’m hoping they will be in the city centre on Friday and over the weekend. Hope to bag a few more before the Bonanza finishes. More soon.
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