Turf Zone – StillCraggy
The past few days have been spent mostly hunting down turfer unique zones and picking off a few unique zones locally that have been created since I first turfed those areas. Holyrood Park in Edinburgh was one such area with four new zones. Weather was bright blue skies but a chilly wind. The place was heaving with tourists, most slowly climbing up from the car park aiming for the summit of Arthur’s Seat. And not a few were struggling with the climb and gave up part way. It was one of the crisp Autumn days when the cold wind chills you to the bone when exposed, yet you start to overheat when climbing in the more sheltered areas. On with the hat, off with the jacket, back on with the jacket and so on.
On the summit of Arthur’s Seat, as well as taking the zone of the same name, I spent some time looking for the best path to follow. I want to have another go at the Seven Hills of Edinburgh challenge and want to take photos of the bike at each summit. Here, it seems the easiest route is to ascend from Dunsapie Loch, go through the saddle between Arthur’s Seat and Crow Hill, then follow a relatively easy path that spirals up the hill to the right. This avoids the more tricky route that most people follow.
Turf Zone – DunsapieLoch
Yesterday morning saw me on the bus again, heading into Edinburgh for a trio of turfer uniques, including sparky63 at zone TheLondoneer, EdinKTB135 at RegentPark and teacup2.0 at zone NelsonHall, along with a few other zones along the route. Only issue I had was at zone RobertBurns, also held by EdinKTB135, where I just could not get the phone into the zone area. I’ve taken this zone without issue before.
The zone area appears to be within the fenced and locked enclosure surrounding the monument. Tried holding the phone through the fence on all sides, and also restarting the turf app but to no avail. I even contemplated climbing the fence. Eventually gave up and took RegentPark instead, which was also held by EdinKTB135. Have requested the zone area be enlarged to include the pavement and the grassy area to the west.
Turf Zone – StAnthonys
Yesterday afternoon, with the chilly air of the morning now warmed up, I was off to Penicuik on the bike, targeting another turfer unique by the name of TurfCookie and also a unique zone called FalklandFox. Started following the Musselburgh to Penicuik cycleway at Rosewell only to find the route fenced off and closed. However, other cyclists were coming through and some dog walkers advised me that while the route is closed you can still get through.
So, off I pedalled. Later on, at the viaduct, security fences had again closed off the route, held in place with heavy chains and padlocks, which means no lifting them aside to get through. However, it was easy enough to lift the bike across the low wire fences at the side. Met another cyclist on an e-bike and helped him lift his very heavy e-bike across. I guess situations like this highlight one of the disadvantages of a heavy e-bike.
Oh, almost forget, one other turfer unique this week. We were in Falkirk visiting the Next store to look at some sofas, that me and Cathryn/ChoccyMuffin, and we also included a nice walk around the area, mostly for Cathryn to get some uniques and me to tick off another turfer unique along the canal path, by the name of Walking4steps. Didn’t see any sofas we liked. Back soon.
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