Conditions were perfect for a late evening turfing session on the Trek Farley fat bike at Aberlady Bay Nature/Naturist* Reserve in East Lothian. Warm weather hovering around the high teens and into the 20’s, just enough breeze to keep you cool and a low tide around midnight gave me plenty of time to explore the sand flats revealed by the retreating tide. No chance of a full moon tonight, that’s long past with the next one on 10th July but this time of year is peak season for noctilucent clouds, high altitude clouds right on the edge of space and only lit up when the sun is well below the horizon. Fingers crossed.
My plan was to ride out to the two zones at the midget submarine wrecks, SubWreckOne and SubWreckTwo, picking off zone SandySocks located by the sand spit, along the way. I also wanted to take zone DuneWithAView, then follow the shore to zone TheOldMan, out at Gullane Point, then climb up across the golf course to zone GullaneHill, located, yes, you’ve guessed, on Gullane Hill. I decided not to go for the two zones in the grass areas, that’s PillBoxWW2 and ItWorks0Tanks, because this takes you through prime tick hunting ground and I’ve collected enough ticks this year already to last a lifetime.
Passing the official parking area for the reserve, I noticed only one vehicle which suggested the area would be quiet, all the better for encountering wildlife, which is more active after all the humans have departed for home. My preferred parking spot isn’t the above car park, I much prefer the access at quarry corner, on the bend just before Gullane. It’s actually an access for the water treatment works. Much quicker to get out onto the sands from there.
Surprisingly chill air greeted me as I freewheeled along the access road, the rear hub whirring away like a mad thing. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a silent freewheel? Actually, I was close to slipping my jacket on and wondering if I’d read the weather forecast correctly. However, once lower down and onto less exposed ground the expected warmth was there. Good. Plenty of roe deer alongside the road, some running away, other standing still and watching me until I was out of sight. And rabbits everywhere, a veritable Watership Down of them. One rabbit, who I nicknamed Thumper, was drumming his back legs to warn other rabbits of my presence.
You know, I’m zooming along the track, or should I say floating along the track, on the Farley’s big fat tyres and I’m thinking how wonderful this is. And yet I’m the only one here tonight. Just me, and the rabbits, and the deer. Actually, that just how I like it. No-one about to see what I get up to, only the usual Turf-TV addicts keeping an eye on my silly o’clock antics. I was even able to ride the soft dry sand all the way to the shore. Amazing.
Now, with the open sand flats before me, time to get ready. One thing I should point out about coastal fat biking is that you will inevitably get wet, at least wet feet, if nothing else. To counter this, I’ve adapted the flat pedals to allow me to cycle barefoot. Keeps the shoes and socks dry until later. My shoes were strapped to the bike frame meantime until the rear rack arrives. Thankfully, at this time of year the puddles and flows left by the retreating tide are quite warm. Quite pleasant actually. Another tip is not to ride too fast and throw up buckets of wet sand and water.
Turf Zone – SubWreckTwo
First zone was SandySocks and I noticed that the sand spit is much closer to the zone now. About 10-years ago, this sand spit barely existed and in a few years’ time, as the sand spit grows steadily, the zone will actually be on the sand spit. Next, straight across towards the two zones at the midget submarine wrecks, stopping to snap a photo at the remains of some poor soul’s car, the upper bodywork taken by wind and wave but still clearly once someone’s pride and joy. Next, zones SubWreckOne and SubWreckTwo, and after far too many photos taken, continuing along the sands towards Kilspindie. I thought I might be able to get zone CraigielawPt but, in the descending darkness, I was unable to determine the depth of the channel cut by the Peffer Burn and decided not to chance it.
Turf Zone – DuneWithAView
Zone DuneWithAView was next and what a view it is. Even in the growing darkness, there was still enough light to warrant a photo, or two, or three. The lights of Edinburgh and the coastal towns of Fife twinkling in the warm air. But there’s sounds as well. A rose deer barking in the grass behind me, crickets chirping to attract a mate, the faint throb of a big marine diesel engine out in the Firth of Forth. It’s one of those locations, at time like this, when you wish you could stay the night, camp out and greet the dawn. However, still two zones to reach, TheOldMan and GullaneHill.
Zone TheOldMan was easy enough but zone GullaneHill, as the name suggests, requires more effort. And leaving the sand behind, it was back on with the sandals and across the fairways and rough of Gullane golf course. It takes a bit of thought to cross the golf course, seeking out the greenkeeper tracks and avoiding greens and bunkers. I was pleasantly surprised how well the Trek Farley was able to climb the hill. I wasn’t even out of breath by the time I reached the top and bagged the zone. Finally, an easy downhill back to the car and home.
Turf Zone – SubWreckOne
*Delete as appropriate depending the time of day and how hot and sunny the weather has been.
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