Turf Zone – HopetounView
A good session in Edinburgh last Tuesday, hunting down a small handful of unique zones as well as a couple of turfer uniques, namely, LilywhiteT and ravinous, both located in the south side of the city. I actually quite like the simplicity of only hunting down a handful of zones, not bothering too much about taking other zones along the way. Makes it more of a day on the bike enjoying the scenery and the ride, rather than clearing an area of zones.
Met friend Sheila, aka turfer HappyHibby, at Mortonhall and we stopped for a blether. And guess what the blether was about? Yes, you’ve guessed all things turf. You know the kind of thing. Once initial pleasantries are over straight into turf talk. Where we’ve been turfing, where we are going to go turfing, turfers we’ve encountered (both the good and the bad), then there’s the League, the Monument medal, and so on and so forth for ever and ever. Well, you know how it goes.
And what about today? Well, thought I’d venture into East Lothian to take a few unique zones and annoy the resident turfers. Okay, one in particular who shall remain nameless but I’m sure you can guess who. So, loaded up the bike and whizzed along to Haddington to begin my quest. My aim was to take around 30 uniques with a small handful in Haddington itself but with most of the others towards Gullane and along the River Tyne towards Hailes Castle.
Turf Zone – DremTrain
The day begins easy enough with the Haddington zones all easy to find and no challenging cycling. Even the solitary unique along the Haddington to Longniddry Railway Walk was easy enough, well, is was once I’d managed to find an access to the old railway line. Even the strong wind was no bother as the railway was fairly sheltered. It would not be quite so sheltered later on.
My next target zone involved some climbing, all the way up the Haddington Road, the B6973, to Byres Hill, home of the Hopetoun Monument and zone HopetounView, a Monument zone. Mind you the uphill slog was worthwhile as I also picked off another four uniques along the way. It’s not the most pleasant of roads to cycle with traffic whizzing by at silly speeds and gusts of wind trying to tip you over every time you pass a gate opening into a field.
At zone HopetounView, I wondered how many cyclists had made the effort to take this zone which has been taken 93 times by 38 different turfers. Then I wondered just how many simply drove there in a car, then walked up the hill to take the zone. Quite a lot I suspect, if not most. Then I wondered how many turfers might actually have cycled here, then chained up their bicycle to walk up and take the zone. Probably not all that many. Then I wondered how many daft turfers, cycled here, then rode/pushed/carried their bicycle all the way to the top of Byres Hill to take the zone. Only one I know off but perhaps there were others.
Turf Zone – Walk
Once I’d slithered me and my trusty steed back from the hill to the road, it was downhill towards Gullane, taking another five unique zones along the way. I cannot say I enjoyed this section. The traffic was totally crazy mental, 40-foot HGV’s stuffed full with cabbages thundering past, idiot drivers on the phone in fast cars squeezing in front of me at the last second just to gain a few more and then there’s the wind, gusting strongly from the west and again trying it’s best to tip me on my arse. No luck there I should add.
However, after that my next destination made good use of what was now a following tail-wind, giving me a nice push all the way to Drem, to take the zone at the railway station. Next zone was at the National Museum of Flight, so I set off along the B1377, only it wasn’t the B1377, it was a minor road leading towards Athelstaneford. Yes, a silly navigation error. It was also closed, with numerous signs and barriers stating just that. However, from past experience, I’ve found that if you are on a bicycle, you can usually find a way through. The reason for the road closure was major water works at Markle. No one took any notice of my passing.
Turf Zone – HailesCastle
My target zone at the National Museum of Flight was called TheAviator and it’s within the boundaries of the museum. You used to be able to access the grounds before you had to pay but not anymore. A manned gatehouse and barrier now require payment to enter. However, I explained what I was doing and the nice lady in the kiosk allowed me to cycle in and take the zone. She did ask me to promise that I would come straight back out again, which I did. I had originally planned to get a photo of the bike at the Avro Vulcan bomber but no chance of that today.
Next stop, East Linton, to follow the road back to Haddington, on the south side of the River Tyne, thus avoiding the muddy riverside path on the opposite side of the river. I’d taken those zones previously and was glad of the easy easier tarmac surfaces route back. Unique zones started at Hailes Castle which is still fenced off due to potential falling masonry but you can still take the zone from the grounds. Added another 11 unique zones to the tally.
Turf Zone – BearfordBurn
Overall, a good day on the bike turfing. My unique zones now sit at 2587, leaving only another 2413 for the next medal. Only 2413? Also unknowingly added another turfer unique, Orde02 but missed turfer unique idinnyken at Traprain Law. Should have been paying more attention. My turfer unique count stands at 402. Of the 687 zones in East Lothian, I’ve taken 647 of them, leaving only 40 remaining to take. 10 of them are along the John Muir Way between East Linton and North Berwick with the remainder well scattered across the region. I don’t see me getting zone TheBass, located on the Bass Rock anything soon. Keep on turfing.
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