BADGER REACHES ST ANDREWS

St Andrews was reached this evening and I walked around the town. It has the ruins of a castle and cathedral, a sandy beach, a university, a harbour and an attractive lively centre. The North Sea shimmered in the setting sun. More well known is that it hosts a World class golf course.
Yesterday, badger and I crossed the Moorfoot Hills. We did not see them because of the wind and rain. I knew it because there was a hill 12 miles long. Badger was freezing and much preferred to be in his sett. It was a lonely road and I was first to find a woman who had just climbed out of her car that was upside down in a peat bog. Although obviously shocked, she appeared unhurt and then another car arrived. The driver took her to the nearest town. It could have been much worse.

My route took me through Edinburgh and over the Forth Bridge to last night's stop in Inverkeithing. The Forth Bridge was not as scary to cross as the Humber Bridge. It is not good to cycle over these bridges if you suffer from vertigo. Tomorrow I cross the Tay Bridge and this is closed to cyclists when it is windy.

Today was sunny and cold. There was a moderate headwind. Badger and I are now in hill country. The countryside today was again stunning with contrasting scenery from lowland arable farms to open moorland and forests. Loch Leven and the Lomand Hills made for stunning backdrops.

Edinburgh and the Forth has lots of history. Here is a lesser known fact. The first roll on/roll off ferry in the World started service in 1850 on the Forth. It was named Leviathon. It carried railway wagons loaded with coal, limestone, grain and whisky from Burntisland to Granton.

Tomorrow I leave for Dundee and Montrose. The forecast is fine but cold and there is to be a headwind.