I also struck out east but with a different route and destination.
Up Gilmerton Road and across the bypass to Dalkeith, cutting through the country park to come out at Whitecraig. I then took the main roads all the way to Longniddry - the dual carriageway was the hardest bit as it is the straightest and most exposed section into the headwind. Stopped in at the shop to pick up some lunch and then crossed the railway (footbridge) to pick up the Haddington railway path. Surface was better than I remember (apart from the odd section where whindust had been blown / washed / worn away, exposing the larger stuff) but there were so many flies in the shade of the hedging that I didn't stop to eat my lunch.
At Haddington I followed the NCN76 signs through the town and then along the river - this bit was just whindust that had been laid far too deep and not packed in. Not good for cycling on at all. But that bit didn't last too long and it was then onto the backroads past Traprain Law, Dunbarwards. At Hailes Castle I pulled in for lunch in the shelter of the old walls. Was very nice spot in the sun for a sandwich and some caramel shortbread.
From there it was under the A1 and through East Linton then East again to Tyninghame. There looked like a nice café in Tyninghame village but I wasn't in the mood for any more refreshments, so carried on down "Lime Tree Walk" to the bay. Wheeled / rode / carried the bike through the woods and around the headland to St. Baldred's Rock, then was possible to cycle over the compacted sand of the dunes - with the occasional ungraceful dismount when I ran into soft stuff!
From there it was a pretty straightforward follow the road to North Berwick, stunning views from the headland, out past the Bass Rock to Isle of May. Best view of IOM I've ever seen from the mainland actually. Took a photo or two of it sticking out through the haze but the camera batteries then went flat. Refuelled with a pint of 90 shillings at the Ship Inn at NB which, combined with the tailwind, made for a record run home. At Dirleton I turned left towards Drem then next right to take the back road into Aberlady, which has been recently resurfaced and was like a velodrome. Also much quieter than the main road through Gullane which was beginning to fill up with the endless convoy of day-trippers returning back from their day in NB or out for "a nice wee drive".
Went around the ash lagoons at Musselburgh, again nice new path been laid for about 2/3 of the way around since last time we were there. Although I would say it's pretty narrow and has some rather uncalled for right-angle doglegs in it. Last bit is still the compacted ash behind the sea wall.
Up the Esk path to the bridge, past the silly new gate, down NCN1 to QMU where I took the tunnel under the A1 and up to Millerhill. Flytipping up there worse than ever - lots of hacked up leylandii, the fly-by-night landscape gardeners have paid plenty visits. And then back home via the Innocent, stopping to check someone who appeared to have given up on cycling and life in general (turns out there was a big shard of glass poking out his tyre, decided after a discussion he would walk it home and fix it later).
I think this should have gone on the "I had a nice ride today thread".
Wildlife wise, Gannets at St Baldred's rock and lots of Goldfinches in the hedgerows east of North Berwick. And TOO MANY FLIES!
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