So we managed the outing at the weekend!
We took the route proposed, except going to Dunfermline, then to Alloa as recommended above.
There's a bit of a hill up to Dunfermline, but grand coming down the other side!
We managed to get lost in Pittencrief Park by going in the wrong entrance and discovered that Rex Park was closed to pedestrians and cyclists without any signposted diversions...
We were counted in (skewed!) a Sustrans survey at Cambus - the interviewer of course grabbed a couple of pictures, and noted that we were the only tourers in over 3 days of surveying. The section was heavily used by commuters though, including someone who drove from Edinburgh to Dunfermline, then commuted by cycle to Stirling (764/76) daily - 18 miles each way! Anyone here?
The 76 on the south side did have a few issues.
In Fallin some motorcycle prevention measures were also Pino prevention measures - the usual narrow gap, but with extra bits bolted on at handlebar height which might have been OK on most bikes but not the Pino. Even reared up the handlebars still didn't fit (cf conventional tandem where the handlebars would have been higher) and I had to play Tetris to get through.
There were some later building works here with clearly signposted diversions though.
The route out of Cowie was little more than a "sheep track", bouncing over rocks and avoiding the overgrown nettles.
Crossing the A876 at Airth was interesting - there is a footbridge with clear signage "footpath closed - use diversion" but no diversion. There didn't appear to be any option apart from going to the roundabout at the Kincardine bridge and then returning on the dual carriageway. We didn't fancy that, so we entered the building site, crossed the footbridge and let ourselves out of the temporary fencing. Now I know why touring cyclists recommend the inclusion of an adjustable spanner in their kit!
The route into Bo'ness is equally interesting - you're on a back road, then suddenly come upon some steps on the other side of the road. Yes, this marks the start of the cycle route past Kinneil House. Ruth complained about the mountain biking at this stage - mud path, roots, avoiding trees (see above re width of Pino!).
The new section between Blackness and Hopetoun House (officially to open on 20th September) was fun - wooded but a good quality path. We got snapped by a photographer here as we shot passed - hopefully he got a good action sequence!
However the deer gates at Hopetoun were a pain - the westerly one was worse than the one pictured, because there was much less room in the stile. I couldn't even roll the reared up Pino, instead having to hop it sideways.
For what it's worth, I'll alert Sustrans, but I know they rely on local authorities to actually provide and maintain the routes.
We were stopped for our final chocolate on the Union Canal and I sat smugly watching the passing cyclists - thinking "how far have they gone today?" - when a couple on solo bikes shot past with a cheery greeting. He was towing a two wheeled trailer with everything on it - they were clearly camping, not just credit card touring like us, which soon wiped out the smugness!
Ruth has already asked when our next outing will be, but I hadn't dared plan it until completing this one!
Robert
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