setting the heather alight

21/03/15
What started as a rather unpromising day out turned into a brilliant afternoon. Mary (who has written it up here) was initially in a foul mood, being upset that an old radiator problem that took several trips to the Citroen Man to fix, may have flared up again. That red light on the dashboard meaning lots of peering under the bonnet and driving everywhere with a large bottle of water in the back. So rather than invite friends along we headed to the Lammermuirs on our own, in case hasty retreats had to be made or we didn't actually make it there.

Blinkbonny Woods near Long Yester

Although the plan was to do about 20 miles, we might turn around early or decide to change things about. The suggestion of an early pitstop at Carfraemill was met positively and underlined the rather relaxed approach to speed and distance today. So although the sun seemed to be poking it's head out between clouds the day did not start well. It was quite chilly and the wind was blowing in the wrong direction - well different from the forecast. But as soon as we began the 2 mile climb up towards Lammer Law, we warmed up and Mary even took a layer off. My gloves and buff stayed on but only just.

The farmer was out burning off the heather.

After the climb over Lammer Law there is an undulating descent to the road then about 2 or 3 miles along to Carfraemill.

Although it seems pretty here I didn't really enjoy this section and the thought of the Edinburgh Marathon and the obligatory tarmac training in the next 10 weeks was weighing heavily.

This wee bunny took cover at the side of the road.

So about 8 miles into it and we pop into the restaurant there for a coffee and shortbread. Slightly overpriced: £7 for 1 coffee a piece and one circle of (delicious) shortbread each. But then again it was well worth the caffeine hit that fuelled the next couple of road miles before the left turn back in to hills for the return leg.

Everything improves from this point. No more fast traffic overtaking on pavement-less roads, no more dead things at the side of the road. And the roads get smaller and prettier. High as a kite Mary was doing a dreadful rendition of some rock and I was taking photos of EVERYTHING. 495 images by the end of the day, with just over 1 in 10 making the blog. It really helped the sun came out, the clouds dispersed and the wind dropped making for perfect running conditions. 

Quiz question number one: what is going on with the lighthouse on top of the hill. I assume it is a trig point with a metal plaque reflecting the sunlight - didn't notice it till I saw the photo at home. We never climb this hill but take the ramblers path turning right (and following the valley) at the end of this long straight.

The sheep near the car park at Long Yester were already lambed but these ones and all the others up the hills were still heavily pregnant and so we were trying not to excite them. But they seem to enjoy standing in the way then acting up when you get near or run past. 

Frog or toad spawn.
There is a stream running alongside the path and twice crossing it. This can cause problems and often in the winter there are long stretches of muddy puddles and waterlogged sections that require careful navigation. Today although there were puddles (some harbouring spawn as above) they were limited and easily avoided. Not so the 2 crossings.

I think this is the second and I tackled it by running up the upstream trail that covers some rough ground before you come to a narrow section easy to jump across. Mary preferred the more labour intensive shoes-and-socks-off method reporting the stones sharp and the water hurty cold.

I waited along the trail until Mrs. Smiley-face caught up.

Bunny's Lodge.
The main path diverges around here. Normally we turn right up a very steep long climb which goes on for ages until it eventually fizzles out at a turning circle and you have to cross a lumpy sodden field to get to the windfarm where you turn left and head back towards Lammer Law. Today we decided to turn left and run past the lodge (another stream crossing where M nearly overeached a step out into the water) and then up the path to pick up the road that travels alongside the pylons eventually meeting the windfarm-to-LammerLaw path. The idea behind this was to clip 2 miles off the route from 22.5 to 20.5 and miss the long harsh climb. We didn't know for sure that this would work out but guessed it should. It did.

This puddle spawn was in danger of drying out.

Through the window of Bunny's lodge.
Quiz 2: what is the subject of the informative book on the table? Answer in a future blog.

After more undulations we met the road that runs alongside the pylons. We had crossed the top of this road many times and thought it must cut the corner of our usual route but you never know how these things will pan out until you try it. We stopped here for some snacks and a fence post selfie.

love the heat ripples

I saw these flies, enjoying the lack of wind, dancing in the sunlight. 

It's always a long haul up from the log cabin.

It was turning into a glorious afternoon. We saw a couple of hares, still white from winter, but they were going at 90mph and almost impossible to catch on film.

It was Billy Minto who suggested my running is brought on by letting Mary get away while I dick around taking photos then as I race to catch up I inadvertently do interval training. Which shall henceforth be known as Minto-vals. Anyway I saw Mary way ahead approaching that gate (above) and challenged myself to get to it before she did. She said it would have been better if I'd reached it in sufficient time to hold it open without her having to break her stride.

We reckoned the farmer was in the middle of this conflagration shouting OMG! WFT! What was I thinking! while trying to beat out the edges with his tweed jacket.

Then back round the shoulder of Lammer Law and you can see the coast (and Bass Rock and Traprain Law) again.

"Time to Fly"
I noticed the long shadows we were making and passed the last mile trying to take photos while off the ground. As I got to Mary she could hear me arsing around and said "what ever you are up to, stop it!"

The smooth road and pleasant gradient often induces a bit of a sprint to the finish.

I realised as we left the car park we hadn't taken any lamb pictures. (The sheep on the hills hadn't had them as yet.) So M stopped and I took a few snaps of the frolicking youngsters, because I thought you might like to see them! I am all heart!

Gifford.

There is a garmin read out and map on Mary's blog. 

20.5 miles. 12.21pm till just after 5pm with an hours stoppage for coffee and snacks.
Brilliant afternoon!