Edinburgh Day Out

I had been missing riding my bike as it had been a while since I rode a full day in the saddle, and with no chores to do on Sunday 3rd December 2006, I decided to have a ride.  The weather forecast was atrocious, but the inclement weather was mainly to the West of the country and South Shields and Edinburgh are on the East, also my Ultimate Coast to Coast to Coast (UC2C2C) in 2009 meant there would be days when the weather would be also be atrocious and I'd have to ride through it; so I rationalised I needed the practice.  UC2C2C had also introduced me to the Motorcycle Tourer's Forum (MTF) and they ran a monthly picture competition and I thought a shot of the Firth of Forth Road Bridges would be cool to enter.

Bike sorted and I was on the road by 9am and soon in the open countryside of Northumberland.  The A68 is a popular biking route but on a wet, windy, early Sunday morning I had the road to myself; no one else would be daft enough!  First photo call was at the edge of Catcleugh Resevoir, the Sun was cresting the horizon and giving stunning lighting conditions.

Back on the road and I was soon vying with all the tourists in Edinburgh City Centre, but I had to have the picture with CVO and the icon of the city Edinburgh Castle:

I thought the best picture for the MTF competition would have to have both bridges that span the Forth of Firth, but could I cross it?  The wind had picked up and the bridge was closed to high sided vehicles but bikes were allowed.  On crossing the free toll for bikes bridge (as they all should be) I spied a new Road Glide two up so I snuck in behind it.  I was planning on taking my competition photo from the bridges viewing point and the Street Glide in front appeared to be heading in the same direction.

The viewing area is in the car park of the hotel the Glide stopped at but it was someone I had ridden with to St.Patricks Day 2001!  They were going to their Chapter monthly meeting and I was invited to join them.  Stuart, a long time steward of Dunedin Chapter HOG was in the Chair and gave me a warm fellow biker welcome:

It was time to complete my objective and here is the one picture I've selected for the competition:

Do you think I've got a chance?

Later

Dave