Sun, Sand & Sunburn

A week late putting up this post, it's been a busy week with one thing or another, anyway here we go...
...One of my daughters wanted to go with me for a cycle but didn't want to climb any big hills, so a nice coastal cruise to Tyningham sounded a good plan & on probably the hottest day of the year so far & it's about time we had a spell of good hot sunny weather it's long overdue !

Meeting my daughter Heather at her flat in Dunbar we set off on our wee trip starting off by looking out across the harbour which was surprisingly quiet for such a hot day.

Around the towns east esplanade which skirts around the cliff tops with brilliant high up views looking out over the deep blue sea.
Heather's not brave enough to cycle down the steps, and there's me poised at the bottom ready to get pictures of her falling off ! 

Around the edge of Winterfield golf coarse hugging the coastline & grateful of the nice cool breeze coming off the sea as the heat was intense.
I did want to cycle along the shoreline on the hard sand but the tide was not quite out far enough to get over the Bridge to Nowhere.
Some great views looking out to sea towards the Bass Rock, the Bridge to Nowhere leading onto the immaculate Belhaven Bay beach & a nice clear view of Traprain Law far in the distance, I never tire of these views.

We cycled around the John Muir country park firstly along the path on the saltmarsh which then leads onto the Hedderwick Sands beach all the way to the bridge crossing the Hedderwick burn locally known as the Skittery burn.

It's amazing how quick everything is growing just now all the plants are lush green & full of flowers.

Along the Ware Road & just before it ends there is a track alongside the field edge, a safer alternative to cycling along the fairly busy & fast Tyninghame road, but the track is overgrown & is needing cut back.

Now in the grounds of the Tyninghame estate for a short cut through to the beech.

For what shade there was it was most welcome in the mid day sun I could feel my neck & arms burning, it was proper scortchio !

There was loads of trees covered in huge bracket fungus.

There are loads & loads of anti tank blocks along the coast line of East Lothian but here at Tyningham there is a huge concentration of them.

Cycling along the various trails in the woods with the patchy shade the bird song was echoing throughout the woods.

More anti invasion defences along the trails & a set of old wrought iron gates from the estate days.

It's not unusual to see ships anchored out in the Firth of Forth waiting to get into the docks. But to see five huge tankers in such close proximity is unusual. 
All these five tankers are for shipping oil related products.

The first of the 5 is called the 'Hildegaard' registered to the Bahamas & is 248m X 43m.

The second called the 'Samco Europe' registered to France & is 332m X 60m.

Third we have the 'SCF Baltica' registered to Liberia & is 250m X 45m.

Fourth is the 'Thornbury' again registered to the Bahamas & is 248m X 43m.

And lastly the Penolop once again from The Bahamas & is 254m X 45m.

A nice place to stop at the headland of St. Baldred's Cradle for a bite to eat & drink, from here looking back across to Dunbar, out to sea & westwards to the Bass Rock, but best of all the sea breeze was very welcoming to take away the intense heat.

Looking along Ravensheugh Sands & an interesting information panel telling you about the geology of the area & the Bass Rocks part in forming that geology during volcanic activity.

More anti tank placements, I once missed out on an old wartime map that was for sale on ebay & I was absolutely gutted, it showed the location of all the anti invasion installations along the coast in particular here at the Tyne estuary covering both sides of the Tyne, Belhaven Bay & Tyninghame.

The log cabin at Ravensheugh Sands.
In 1960 the 12th Earl of Haddington arranged the construction in traditional Canadian style of a beach log cabin for his wife to remind her of her native Canada, now a very popular location for weddings...

...and with views like this you can understand why it's so popular.

Back on the saddle & heading back along the road for home crossing the river Tyne on the way.

Onto the Ware Road again passing the lush green fields.

Into John Muir country park & crossing a track with young fern plants getting forever taller.

Next to John Muir park is the 'East Links Family Park' a great addition to the town, the place is always busy come rain or shine, the park is a type of farm with many interesting animals like the rhea above that you can get up close & feed them, the farm also has a narrow gauge railway, a huge fort & many other attractions for a day of family fun,
Below I have included a link for you to check the farm out for yourselves.
"East Links Family Park"

Onwards we go as we cross the designated pathway across the salt marsh & onto the beach of Belhaven Bay baking in the hot sun.

Arriving at the Bridge to Nowhere with the Biel Burn running under it I had time to take a few pictures while waiting on Heather who was finding the heat a bit too much.
 I couldn't believe how deserted the beach was on such a hot day, normally there are walkers, dog walkers, surfers & sometimes horses all on the beach but there were only a handfull of people out & about.

Nearly back to Heathers flat & as we passed Winterfield park I remembered that there used to be many events held here like the annual vintage car rally which was a great day out seeing all the old cars, lorries & motorbikes of yesteryear & I also remembered when I was a bairn that I went to see Eddie Kidd, a motorcycle stuntman who was a stunt double in many movies for stars like Roger Moore, Val Kilmer & Pierce Brosnan.
 One of his stunts included jumping over the great wall of China in 1993.
His biggest challenge came again in 1993 when he was challenged by American daredevil Robbie Knievel who challenged Kidd to a 'jump off' in St.Louis, Mississippi. The competition required both riders to make three jumps, with the cumulative distance covered by each rider to determine the winner, Kidd out jumped Knievel by six feet & won the winners belt & as they were never to meet again the winners belt from that day remains with Kidd.
On August 1996 Kidd was involved in a serious accident while performing a stunt & he suffered head & pelvic injuries in the resulting fall, he was left paralysed & with brain damage.

Winterfield park still gets used for public events like the travelling circus & the flying of giant kites but sadly not used as much as it once was.

Anyway we arrived back to Heathers where we said our goodbyes & I head off for home to indulge in ice poles to cool me down before suffering in the bath with a sunburnt neck !
Thanks for viewing & come back soon.
Cheers for now.