Cycling along the Union Canal today towards Falkirk en route to Glasgow. The start point in Edinburgh is little uninspiring near Fountainbridge I was expecting old warehouses and a wharf but you get a dead end and glass and steel. Amazing weather and an interesting journey overall as the canal follows the contours of the land so there are no locks on the main stretch up to Falkirk – there’s no that many narrow boats either as only saw 3 moving on the water in 20 odd miles. Lots of children making use of the towpath for nature walks with teachers and classmates though and also on the water in canoes so the canal has life. One of the other noteworthy aspects is the number of viaducts on the journey including the one over the River Avon the second longest in the UK I’m told.

You could look down onto the tops of trees from the viaduct which was a new experience – if that wood pigeon had looked up maybe one for it as well. Not many pubs on route (0nly one at Ratho) but managed a lunchtime pint in Linlithgow – shandy. Lot of courteous people along the way – as we were too – ‘Nae Bother’. 30 miles approximately cycled today. The Falkirk Wheel, the Kelpies, and the Forth and Clyde canal are tomorrow’s entertainment.