After a good nights sleep I hitched a lift to Edinburgh with Peter,as he was going to work.I had things to see and Isabelle had things to do in town so off we went.

People who commute drive fast-I suppose it’s the familiarity of the route.Peter drives fast at the best of times.We were a bit late .I hadn’t been in a car for weeks .

Peter overtook a car at a terrifying speed.

“Pete, for ***** sake slow down ,lets get there in one piece!” I cried from the back seat.

“Its fine.”Peter replied .”I drive this way every day.”

“Your Dad told me I drive too fast as well.” Peter said to Isabelle.”He said it very politely so as not to cause any offense.”

“But you didn’t pay any attention.” Isabelle answered clutching the seat rest.

We arrived in Edinburgh unharmed.

The week before I set off on my trip I had heard about an exhibition from my mother in law.It sounded right up my street because I like collages and often make them.

The exhibition was marvelous, tracing a history of cutting and sticking back hundreds of years.Collage is kind of low art-mostly personal art or folk art – but occasionally bursting through into the mainstream with its use in photography,cubism,dada,propaganda,pop art and punk.

Here are some notable examples from the exhibition.There were hundreds more .

 

The coffee shop at the Gallery was very posh,I had a coffee and chocolate brownie which cost nearly a tenner. To get my moneys worth I sat there for a while leafing through the book that accompanied the exhibition.It proved to be a good buy.I even read the introduction ,which was quite interesting.Usually the writing in art books is incomprehensible and frustrating but this was written in plain old English.The one thing that I found a bit strange was that none of David Hockney’s photo-collages from the 80’s and 90’s were included.They seem to me to have been very influential,especially in advertising.

It was maybe a pity the exhibition didn’t even mention digital photo/ video manipulation as it is very relevant.Collage without knowing it is collage,fake pictures, fake news.

I headed into town with a few hours to kill.Bridget Riley was having an exhibition so I went round that.I hadn’t’ realised she was really into Seurat and pointillism in some of her early work.She then moved onto her trade mark migraine inducing geometry then softened with the addition of colour.

 

Right next door to the Bridget Riley was the Scottish National Gallery so I went in there too.Lots of classical glens,stags and noble portraits but some lovely pictures hidden away.

Tired of to much art I wandered of to the station to pick up my rail ticket home. Waverley station felt very nostalgic as I was often there as a student , on the way north or south.It had no cars and more shops than I remember but still smelled a bit of stale pee and hops from the nearby brewery.

I met Peter and Isabelle and knowing I enjoy bizarre things they had a treat for me.On the way home to Peebles we passed the Belgian Consulate in Penicuik.It was an imposing building complete with flag and metal plaque but why oh why in the tiny border town of Penicuik. Not suprisingly it was shut.

The journey continued past the marvelous trio of border villages Whim,Carlops and Lamancha.

The final treat was the Great Polish Map of Scotland.

We arrived back in Peebles drank far to much wine , ate lovely food prepared by Isabelle and nattered.A great end to the trip.

place name of the day- Whim

food of the day-

Sight of the Day-view over Waverley Station to the Castle,from North Bridge.

I had a long journey home on the train and some time to think about the trip.

My initial aims were a bit ambitious.

Distance-50 miles a day-fine but you cant do anything else as you get too knackered , and you almost always do more.

Weather-was actually pretty good and you can’t do much about head wind.

Food- a poor start but got better.

Places- all worth it ,some exceptional. Lots art,lots history and lots of collage.

Technology-Didn’t use lap top at all- wrote all this at home but did take lots photos and dictate a bit into phone.

Learnt- lots useless stuff.

Many thanks to my companion Eduardo Bianchi.

 

Welcome to my account of a cycling trip heading north from Rye to Edinburgh.

I’ve been wanting to do this for some time and now have the time.

I have mixed feelings about cycle touring and so have laid my self some ground rules to make it as enjoyable as possible.

1 Up to 50 miles per day.

I am old and want to do other stuff.I figure that is about 4 hours cycling- maybe 2 hours do something else , then another 2 hours in afternoon.

2 Visit out of way places.

Especially if not been before. The more bizarre the better.

3 Eat nice food.

Particularly regional or unusual things.

4 Explore the back lanes of Britain.

5 Do not suffer.

If exhausted or rain stops play then pause or take the train.

6 Learn.

Mostly how to type and use a tablet so it doesn’t take hours.Maybe a few obscure facts for entertainment.

Sounds like a plan to me. Now need to get fit.