The beaches, cliffs and coves between North Berwick and Ravensheugh were bathed in sunshine with a cool NE breeze preventing overheating on the occasional strenuous scrambles up the slopes.
By the time we were breaching the defensive ditches around Tantallon Castle the 23-strong squad had spread over many diverse routes suited to foot or wheel.
It was so warm and sunny at Ravensheugh that Gio sought the cooler water and gently lapping waves for a swim. The rest of the bikes emerged from the van and we continued via Binning Wood to the East Linton lunch break at 37km.
full-distance runners were getting a bit droopy by then, their droopiness amplified by too much tea and over-eating.
The River Tyne was in spate from earlier heavy rain but had, at least, retreated into its banks as far as Hailes Castle. From there, we climbed Pencraig Hill for the old highway through the coconutty broom to Barnes Castle and the Garleton Hills.
A few cyclists opted for alternative tarmac, and the survivalist runners grimly pursued the off-roaders to the prime at Hopetoun Monument. As usual the rocky descent from the summit thwarted all attempts to stay on bikes. From Hopetoun the end game is fast and easy for bikers; not so for remaining runners Digby and Richard who were by now locked into their separate lone routes back to Aberlady Bay.
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