SNT (day 4) - Glen Etive to Winchburgh

Today I felt like I was on a hamster wheel with the exact same landscape rolling around me.

The day started really well, I've hiked remaining miles to Balerno where I had a coffee and a coronation chicken baguette at a Scottish version of Coop called "Scotmid Coop" which has been running in this country since 1859! The views up to that point were really nice. I had a chat with a local farmer who was checking on his cows in the morning, his daughter was hiking now as well, he was not looking forward to the next midges invasion in August.

The path from Balerno to Edinburgh wasn't too bad either, a rubbery soft cycling track sheltered by the trees. Things changed on my way out of Edinburgh. I only stayed at the outskirts of the city enough time to resupply and have a toilet (I'm sorry Edinborough I'll be back, when I've got more time!). Trail from here on was running along the Union Canal, without a doubt the most boring section of the trail so far. It was a narrow path populated by a lot of cyclists speeding by and a dull uniform canal path which made me think I wasn't moving at all.

The only notable thing along this whole stretch was an Almond Aqueduct, a tall 100 foot bridge on top of which canal was flowing (and yes barges could swim through it as well) and underneath there was a massive river flowing by, it was insane in the best meaning of the word!

I've stopped for a break at Edinburgh International Climbing Arena located just off the canal and it was easily the biggest climbing centre I've ever seen, I would love to go here and climb one day.

Afternoon was very hot and I had to wear a neck protection to stop it from burning, the two sun creams I've owned stayed at home of course. At about 6pm I found a decent place to camp at a park near the canal, it was quite noisy with a busy road and a train track running nearby but it was my best bet to pitch a tent. I was only hoping kids would come at night and start a party.

If all went well tomorrow I would be staying somewhere near Glasgow.

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