Athlete Profile
Ralph Cox•Follow
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September 12, 2022

Corner to Corner, Day 43: Aberdeen to Edzell

https://www.cycling4charity.org.uk The path beside the A92 was unsuitable for our road bicycles and I re-routed. The revised route turned out to be via Route 1. The rest was fine. Met interesting people, particularly in Stonehaven. Fine weather. Squeaks all day. Think from pannier. To check thoroughly in the morning. Cleaned and re- oiled bike in Aberdeen.
Distance
45.3 mi
Elev Gain
2,546 ft
Time
5h 3m
River Dee looking seawards with Mearns Quay then Point Law Oil Terminal on the left and Torry Quay on the right. https://www.portofaberdeen.co.uk/harbour-information/ & https://canmore.org.uk/site/104099/aberdeen-harbour-mearns-quay
Looking across Torry Quay to the Point Law Oil Terminal from Sinclair Road
Upper leading light, 1 of 2 on Sinclair Road, with fuels and lubricant terminal on the right.
Aberdeen's leading lights in continual operation since 1842: Lower leading light in the foreground. Fascinating Historic Environment Scotland article: https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB52520
L>R: Seemingly (from Google Maps' Streetview) unused blue silos - there's a waste treatment plant on Pocra Quay, 1809 Footdee planned housing, (white) Silver Darling global fish restaurant, 1798 Roundhouse and its 2006 Marine Operations Centre replacement, 1781 North Pier designed by John Smeaton whose work we saw on Days 29 and 41, the North Sea with dramatic cloud above - I took the photo for this, thinking of rain which never came and the river mouth, lighthouse at the end of the south breakwater, part of Balnagask Golf Course on the headland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footdee & https://canmore.org.uk/site/282569/aberdeen-harbour-north-pier-marine-operations-centre
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We cycled to Cove Bay and along Cove Road, where I stopped seeing Lorraine was not behind me. She was at its post office. Whilst waiting, Tesco deliverer Ian stopped to see if I needed directions. We got chatting. He and his son are cyclists - so I told him about the route - a future possibility. We joined this A956 cycle path, which got worse. The road was too busy to be an option.
Recorded this as a bit to change. Plan A was to join the A92 cycle path, but I rang Lorraine to stop and wait whilst I re-routed which took several goes then I uploaded it to the Wahoo. Unbeknowns at the time, I re-routed to Route 1!
Ah, the peace. Gate beside our new off-A956 route, which by chance was NCN Route 1!
Heaven!
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1885 former Cookney parish church, now a business premise. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cookney_Church
Read the sign
Cowie Water entering Stonehaven Bay. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowie_Water
We followed guidance to Stonehaven Harbour and Old Pier Coffee Shop, where I got an excellent bap, cake and coffee. Engaged by this nutty dog, I got talking to local oil rigger Alan C, and wish I had shaken his hand rather than bumped fists, though I wanted to reduce risks. He pledged to donate but that must have led to second thoughts. I would love to have got to know him and his family and would have invited them to stay, if ever they were in London.
1790 Stonehaven Clock Tower. On the way out of town, I sought Bikeremedy for a specific single Park cleaning brush but it was only sold as part of a set. https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/smrpub/master/detail.aspx?redirect=y&refno=NO88NE0076
1812 Fetteresso CofS church. https://www.fetteresso.org.uk/welcome/our-local-history
Photo of beautiful colours and differing landscapes, taken from a 100m hillock north of Craigies Wood
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1829 Auchenblae parish church. Renovation work was underway. Though behind Lorraine and needing to get on, I still stopped to photograph it, only able to dot so in its churchyard, entering via an opening door of another scaffolded building visible in Google Maps' Streetview. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auchenblae
Half a mile past the church, looking north west towards Drumelzie Wood on 1060ft/323m Black Hill, viewed from a road at 361ft/110m.
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c1838 St Martin's church in Fettercairn. Canmore entry has informative aerial photos, indicating a 3/4 roughly circular churchyard. https://canmore.org.uk/site/36118/fettercairn-parish-churchnother quick church record:
1864 Fettercairn Royal Arch, commemorating an 1861 visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fettercairn
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