West side story

That was a long day.  I had a fairly relaxed ride to Waverley, caught my train without rushing, got to the office in Glasgow without rushing and had some good meetings and bumpings into colleagues.  The day then sort of accelerated!

I finished an hour early because I wanted – well, felt compelled, really – to get to the bike shop up at Cowcaddens to buy a couple of things for Friend in Need who has been so in need of late that they haven't even had time for bicycle maintenance.  I half-rode, half-sprinted to their house, going slightly the wrong way here and there, and we had a chat on the doorstep for 15 minutes.  I then had to rush off to Central station to park my bike as I didn't know if the office where the lecture was taking place had anywhere to lock it, and I wasn't for using some random stand on the pavement.  I didn't know then that had I just ridden my folding bike after all, it wouldn't have been a problem and it would have saved myself a lot of bother.

I was right on time for the lecture and was almost the first to arrive, so I was able to grab a latte from the machine first and cool down a bit.  The lecture was really good, and finished just in time.  The presenter and I walked back to Central together, I sprinted to retrieve my bike and sprinted to Queen St for my train back to Edinburgh.  The next was only half an hour later but my connection out of Edinburgh would've been an hour later.  I made it with only a minute or two to spare and relaxed for the rest of the trip.  The connection train was surprisingly busy and we filled all the bike spaces!  It was then a lazy but tiring several miles pedal home to flop and have a very late tea.  I was for going to bed early but y'know, bestie and I had to video chat for a while first. :-)

An entire day in sunny Glasgow and I took (almost) no photographs at all, so clockwise from top-left we have:
1) a trio of Brooks leather saddles, in various degrees of tilt and broken in-ness;
2) the well preserved bing of the Wester Gartshore Colliery, not far from Kirkintilloch, and which closed in 1950;
3) looking out over Falkirk, with The Kelpies standing proud on the horizon by the upper reaches of the River Forth;
4) So long, farewell, my trusty train bound for Tweedbank.