Mad family disruptions and hospital visits could not stop me and my son Charlie from attending the second Pedal on Parliament in Edinburgh. The same disruptions mean a long blog on this is not possible, but here instead is a photo diary! The ride was a great success, 4000 attended, and we had ministers and world-famous cyclists tweeting their support, and riding with us. It was a delightful day. http://pedalonparliament.org/
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- Finn not keen, staying firmly in his pyjamas
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- ..but Charlie’s raring to go!
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- Starting off from Glasgow!
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- Big breakfast!
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- Mum gets caffined up at Queen St!
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- All aboard – Scotrail were great, five bikes per carriage (exceptionally 0 normally 2) and advice on where to embark and disembark.!
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- Arriving in Edinburgh, the weather looks grey, but the fog soon burned off.
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- Disabled riders! These lovely people steered us in to the rally at the Meadows!
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- Charlie gets ready for the ride with a hot choc!
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- …and they’re off!
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- This chap got the most cheers!
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- Daisy, daisy…
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- What I love about protesting – you get the streets to yourself. When else can you safely cycle down the royal mile with time to look about ye?
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- Arriving at Parliament, Arthur’s Seat in the background.
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- Kids playing in the decorative ponds – there was paddling later!
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- Charlie and Alan
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- Charlie decides to go rock climbing…
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- …and his poor Mum follows behind, handbag and all…
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- …and the poor bike is abandoned
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- No!
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- View of the rally from Arthur’s Seat
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- Afterparty! The organisers raise a well-earned glass…
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- … and so do me and Charlie! (His is apple juice, just in case the social comes calling)
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- Charlie plays with a new friend…
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- …and makes more
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- …settles down with a book…
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- …and enjoys a treat!
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- Charlie enjoying the finest fish-and-chips from his auntie’s deservedly popular shop, Barracuda (plug alert: http://www.barracudaonline.co.uk/)
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- Alan recommends the sausage!
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- and I just love the chips!
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- Charlie takes his on the train home.
Ellen McAteer 
I especially like the handbag slung over the handlebars 🙂
I was going for the working Mum look this year!
Scotrail worked it seems – I presume you went back later too. I landed lucky with the 19.16 Cross Country train – First Class single on this was cheaper than second class single with any train. Rode across though 4.5 hours and summit at 294m (Glasgow’s drumlins are around 45m, so 250m of climbing up into the clouds along the old A8 Edinburgh Road – still that is almost straight all the way, so clocked out at 46.5miles.
PS next year we need some cycling songs to sing as we ride – get writing.
Sing as we ride? I still have trouble with singing and playing guitar at the same time! It would be a good kind of bike that would let you do all three – or perhaps an organ bike, driven by the pedals? Love the idea of some cycling songs though, I often write songs while on the bike, it’s the motion. I’ll get my songwriting cap on…