Arthur’s Seat and Window Cleaner

Day 18 Hiking.  Monday, June 20. 

Kingsway B&B, Edinburgh to The Anchorage, Port Seton.  

12.88 Miles. 31,028 Steps.  5.5 Hours.  

“Walking is the best possible exercise, habituate yourself to walk far.”  Thomas Jefferson 

Crocheted ‘full Scottish’ breakfast by my hostess’s Gran. 

Going around Arthur’s Seat. 

The remains of the Innocent Railroad.  The first part of today’s walk was on the path created by the removal of the railway. 

These tracks had been part of a bridge.  This was “one of Scotland’s pioneering railroads.  1831.  It was nicknamed The Innocent because originally the train cars were horse drawn in an age which thought steam engines dangerous.  Once people learned it was safe, passengers took it serious and the age of train travel took off.”

The Circus is coming to Musselburgh.  

Fisherrow Bowling Green. 

The Old Rectory. 

The Loretto School is the oldest boarding school (1827) in Scotland.  Set on 85 acres.  Originally only boys attended but since 1995 fully co-ed.  

Went by the race track (next race a week from today). In the middle of the track loop is a Golf Course.  Talked with a couple workers and felt pleased to say I had visited Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.  

Edinburgh and Arthur’s Seat over my left shoulder. 

John Muir mural in Prestonpans.  

Over the door the phrase ‘Better A Wee Bush Than Nae Bield’ (shelter). Robert Burns. 1759.  The structure was built in 1959 to celebrate the 200 year anniversary of Burns birth. 

Interior behind the gates of the above wee building.  A mural of Tam O’Shanter. 

Cockenzie House.  “The Seton family came from France in the 12 century.  Seier de Seton was granted lands by Malcom III and William the Lion in 1169.  The Setons owned the salt works and built the harbor in 1630.”

“Battle of Prestonpans took place just south of the house…George II’s Royal troops were defeated by the Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart, the pretender.   The battle lasted 10 minutes.”

Checked into The Anchorage.  Gina and I discussed my walk since my last visit here, and breakfast options.  Given the large bedroom at the front of the house.  

Heaved off the backpack onto the bed.  Slowly removed the knee braces, boots, pants, socks, shirt and undies.  Felt better.  Realized I should probably lock the door (behind me where this photo was taken).   Naked I turned around and a man was standing on a ladder by the left window and began scraping at it.  I looked around and quickly jumped into the bathroom (right side of room next to that red chair).  Stood in there and didn’t know what to do.  Kept poking my head around the door and the man was still there working.  

Decided as long as I was a prisoner in the bathroom might as well take my shower.  Fortunately this B&B kept their towels in the bathroom, many leave them folded up on the bed in neat piles.  

Wet and towel wrapped, poked head around the door.   Man still working, but on the next window.   Fussed around in bathroom trying to figure out what to do.  

Poke head out the door again.  Ladder was moved to the last window, but the man was absent.  Quickly scurried to bed, grabbed backpack, flung it in bathroom along with me.  

Now at least I had all my stuff.  Opened pack and began to pull out all those plastic ziplock bags and toss them over to the bed. Collect some clothes and came out into the room sort of presentable. 

Ladder and man both were gone.  Kept laughing at the silliness.  Who would have expected a worker to suddenly appear outside my ‘private’ windows.  



Another silly bit with this room arrangement.  I can not see even my eyes in the bathroom mirror.  I knew the Scottish men were tall. 
 

Sweet and sour chicken with a few veggies.  Would have preferred far less chicks and more produce.  But it was a start on replenishing the lack of greens.  

“When one tugs a single thing in native, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”  John Muir