I am so smart - Holiday Inn Express

Day 4 Hiking, Sunday June 5,  Holiday Inn Express, Edinburgh to Orocco Pier Hotel, South Queensferry. 
12.64 Miles.  30,387 Steps.  5.5 Hours. 

Departed Holiday Inn Express.  Worked my way across the Bridge over Waverly Station with the intention of taking a bus to the edge of the city where the John Muir Way crossed going north.  Arrived at the bus stop to learn it would be 30 minutes before it arrived.  Decided to just keep walking in the right direction as it was a bit chilly, and I figured the bus could be caught at another stop.  

Having stayed at the Holiday Inn Express I now feel immensely knowledgeable about Everything Under the Sun, so feel confident I could offer advice to airline pilots, butchers or car mechanics.  



“Dr Livingstone I Presume”



Edinburg Castle






Walking path this morning 





Entrance gates to homes.  

Kept walking and discovered a walking/biking path going to Queensferry.  No need to seriously consider anything else.  Flat, paved, under a tunnel of green trees, very busy with walkers and bikers.  Good to get out of dirty Edinburgh.  



Modern Scottish home. 



Impressively tall privet. 




Eventually the JMW joined so I had made a good decision. The path meandered through more upscale neighborhoods.  Tall fenced in property with electric gates.  

A woman told me to take the side trip to visit a large estate.  When that junction was reached decided to take her advice.  

“The Dalmeny House is the home of the Earl of Rosebery…a Tudor Gothic mansion…completed in 1817”



While walking the perimeter of the estate (took quite awhile) jets were taking off from Edinburgh airport directly over the property every 5-10 minutes.  







Proper disposal of unused sheep wool?



The Forth Bridge





Sturgis, South Dakota or Queensferry, Scotland?



Jubilee Clock from Queen Victoria’s reign. 

Found the Orocco Pier Hotel.  My luxury room was ready for a tired hiker.  Shower and stretch the legs out on the king size bed.  So excited about the bed.  Those single beds have no room for my arms and legs which love to sleep like a star fish. 





How to be organized in a room.  

Went out to find food. Seemed to have missed lunch today.  At the local market asked what the ‘steak birdie’ was (that was how it was spelled).  She laughed at me and said it was a - baayy di.  I was handed it wrapped up and realized it was icy cold.  No way to heat it.  Decided to save the birdie for tomorrow.  Then went to a fish n chips shop and got an order of chips, salt and vinegar, Hot. 



Birdie



Chips.  Could only eat about 1/4 of them.  

“Another glorious day.  The air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue.”  John Muir



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