Slight Wandering

Day 3 Hiking, Saturday June 4.

The Anchorage at Port Seton to Holiday Inn Express, Edinburgh.  

13.47 Miles. 32,172 Steps. 5 Hours. 

Breakfast was mostly a tiny bit of real muesli and the rest of the bowl filled with fresh fruits.  Cold dry toast (standing up in the little toast holder), and cheese. 

Good bye to Gina my host who laughed at my inability to mange the Scottish door locking method.  

Hiked along the coastal path from Port Seton/Cockenzie through Prestonpans and along to Musselburgh. 

Coal:  history of coal in Cockenzie and Prestonpan since medieval times when monks mined coal in the early 13th century.   The coal had to be crushed.  “Grinding ring and balls above would have generated 500,000 tonnes of coal, which then produced 12 million, million watt hours of electricity, enough to supply energy to every home in Edinburgh for 10 years.”

Greyhound sisters. 

Olivia, are you right across the street?

Met an elderly gent from the Borders hiking the JMW in bits and pieces through the summer.  Looked a lot like Morris, the detective not the cat.  And he had the same Osprey backpack as mine, but well used.  

Watching the changing tides. 

All morning the outline of North Berwick Law (passed on day 1) was visible to the east.   At Musselburgh the JMW left the coastline and heading in towards Edinburgh.  Arthur’s Seat, the old volcanic outcrop was very visible.  

The JMW sign was clearly to be seen, but the angle of the arrows not so.  Where I had just come from pointed in exactly that way. Where I was going was not so clear.  The sign was pointed at an 11 o’clock direction and the road ahead went that way.  There was a road directly to the left at a 9 o’clock direction.  Lois went towards 11 o’clock.  That was incorrect. 

Should have been following the line, instead went on the red and went way north. 

Figured with Arthur’s Seat rising before me it couldn’t been too wrong.  I was a bit wrong.  The route went parallel with the correct way for a few miles, than angled away. I walked on and on through the most boring streets through endless houses.  

Never a gas station, restaurant, shop to ask directions from. And, NO RESTROOMS since departing the B&B at 8:30.  Crazy all those miles along the Firth of Forth, and hundreds of people out enjoying the beautiful day.  No ‘conveniences’.  What are people expected to DO?  In a wilderness situation, or even out and about Stevens Point, I can easily manage this issue.  Today was different.  The issue became serious.  

Spotted a combination gas/food store and headed straight in. No RESTROOM for the public!  What Are travelers supposed to do???  Americans are so spoiled with simple luxuries.  It was suggested I retrace myself back to the hotel Premier Inn.  Did that.  Arrived all sweating, left the backpack by the desk and used the ‘facilities’, once feeling more normal pulled out my maps and learned I had gone a bit out of the way.  

The clerk told me how to retrace my steps about 15 minutes back, where the feet had already been, turn right at Lizzy Dizzy’s hair salon then proceed straight into City Center.  At that moment she said “oh my sister is here to collect me from work, and we can drive you to Lizzy Dizzy’s.”  In the end they drove all the way into the city directly to the front of the Holiday Inn Express.   Pure angels, or pure good Scottish women.  

Trail Angels

Along the way we laughed and quickly chatted.  Judy and Lynn were so wonderful.  My legs appreciated the mini break.   Walking through the suburbs of Edinburgh  is BORING.  No food or restroom accommodations.  And not this person’s idea of hike the countryside of Scotland.  

Sir Walter Scott 1771-1832. Author of:  Ivanhoe, Waverly, Lady of the Lake, Roy Roy, etc. 

Ukrainian flag. 

Went on a quest to locate Scotland Street.  Half hour walk from hotel. 

Drummond Place

Some must live in the lowest level (basement) but they still have their personal gardens. 

The body is tired, but okay.  The knees are okay. Ibuprofen gel and the knee brace helps.  The right hip was sore today.  But, all that is to be expected when the body is asked to do more than it is used to.  

“Between every two pine trees there is a door leading to a new way of life.”  John Muir