Awaiting the Dandelion Express

After this morning’s "run-in" with a motorist it was a reminder that I was back in London and on her roads - the long weekend was over...

Back to Edinburgh for one last time. Stupid? Walking into a world of hurt? After all I’ve been through in the past month, I admit that I could well have done exactly that. Thankfully it was a long weekend that was something far different.
With a bonus ‘Bank Holiday’ on the Monday, I took Friday off to have a 4 day long weekend and to go and support Charity do her first running event - Edinburgh’s Great Run 10K - in much the same way in which she did for me at both the Reading Half Marathon and the London Marathon.

I arrived early Friday morning after the short flight from Stansted to Edinburgh. With the sun shining we met in the heart of Edinburgh where Charity needed to finish off some work before we set out to walk down to Portobello Beach and Fish n Chips.
An interesting walk as we went through the 4 seasons of weather along the way. Down the Royal mile (above left) to Hollyrood palace and Arthurs Seat. Along the way stopping off in a fudge shop, discovering a hidden little garden, as well as ducking into several alcoves to avoid the rain. From the base of Arthur’s seat we passed by a small lake with swans and all manner of water fowl (right), before following the road down to Portobello. Discovering a rather extroverted buttefly on the footpath, we took a few close ups. Further down the road and it was a quick stop in a wine shop after noticing Grant Burge wines in the window. We left with a bottle of Nebuchadnezzar (which we can highly recommend!) as well as directions to the best fish n chip place.
After managing to walk straight past it - well, it was closed - we eventually made our way back only to find that it didn’t open for another 40mins. So it was the quick walk to the beach to take a look. A pleasant day and there were Scots about. Mostly kids though, with a few adults. Along the esplanade we found a small fish n chip shop that was open, so eventually opted to give its eat-in side a shot. Serving size may have been reasonably generous however the quality left something to be desired... Oh well, on we went.
A bus ride back to central Edinburgh and a pint in both the Whiski and the Bank pubs to round out the evening before returning to Charity’s for dinner.

Saturday, and Charity had to work, so off I went to fill in the morning. I started with a short walk along Princes Street before settling at a cafe opposite the Edinburgh gallery. Nice to score the corner window with a good view of the castle and the world below (right). A few hours just chilling out buried in a book with breakfast and the view was all good.
From here I decided to head down to the Scot Monument as I’d noticed that there were some people at the top of it. After passing what would have to be the most oddly placed Ice-cream van I’ve ever seen (left), I soon discovered how to get to the top of a monument that looked strangely like a black stone version of Thunderbird 3. Dizzying and somewhat claustrophobic stone stairwells (seen here on the right) it was to the four viewing areas this monument had to offer. Did I mention that it was nearly 300 steps to the top? There’s the morning exercise taken care of...
From here I then made my way to through the gallery to the gardens below Edinburgh castle, which you can see in the pic of the view from the top of the monument below left. My destination was a zig-zag path/walkway that made it’s way from the gardens up to the castle itself. Unfortunately, the gate at the bottom was chained shut, so I settled in to listen to the band that was playing in the parklands. As I did this, I noticed that there was a fair commotion up on Princes St, so I decided to head up and take a look. Only a protest march/demonstration for dozens of different political groups. What the hell, I had to head that way anyway and make my way back to where Charity worked, so I joined in for a bit before they went left as I needed to go right.
After Charity finished work, and with the sun shining in the mid-afternoon, we headed off to the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens via a small walkway along a small river that we found along the way. The gardens were superb and peaceful with both birdlife and loads of squirrels. Unfortunately, by the time we got there our time was limited as they were closing within the hour. Still we managed a reasonable walk through them and even fed said squirrels. Well, one more brave one anyway (below left). Once leaving the gardens, we made our way through the nearby parks before locating more of that ‘river’ walkway. Back on the bus for home, dinner, the Nebuchadnezzar and a relatively early night so that Charity could rest up for her run.

Sunday morning, and it was up reasonably early to get to the Meadows park for the start of the Great Edinburgh 10K Run. A little overcast, but still a very pleasant day with some sunshine showing through at times. There was a theme for this one and because the date was May the Fourth (be with you), Darth Vader was starting the runners. There were plenty of Star Wars costumed runners about too.
Charity was hoping to get round in 1hr20 and she’d be happy. Excited, raring to go and kitted up with my heart rate monitor and footpod to boot she made the start of her ‘wave’ with a few minutes to spare.
Armed with my backpack and both cameras (well, more hers than mine) I saw her off at the start, then headed across town to make the first of three spots I thought I could make in time to get both pics and a shout-out. I made it to three spots along the course to take pics and video using both our cameras.
She did brilliantly and came in with a time of 1hr 5mins. [Very proud of your achievement Charity. I now have an idea of how you must have felt after I’d done the marathon. Hopefully this shows you just what you can be capable of if you put your mind to it. No excuses now, onwards and upwards from here. Time to get it together.] After congratulations and medals getting put on, we ran into one of her workmates who was out for the morning. He too had been out along the course and caught some pics. Being an osteopath he gave Charity a bit of a recovery treatment, before heading off to print some of his pics for their work notice board!
We then headed to the nearby Pear Tree Pub beer garden for a celebratory pint and text message frenzy of congratulations. As the rain threatened, we decided it was time to find somewhere indoors that preferrably had some food, and the vegetarian restaurant over the road turned out to be the ideal spot. Our mid-afternoon arrival turned out to be worthwhile too as we scored two free serves to help them finish off the lunchtime foods and allow them to begin the evening menu. With a duo of a harpist and violinist playing in the corner, we settled in for remainder of the arvo that included some deserts and a pot of tea, much to talk about and over, some photographic tomfoolery, and just plain hanging out together... Later it was back home and finishing off the Nebuchadnezzar and other things.

Monday morning and Charity had to work again, so after reaching her work and dropping off the backpack, I headed down the road for breakfast in the sun with my book again. A full Scotch breakfast complete with a certain black ice hockey puck thing in the middle of the plate. Well, there’s a first time to try Ecky Thump for real. Interesting, and not bad when you put it on potato scones or with the eggs, mushrooms or hash browns. So that was black pudding, and it was on to the book with the remaining coffee and bits of toast that were left.
Eventually, I ventured off towards the same gardens below the Castle in an attempt to try that path up to the Castle. Along the way I discovered an out of the way lane with a cafe and a few shops that were actually under one side of the large church at the end of Princess St. This lead through an old graveyard that was under the canopy of several trees full of springtime blossoms (left). Very peaceful, and a really nice spot to just be in, with no one about but the centuries old stones, moss and lush green grass. As I left this spot, I got a call from Charity to say that she had a cancellation and that if I’d like the spot for the massage it was mine. About face and it wasn’t long before I was on the table dozing off under her skilful hands. That over, she had her next client to see, so it was back into the sun with the book for me.
Over an hour later and we were checking out the “under-the-church” cafe to while away the afternoon under the blossoms in the sun. As the sun kept moving so did we through into the park until it was time to head to the airport for what can only be described as a very emotional goodbye.
On the flight back to London I was seated next to a fellow from New Jersey, and having some mates there, he proved to be a very good distraction as we chatted about all things Jersey, New York and places to travel through Europe...

All up a lovely weekend with some nice memories to remember each other by... Despite the hours of talking we did, it still makes me wonder just why we're ending things...