The Bridge Inn, Scotland, United Kingdom
Traveled from Wark thru Bellingham, then thru Northumberland National Park where we crossed the border back into Scotland. You cannot miss the border, Scottish and English flags flying proud and plenty of information about. High on a crest in the park.
SO ...... now we’re back in Scotland.
We love the variety of trees in the forest. I found a really interesting website while trying to identify some as we were driving. Google is wonderful, usually there is an answer somewhere. https://www.rezatec.com/earth-observation-tree-species-mapping/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIldad0J-N3gIV6p3tCh0XugaYEAAYASAAEgLGD_D_BwE
Saw what we thought was an animal eating road kill, couldn’t identify it, too big for a cat, to bulky for a dog, it was a massive dead badger, I never knew they can grow up to 17kgs! https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/species/badger/
Approaching Jedburgh, another big Abbey, right in the town, was rather beautiful, you could see right thru it, then I realised it was roofless.
The castle jail museum, we wasted 1/2 hr there, "Jedburgh Castle Jail & Museum was built in 1823 and is an impressive building", and for us that was all.
A few weeks ago we’d probably have spent the time and appreciated the history, but now, it’s homeward bound.
Passed thru Kelso town, which has the largest cobbled market square in Europe.
Kevin was very intrigued with Chirnside, high on a ridge in the distance, then we spotted this crop covered with mesh, thought they were swedes, big swedes, we were right (thanks google): "the fleece beds will most likely be for swedes, lets all the light, moisture and nutrients down to the swede but stops the flea beetles. Ploughed down and also pegged in with large tent pegs with a loop handle, the fleece appears to be fairly windproof even on exposed coastal fields". "It will be swedes grown by Drysdales they grow them in beds nowadays" "Would likely be Drysdale's shopping swedes. Brother works for their opposition up here and they'll have over 2000 acres under Enviro mesh."
Coldingham on the way to St Abbs. Picture postcard, narrow winding street, but colourful, we had to pass thru to get to St Abbs.
St Abbs, it’s amazing, how some views, villages, towns, bays, corners we navigate make us say WOW, this one left us almost speechless, so perfect.
The sun bright, the day calm, fishermen calling, their voices carrying in the stillness, and of course the boats in the harbour. But it was the view looking down on all of it, breathtaking, put one in a happy place.
Saw an extremely ugly building far, far in the distance, a nuclear plant atTorness: https://www.edfenergy.com/energy/power-stations/torness
Drone Hill wind farm, I counted 34 of these gigantic white invaders, like an army of white ants waving their feelers. Depending where they are (like yesterday in the winds and tussock up high and remote, they were quite serene), but here along the coast, near lovely old seaside villages and populated areas it is invasive. The companies are very supportive of local councils and communities, is it like a bribe? https://www.foundationscotland.org.uk/programmes/drone-hill/ I guess like our oil companies in Taranaki, a lot of sponsorship to various local Trusts. The wind farms are soooo in your face at times tho, - more so in Scotland.
We drove the A1 until it connected with the City of Edinburgh Bypass, then dropped of to go to Ratho where we are staying for the last two nights of our adventure.
The Bridge Inn at Ratho is right on the Union Canal - Edinburgh to Glasgow. "And though the M8 motorway passes a few hundred yards north of the village, access is via a network of very minor roads, leaving Ratho feeling oddly secluded for somewhere less than 10 miles from the centre of Edinburgh and only a couple of miles from Edinburgh Airport." Perfect location.
We’d bought a bottle of red, some pate, strawberries and spicey guacamole. Packed the wicker basket for the last time and picnicked by the canal, the sun went down, the lights came on - and the phone/camera was flat!
.Roger
2018-10-18
You guys will have some great stories to tell and pix to show. Really wanting to catch up with you soon.