remember remember the 3rd of november

 

3rd November
One of the best runs we've done recently, and mostly because the sun was shining. Mary gets a Tuesday off, so when we saw the sunny forecast, we took the Berlingo to Cramond and ran from there up the Almond, across into the Dalmeny Estate, to the big house and then back. All the Autumn leaves in the sunshine was properly joyous!

M doing some stretches before we set off.

the river was high from recent rains

I had half thought there was a small chance of outlier butterflies
being so warm. But there wasn't much apart from hoverflies.

We weren't in any kind of hurry and were both in the mood to take photos and dick about. It was quite warm so mooching around wasn't a problem. The low angled sun and orange leaves on trees and the ground made for much messing about trying to get decent photos. Everything was looking fab and being a Tuesday there weren't hordes of dogwalkers and families. Although there were some planes coming in to land at the airport there wasn't the usual 1-every-10mins you get outwith covid times.

When we got to other side of the Almond and started down the road to the shore we took the second left which goes directly to Dalmeny House, rather than all the way to the shore as we normally do. We planned to do a circuit, returning by the shore paths. Which was fortuitous as we bumped into Alan who had seen the lovely weather and had the afternoon off. 

Cramond Island between the trees.

Cramond Island and North Berwick Law

Dalmeny House
four new tops?

King Tom

Ian C came past here a few days later and posted photos of this horse statue King Tom. I remarked on it and he wrote, "King Tom was second in the 1854 derby however had a very successful career on stallion duties and was awarded leading sire in 1871 after being dad and grandad to a number of classic winners." Nice work if you can get it.

Indeed wikipedia would seem to agree and says his statue was originally over his grave in Mentmore Towers. That a horse has a grave tells you something. I thought maybe 2 casts were made of the statue but I believe it was moved to Dalmeny from Mentmore in Buckinghamshire.

Inchmickery
also known by us as Battleship Potemkin

favourite spot

I like the way this stream is always different when you come to this estuary. Mostly you can cross as it peters out on the shore or narrows at the rocks placed at this bend. However with all the added rain it was quite large and uncrossable (with dry feet) today. Sometimes it just disappears into the shells and sand. Just over the other side (in Summer) there is a small and partially imaginary colony of small copper butterflies that come and go depending on how strong your resolve is. It is a mystical corner where I have come across many unlikely objects from a pink pump to a deer head, children's toys to a dead tortoise. It is not quite as sinister as that all sounds but it is not just all sweetness and light as well. When we were there, there was an older couple sat 30 yards away who didn't acknowledge our presence. I suspected they were Mary and I, 20 years hence. Might be an interesting place to spend a night.

the road back up the side of the Almond
is always tougher than on the way out

8.6 miles, fantastic!