We had a lazy morning. We'd planned to meet Nikki at 2pm, and so felt obliged to have breakfast at the Blue Bear. It was nice, but not as wonderful as Georgia had made it out to be. I had scrambled eggs with a side of haggis, and Christian had the full breakfast, kindly sharing some black pudding and sausage with me. We walked on into town on a mission to buy me some waterproof trousers, and succeeded in finding some on sale in Nevisport. Win. We walked the length of Rose Street, which was very pleasant. There were interesting markets at the end, the owners of the stalls of which were frantically trying to stop them from blowing away. We turned north, passing some even more amazing markets with great food, and then joined the Water of Leith walkway the long way back to Inverleith Terrace. It was a lovely walk, and showed me a lot of Edinburgh that I hadn't already seen.
We hung around a bit in the flat, got ourselves ready, and went back out to meet Nikki at the Playhouse. The weather was looking less and less friendly. We met up, and Christian and I grabbed some sandwiches to have at some point on the walk. We walked south through the city, and then east into Holyrood Park. Nikki and Christian were not keen on the fact that it was raining and windy and suggested going around Arthur's Seat instead of up it. They asked me, as I was the tourist. I said I wanted to go up. We donned full waterproofs and started to ascend just as the weather got really horrible. We followed Nikki up the steep stepped path - it was fun, apart from the slipperiness of the stones. There was a green plateau after the first ascent. Then it got really steep. And windy. We scrambled up, and had a rest. There was a trig point, and a map of our surroundings. Nikki took a picture of Christian and me on the trig point, holding on for fear of being pushed over. We ate some biscuits. I'd never doubted my balance as a result of wind before, but it was so strong that I had difficulty walking and standing. I took a panorama of shots as best I could, but my hands were being blown around, and I had to move vantage points to see the horizon from every angle. It won't be very good. I went up the map with Nikki, and we looked at the map, again holding on for grim death. Christian took a video of us.
There were big black clouds advancing, and so we headed down, via a path that was rather easier than the way up. We sorted out which direction the Sheep Heid was, and made for it, via the road around the bottom of the hill. We were there quickly (at that point, we had covered 4.6 miles), and got a table. We had beers, and I had haggis, neeps, and tatties (again), and the other two had roasts. It was very nice. Nikki showed me skittle alley - it was amazing! It's a big, old-fashioned tenpin bowling alley, which you can book for functions. So atmospheric!
We donned our outdoor gear again, and headed out into the night. There was talk of maybe getting a bus, but apparently that was more trouble than it was worth. It wasn't raining as we started, but it started howling and bucketing quite quickly. Christian stopped to put his waterproofs on, while Nikki and I went on ahead, and she made her feelings about Scotland's elements known. We continued through the city, together most of the way back to Georgia's flat, and then we parted company.
Christian and I decided to walk past the Roamin' Nose, as Georgia said there was a banjo quartet there and it sounded interesting. We looked through the window: the band was on a break; there was only one banjo; there were no seats; we were tired. So we went back to the flat. John was there, just on his way out to join Georgia. Christian and I sat down and watched Ghostbusters and relaxed. Christian noted that due to the massive storm expected down south that the trains were likely to be interrupted. The others got home in time for Downton, and we watched it together. We met Al, who's a lovely guy. We went to bed soon after.
We hung around a bit in the flat, got ourselves ready, and went back out to meet Nikki at the Playhouse. The weather was looking less and less friendly. We met up, and Christian and I grabbed some sandwiches to have at some point on the walk. We walked south through the city, and then east into Holyrood Park. Nikki and Christian were not keen on the fact that it was raining and windy and suggested going around Arthur's Seat instead of up it. They asked me, as I was the tourist. I said I wanted to go up. We donned full waterproofs and started to ascend just as the weather got really horrible. We followed Nikki up the steep stepped path - it was fun, apart from the slipperiness of the stones. There was a green plateau after the first ascent. Then it got really steep. And windy. We scrambled up, and had a rest. There was a trig point, and a map of our surroundings. Nikki took a picture of Christian and me on the trig point, holding on for fear of being pushed over. We ate some biscuits. I'd never doubted my balance as a result of wind before, but it was so strong that I had difficulty walking and standing. I took a panorama of shots as best I could, but my hands were being blown around, and I had to move vantage points to see the horizon from every angle. It won't be very good. I went up the map with Nikki, and we looked at the map, again holding on for grim death. Christian took a video of us.
There were big black clouds advancing, and so we headed down, via a path that was rather easier than the way up. We sorted out which direction the Sheep Heid was, and made for it, via the road around the bottom of the hill. We were there quickly (at that point, we had covered 4.6 miles), and got a table. We had beers, and I had haggis, neeps, and tatties (again), and the other two had roasts. It was very nice. Nikki showed me skittle alley - it was amazing! It's a big, old-fashioned tenpin bowling alley, which you can book for functions. So atmospheric!
We donned our outdoor gear again, and headed out into the night. There was talk of maybe getting a bus, but apparently that was more trouble than it was worth. It wasn't raining as we started, but it started howling and bucketing quite quickly. Christian stopped to put his waterproofs on, while Nikki and I went on ahead, and she made her feelings about Scotland's elements known. We continued through the city, together most of the way back to Georgia's flat, and then we parted company.
Christian and I decided to walk past the Roamin' Nose, as Georgia said there was a banjo quartet there and it sounded interesting. We looked through the window: the band was on a break; there was only one banjo; there were no seats; we were tired. So we went back to the flat. John was there, just on his way out to join Georgia. Christian and I sat down and watched Ghostbusters and relaxed. Christian noted that due to the massive storm expected down south that the trains were likely to be interrupted. The others got home in time for Downton, and we watched it together. We met Al, who's a lovely guy. We went to bed soon after.
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