Birthday in Scotland: 6th - 9th Aug 2013

I had a 1/2 day at work, & set off for Perth at lunchtime. Blackpool to Perth was about 240 miles. According to Gmaps, that's about 4 hours. Ahem! I was quite a bit less time than that ;-p

I stopped for some petrol & grabbed some food to takeaway from the attached Tesco. Then I continued through Perth, over the Tay & up the Coupar Angus road through Scone to the airport on the A94 where I was booked in for the night.

I dumped the bags & went looking for the hall ~ in Scone village, where the dance was later that evening. I didn't find it, & had to rush back to change, eat some of the Tesco takeaway for tea, & wash it down with a hotel brew before looking again.

Back in Scone, I eventually found the dance at the Robert Douglas Memorial Institute on Abbey Rd. I was a tiny bit late, but they hadn't quite started. I was very happy to see Sandy Nixon's band were playing for the evening :-)

I did all but 1 in the 1st 1/2, grabbed a brew & a biscuit, & danced all the 2nd 1/2 dances. Sandy Nixon is great.

Then it was back up the A94, & bed at the airport.

Next morning a very basic breakfast was provided. That is, boxes of cereals, toast, & tea/coffee. Still, better than nothing.

I was due at Carnoustie that evening, & another dance at the Beach Hall Leisure Centre. This time with Marion Anderson. It didn't start till 8, so I had all day to explore the Kingdom of Fife.

When I had attended the RSCDS Summer School in August 2010, I'd been minus a car, so it was nice to be mobile.

I stopped at a boutiquey shop & got a pressed felt stole to wrap round my middle that evening. The reason being that the £3 silk dress I'd bought from a charity shop in Edinburgh didn't go in at the waist & just 'hung'. It needed a bit of help to give me the shape I worked-out for ;-p.

The stole was Very expensive, so I called it my birthday present!

I also stopped at a ballet shop & picked up some purple shoes to go with both.

As you can never get enough Good dance shoes, I thought I'd nip to St Andrews, as there would be a shoe shop at the Summer School. I went via north Perth, crossed the Tay, & took the M90 & A91 to St Andrews.

Sadly the St Andrews pics I took in 2010 while I was at Summer School 2 nevr made it onto my PC & went to the photo graveyard. I didn't blog it at the time & now the pics would have come in handy. Here're views of the famous St Andrews cathedral, the golf course, and the beach & skyline.

Tiger Woods on the Old Course in 2000 apparently

In St Andrews this time round I got a great pair of leather leopard print shoes for a fiver. Bargain! 

They are the most comfortable dance shoes I own, & I've got 9 pairs of the bloody things. Well, a girl has to have enough colours to go with all her frocks, eh ;-p!

After a memory lane drive round town, I headed NE & hit the coast at Tayport where I took these pics of a dog having a great time jumping into the harbour to get a ball!

I think his name was Mungo? It's 20 months ago, so not sure

After I got home I sent the pics to his owner.



About 200m upstream I got these of a seagull, some fishermen, & Broughty Ferry across the Tay. 
Writing this in April '15, I know I'll be dancing in Broughty Ferry on June 30th as I travel up to Aberdeen to embark on my Svalbard adventure :-)

That's Dundee across the Tay

I could hear Dad giving instructions on how to cast.
Shame about the blobs on the lens :-(

I had to get across the Tay & up to Carnoustie. That's in the distance on the coast in the last picture, & like many places in this part of Scotland, Very famous for golf.

I took the B946, Newport Rd, & got onto the Tay Road Bridge. At the other end it was very busy, but I found a place to leave the car for a few min while I enquired about a boat trip to Bell Rock for my birthday.
Then it was back in the traffic on the A92 to Carnoustie where I checked in & organised tea at the very nice Sea View Guest House.

Once fed I got ready & headed to the leisure centre.
There were quite a few there from the Scone dance, & I only sat 1 of the 18 dances out.
With my work cap on, I did notice some dancers leaving in cars parked in disabled spots. 
Er? 
Not sure that's right?
Lovely bed, followed by porridge for brekkers, & then north along the A92 to Arbroath & Montrose.
I went all the way to Montrose 1st, & bought a Forfar Bridie for lunch.
Then I found my way down to the shore for some pics & a paddle.
This is the Scurdie Ness lighthouse from the top of the steps down to the beach.
The tide was going out, so I went down to find the sea.
As I said above, shame about the blogs on the lens. I'd waited quite a while for that wave.

Seagulls & Scurdie Ness lighthouse

The water was shin deep

Once in the water I took this showing the current making the seaweed stream.

After my paddle I washed the sand off in the ladies, & grabbed a brew in the cafe on the prom. before heading south to Arbroath where I planned to get an Arbroath Smokie ~ 

Arbroath smokie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Smokie bought, I headed back down the A92 to Dundee, crossed the Tay bridge, & had a quick look at Newport on Tay before heading down the closest road I could find to the Tay. This was a very minor road passing through Wormit & Balmerino, & at a junction I saw this circular cloud.

A bit further on I passed a Vet's & caught sight of a large green rabbit. The road was too narrow to stop right away, & I went quite a way before find somewhere to turn & go back for a picture!

Eventually, after doing a lot of rubbernecking & enjoying the small quiet roads, I got to Newburgh, & it was time for a comfort break. I ended up walking along the Tay path for a while & found some kids trying to make a tree house ~ with no nails. I sent a lad home to beg some, & then helped them get the floor ready. While I waited for the young lad to get back I called Maire who was hosting me at Auchtermuchty to give her an ETA.

After Newport it was more or less due south to 'Muchty ~ which is what the locals call it.

I was headed there because there was a folk festival on over that week, & this included a chance to dance on the Friday night, Saturday in the square & at the ceilidh on Saturday night.

Once in Muchty I called at the festival office, & picked up a bloke who directed me the long way round to Maire's house. The long way, as there was a path between hers & the village square which was less than a quarter of the distance.

Maire's was a little bungalow & I had her son's room for 3 nights.

She also didn't mind I warmed up the smokie in the microwave & stank the place out - oops!

I was planning an earlyish start for my birthday, & having decided not to take a boat trip to Bell Rock, I was going to go to Scone Palace, back near Perth.

So, next morning, off I went along the A92, the A921 & the M90 to Perth.

Here're some links & pics about Scone Palace:

Scone Palace - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Scone Palace - Perth - VisitScotland

The Inner Hall

I stopped off at the cafe 1st, & decided to do the Palace then as it was spitting a bit. You weren't allowed to take pics, & ones I got off the net have not copied..

Outside is a massive Pinetum, & I spent nearly 3 hours walking round it.

Here's some info from the web?

History of the Grounds

The celebrated Moot Hill was the ancient crowning place of the Kings of Scots. It is located immediately in front of the Palace and is crowned by a tiny Presbyterian Chapel. A replica of the famous Stone of Scone sits in front of the Chapel.

The village of Scone once stood within the grounds of the Palace. However, when the medieval house was rebuilt as a Gothic Palace in 1803 and the landscaping of the new Palace grounds took place in 1805 the entire village was relocated two miles away and became known as ‘New Scone’. There are still many reminders of Scone’s past around the Grounds. From the Mercat Cross (Market Cross) and Old Scone graveyard to the 16th century archway which was the grand entrance to the ‘City of Scone’.

David Douglas and the Pinetum

David Douglas was born in the village of Scone in 1799 and worked as a gardener here at Scone Palace for seven years. Douglas went on to become an explorer and a great plant hunter. To discover more about David Douglas, some of his fellow Scottish tree planters and the Pinetum visit the David Douglas Pavilion. Constructed from Douglas Fir, the structure is erected within sight of the towering conifers at Scone and features other timbers sourced from the Estate. Scottish slate, re-cycled from the Estate, was also used in the construction.

Stroll at your leisure through the magnificent Pinetum where, amongst others, giant redwoods and Noble Firs tower over you then onto the New Pinetum of less hardy and decorative conifers.  

Pseudotsuga menziesii One of the finest trees within the grounds at Scone Palace is a giant Douglas Fir which was raised from the first seed sent home from North America by David Douglas in 1826.

The famous Scone Diagonal Douglas Fir!

The first 3 pics are of the famous Fir.

It's so tall I turned the camera onto the diagonal to get it all in!

The next 6 are all trees in the Pinetum. I think I got the names right?

Sequoia trio

Thuja where the main trunk in the middle had died,
leaving its children round the outside

Another Thuja which I thought were like
Dinosaurs, or even Nessie!

A grove of Sequoia

This may also be a Thuja, but whatever
 it is, it has great arms :-)

Another Sequoia

After hours wandering around the Pinetum, I can't believe I didn't get a Cedar ~ I love them :-/

This is the Murray Star Maze from on the viewing
platform ~ it's Perthshire's only maze.
If all was shown you'd be able to see a tartan effect
from the 2 different beech leaf colours

After looking at the maze from the viewing platform, I went in & found my way into the middle & out with only 1 wrong turn. I was quite chuffed :-)

Then it was time to chase peacocks ~ not really ;-)
In fact, I spent ages sitting on the grass or crawling on my knees & elbows trying to get a decent pic.

The bally thing went headless just as I clicked :-/

This was on a lot of zoom so I didn't freak him out.
Consequently it's a bit blurred, but I've blown it up 
for birthday cards, & it's not too bad

Again, just as I clicked, the silly bird had a peck ~ doh :-/

When I went to have a look at the building from the front, I saw this one in a tree.

I zoomed for this as well. Nice colours :-)

This is the SW face of the palace with a peacock up a beech tree.

The south turret

I found a peacock feather on the lawn, & I got all arty-farty with it ;-p

Peacock feather on the stone garden wall

Peacock feather & face on a tree

The Eye of Argos ~ Peacock feather on a tree

Then it was time for a final brew in the cafe, a trip to the Ladies, & back to Muchty.

I actually went past Muchty & on to Cupar where I organised a ride for the next morning ~ see next blog. 
After that I detoured on my way home, hoping to get high enough for a sunset shot, but no luck.

Back at the village I went for a takeaway, followed by a trip to the pub to listen to some live music, & have some local cider.

Maire was still up when I returned to her house, so we put the world to rights over a glass of red :-). 
Well, it had to be done.

OAO

Annan Riding of the Marches ~ July 2013

Having found out about such rides when visiting Hawick & Denholm for Hogmanay 2012, I made some enquiries, organised a horse for the day, booked 2 nights B&B & a return train ticket, & I was sorted.
This what it was all about:

Annan Riding of the Marches (RoM)

History of the Traditional Scottish Event

Annan Riding of the Marches (ROM) can claim to be one of the largest and oldest historic traditional ceremonies in South West Scotland.

The event draws significant media attention from press, radio and local TV. The ROM calendar of fundraising events runs throughout the year in order to finance the annual celebrations.

The fortnight of events culminates on the "First Saturday of July".

On that morning as the Annan Town Clock chimes 8-o-clock the Annan Cornet and his Lass lead a cavalcade of riders out of the town round the burgh boundaries, the traditional words "Safe Oot, Safe In" ringing in their ears. They will be forging the latest link in a chain of tradition dating back almost 700 years.

In those days, their forefathers were forced by grim necessity to check the town’s boundaries (or marches) to ensure that its landmarks (crosses, cairns, wells and even streams) had not been removed or tampered with by English marauders. Their aim was to ensure that the burgh boundaries were maintained in good order.

Stops around the 15 mile boundary are nowadays regarded as a mere respite for horses and riders, but were once essential steps in the security of the boundaries although nowadays they are part of the ancient tradition.

One instance is the "Hole in the Hedge" ceremony at Landheads. In olden times Willie Crone’s Smithy stood where the hedge now is, and it is claimed that when the Smithy was in its heyday, a boy was pushed through its window to look out for approaching marauders. Each year a different local boy is chosen to be ‘skelped’ through the hedge to mark both the site and the tradition.

The Burgh Snuffbox is also passed around at this time – presented to the Burgh of Annan in 1807 by Brigadier General Dirom, the principal’s practice of taking a measure of snuff has been an essential part of the tradition ever since.

Finally the cavalcade will circle around the Alter Stane in the channel in the Solway Firth (the most southerly part of the Marches), before returning with the Burgh Standard to take part in the traditional horse chases on the banks of the River Annan – a reminder of grimmer times when the men of Annan would physically chase reivers and invaders from their lands.

The Burgh Standard will have been shown at all points of Annan’s ancient boundaries, the markers will have been checked, and hopefully, all will be well !!!

So now you know!
I left work just after lunch, & got a train to Annan via Preston & Carlisle.
I'd found out that there was the "Cornet's Supper" on the Friday night, with possible dancing, & organised a ticket. Once checked into the B&B, I went for a wander to see where the venue was.
Happily - see below ;-p, the B&B was less than 100m from where we started the next morning, and about 300m from the High St. Very handy :-)
I'd taken the wedding dress (having got one in 1995 that didn't look like a blancmange, & was wearable as a 'posh-frock'), & got my self dolled-up at the B&B. From the look on his face when I left, the Landlord wasn't used to seeing posh-frocks ;-)
TBH, the Cornet's Supper was a bit of a let-down. The meal was OK, but there was no dancing after the speeches. At least I'd been able to organise a hat which I was to pick up next morning. 

It was an early start, & I was down the road by 6.15. The Landlord had drawn the short straw to get up and give me breakfast!
As well as a hat, I was minus a riding jacket (The blue one had gone in the charity bag in 2006 ~ once I'd bought myself a new blazer to wear when reffing kick-boxing fights, & the hacking jacket had gone the same way years before).
I must admit, I felt pretty underdressed. Oops!

The 2013 Cornet having a chat at about 0630

I eventually found the guy with my horse. He was a brown called Criollo, which is a breed of horse from South America. Here's a link: 

Criollo horse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

His owner was an Argentinian, & from the odd comments from other horse peeps, they didn't reckon much to him. No idea why. His horse was great. I think Criollo may have been a Criollo with an unimaginative name? He certainly had all the characteristics ~ see the link.

Anyway, once aboard I joined the general milling, & we eventually all set off towards the high street. 
Kick-off (unusually) was at 0730, & the next 2 pics were taken just before the cavalcade set off behind the Principals ~ including the Cornet in his red jacket & on his grey horse.

The Riding started at the big brown building with the tower, & initially we rode (at a fast trot) round the back streets leading to the path to the Firth. 
It was kind of southerly.

The Solway Firth is behind the trees dead ahead

The purple (& blue) sash means the wearer is an official of another town's Riding. 
Nice enough bloke, but a dodgy seat!

Mr Purple Sash & a line of horses along the east of the Firth

As you can see, it was pretty muddy Solway-side. Especially after lots of hooves had been that way.
I wonder what they do when the tide's in?


IRO the route, Kevin Edgar's report gives a precis. It's at the bottom.



Once we were all on the sand the Principals set off at a gallop on their own.
Some of the horses left behind got quite excited about the prospect of a gallop, & some of the riders hit the deck. That is, the muddy/sandy/wet deck :-/
They weren't the last to fall off that day!

The guy in the yellow waistcoat was there with his wife & 10 year old daughter. It was her 1st Riding

We would gallop more or less along the tractor tracks

This bit reminded me of the Morecambe Bay walk
 I did with Kim & Opkhar in July 11

The gallop was pretty hairy, & I had to take Criollo in a big circle to stop him. They so love to run!

A few more hit the wet deck, before we followed the Principals back onto dry land, & a few country lanes & tracks.

This was where we had our 1st pit-stop. Or in the case of some horses & riders, the 1st piss-stop.
 
No apologies for the pun.

After some malt & shortbread we set off again ~ at a gallop!

I got this pic off the official website. You can see why peeps may have brake problems! Shame it copied blurred :-/

We went left at the end of this track, & the next pic is a shot of the horses & riders still coming down it.

We were ultimately headed towards the 'lunch' stop at the old Annan power station at Chapelcross. 
I call it lunch, but it was only just after 10, I think?

If you know your nags, you can tell we were trotting in all the pics.
Fortunately, Criollo just trotted on while I was turning in the saddle to take pics. 
Good lad :-)








We went under the A75 & up this farm track, & as you can see from the next couple of pics, there were some very small folk taking part.

Tiny pony & rider at Chapelcross

Criollo grabbing a bite of lunch

We were given sandwiches & a drink at Chapelcross, & kind folk came round with buckets of water for the horses.
I had 2 ham sandwiches, & Criollo had grass & a carrot I had in my bumbag.
Several people came up & asked about Criollo, & one girl said she'd ridden him further east earlier that year, and at Annan previously.

That explained why he was so good at his job ~ he was an old hand. Thanks mate xx

Someone took this pic, but Criollo wouldn't pose for the camera!

Just after I'd got (stiffly) back aboard, a TV film crew came by for an interview. Apparently there was a girl from Orkney visiting for the ride, plus me from Blackpool (& that was newsworthy!?)
I took this while I was being interviewed!
I've never seen the final piece, but it was on the local telly apparently!

A lot more trotting along the country lanes followed, interspersed with canters/gallops across fields & along tracks.
After one field I noticed the guy I'd talked to on the Firth (with the 10yr old) had a big green grass stain on his yellow pants. He'd obviously parted company with his horse, & he said that when he'd tried to pull up, his horse had gone right & he'd gone left. The green stain was due to being dragged on his bum before he'd let go of the reins. 
Happily his horse stopped & didn't head back to Annan!

Re the trotting along the road, I was reminded about an old 19C saying:
"it ain't the 'untin' on thi 'ills that 'urts the osses 'ooves, but thi 'ammer, 'ammer, 'ammer on thi 'ard 'igh road" 
Attributed to Jorrocks, but not sure. Whoever said it back then, we were certainly doing a lot of trotting that Saturday.


We stopped for quite a while for the Hole in the Hedge ceremony, & there was another halt in a wood where a lady came round with the rosettes. 
I still have mine ~ somewhere.

That stop was our last before the return to town, & the races by the river at Galabank Park. 

There were various classes for weight if rider & age of rider, & the type of horse. There was a real party atmosphere. 
I wish I'd got this bloke's E-address ~ I like pictures of peeps taking pictures ;-)

I entered the open race, so called because anyone could enter it. 

I think Criollo & I came 4th?

Criollo always seemed happy & interested :-)
Well, his ears were always forward, anyway

Races over it was back into town the long way round so we could parade down the High St. We went through a housing estate where it seemed everyone was watching us go by from all sorts of viewpoints :-)

The Principals & Criollo's ears again

Then we hit the High St, by which time I had been chatting to the girl from Orkney for about 10 min, & we'd managed to ride up right behind the Principals!

There's even a picture (which went in the local paper) of the underdressed yours truly, and the Principals :-) I'm the one with the light coloured top between the R-hand red jacket & the white-faced horse.

After a bit more speech-making, it was time to ride back towards the station where I gave Criollo back. It was about 1430, and considering I'd had him since before 0700, £140 was a Real bargain at <£20 an hour. 

You can't get a hack on a grotty nag from a riding school for that!

This is me, Criollo & Mr Argentino.
And Criollo still looks happy :-)



After that I hobbled back to the B&B for a shower & change.

I was Very sore & stiff after more than 7 hours riding, & was also very glad the B&B was so close to the station yard where we & all the horses had congregated.


Washed & changed I went to the fairground for a look round & to find some food. I ended up in a very busy chip shop & had a massive plate of fish & chips, a brew, & a toasted currant teacake :-q Yum.

There had been a marching bands competition on, & all the competitors marched in the evening parade. 
I think this boy got a top prize. He was very clean in his movements ~ not that I know much about how they judge marching bands ;-p, but if you zoom in you can see he's got his baton on his thumbs 

There was all sorts going on - including the fair, until very late, but I was too tired to be particularly sociable, & went back to the B&B after the Prize-givings.

Next morning I had a late breakfast & had another look round Annan.

I ended up at the park by the river where we'd had the races. There were some great trees, but my camera's battery had died, so no pics.

I walked all the way Criollo & I had raced, & at the end of the curve found a nice wooded track alongside the river Annan. As the river curved westerly there was a small metal bridge just south of the A75 bridge which allowed me to cross and walk back towards Annan. The river path went south-westerly and then south-easterly as far as the bridge on the B721.

Crossing the main road by the Blue Bell Inn, I carried on walking east of the river until the rail bridge, when I went left, back towards town & Station Rd where the B&B was.

It was a nice day, & a lovely walk to ease yesterday's stiffness. 

I wondered what Criollo was doing. Having a day off, hopefully?

Once back at the B&B, I picked up my bag, & headed off down to the Station House pub where I planned to have a bite before the train.

It wasn't until 1/4 past 3, so I sat in its little garden writing up my notes for this.

No particular hold-ups on the way home, & I was back at 171 about 1830 having had a walk from Blackpool North.

Fortunately, all the walking had eased the leg & back stiffness I'd woken up with, & I hoped Criollo was OK, too.

Thanks Criollo, you were a great ride for the Riding. 
Maybe we'll hitch-up again one day?

This is the RoM website link, & I'm in some of the pics. You have to know where to look tho!
 2013 Annan RoM 

OAO