Log No 19. Wed 17th Apr 2013 - Musselburgh to S Queensferry, 20 miles (349 miles walked)

Lying in the tent I was awake through the night and it was as silent as the grave, not a rustle of the tent at all and I heard a single church/clock chime, it may have been 1 o'clock or I had just heard the last of some other o'clock.
I next heard blackbirds singing then the 4 o'clock chimes and there was some wind, it doesn't start to get light until 5 so the dawn chorus is early!

My bus back to Musselburgh was at 8.10 so it was supposed to be a relaxed start but I ended up rushing in the end, I had just got packed up when the rain started so that was lucky.

Today's 20 miles was to be mainly tarmac of one form or another but was expected to be easy and fairly level.

I got off the bus at Musselburgh and immediately put on full waterproofs before setting off along the road to get over the footbridge across the R Esk and onto the seafront round Fisherrow and Joppa.

The rain had eased after Portobello then it was the main road through Leith, a mix of old run down properties, dockland and new development.


I stopped at a bench by the Water of Leith at 11.15 for half my lunch, I had bought a 'meal deal' and after a pork pie (a real one, Melton Mowberry) enjoyed half of a pasta, chicken & bacon dish.

Continuing past the Scottish Govt building, the Ocean Terminal and Britannia I went by Granton Harbour and then back onto the walkway.

I had good views now of Cramond Island and the bridges over the Forth.

I had another break at 13.00 to finish off my lunch before getting to the detour at Cramond to get over the River Almond. It was a half hour walk on the footpath along the side of the river to get to the bridge, there were some steps on the way to get round a bad bit in the path 79 steps up then a short while later 71 steps down!

On the other side I took off my waterproofs then followed a variety of the cycle routes through the estate grounds.

The rain had started again after an hour but I didn't stop and turning the corner at Hound Point it was in my face.

After another hour I was under the Railway bridge and then into South Queensferry.

I had to put my waterproofs back on again as it was showing no sign of letting up.

Sally & Duncan, handily from my point of view, live close by the foot/cycle access onto the Forth Road Bridge and I knocked on their door at 16.30.

There was no real bother with my foot but I get trapped nerve symptoms on my right thigh and I am sure it is just with the tightness of the rucsac hip belt.

Tomorrow is a rest day.