Firth of Forth, squirrels, deer and the view

Saturday, 23rd April and Sunday, 24th April - (Catch-up)

 This beautifully decorated and maintained apartment is on the first floor, but this gives us great views out over the Firth of Forth, and beyond. The bed is only a double, and with Lee's bruised knee and my coughing, we will use the other bedroom tonight, and both get a proper sleep without waking each other.

We also have a washing machine so catching up with clean clothes is a bonus. The squirrels seem to come most mornings, trying to get at the bird seed the owner puts out in the feeders. The deer are a little more timid and we've seen them a couple of times.

 With these older buildings, refurbishment can't be easy, and some of the electricals are interesting in that you have to throw a switch to be able to use the oven, etc., but you soon get used to that. It's just great to be able to move around and have this much space, especially when you know you won't get it at many other places.The kitchen is fully equipped and the bathroom is newly refurbished, and we have a sitting room at one end overlooking the garden and the views. Very, very cosy and comfy, and compared to staying in hotels, etc., this is the way to go if you need/want to do your own thing.

We are across the Firth from Edinburgh, and the nearest supermarket was Tescos, across the road bridge. Not an easy get, and you have to watch which part of the roundabout you go off at, but we found it and were able to stock up for the week.

Forth road bridge, due for decommissioning, as the cables are rusting!

This road bridge is to be replaced, and ironically enough the rail bridge is 100 years old and still going strong.

Went for a short walk after breakfast and found the local train station, (only a five minute walk), and planned to go into Edinburgh on the train tomorrow, to sort out banking, etc.

Rail bridge

As it was Easter Sunday, we thought most people would be at home for Sunday lunch, so decided to visit the Falkirk Wheel, which is about 40 miles away. Good drive and when you get near it you can see it from the distance. It was built to replace the set of lochs, through which canal boats would have to pass from Edinburgh and Glasgow.

It is the most amazing thing, and literally lifts canal barges and other low-drafted vessels up to the next level of the canal system! There were quite a few people there, but not overcrowded, and we saw the wheel working twice, and you can't believe it can do what it does.

Also being Easter weekend, they were running a steam train across the rail bridge, and it was great to see it chugging away, with lots of people on board.

 The engine was a very sleek design like the Flying Scotsman, big and powerful, with many carriages in tow.

Simple meal of savoury mince, which again makes a nice change from all the heavier stuff we've had on the Mull cruise.