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Inverkeithing to Leith
Pub run (with knobs on) Jan 2012
Fraser Alan
Gordie Andy Pat David Robert Laurie Ivan Marcus JohnD Jennifer Derek
BrianM
For some, the
run started sooner than others! A mischievous text from Jabbers ‘who’s
up for a 6am start from Kirkcaldy' managed to reel in Fraser, Andy and a
legless Laurie with Fraser’s pal Ivan joining the trio at Burntisland.
The rest met at
the agreed start time of 9.30 from Inverkeithing. Alan had met Pat on
the bus from Glenrothes and had already broken three ribs laughing at
Pat’s promised ‘construction’. Words alone cannot do his ‘scary mask’
justice (Edinburgh bairns will be having nightmares for years!) and it
gathered many admiring/alarmed glances as Pat wore it for most of the
run. Anxious to pile in the miles our Social Sec David had begged for an
extra few miles by extended the route from S Queensferry but later
regretted his enthusiasm!
On a crisp
winters day of blue skies we all came together at Inverkeithing train
station and after the usual ‘arseing about’ from Brian we set off round
the coast path to N Q’Ferry where Gus had arranged bacon butties, tea
and coffee for us at the Ferry Inn. Ta from us all Gus! It was a
brilliant start to what turned out to be a great day. Alan awarded Derek
a mint tea bag for use if he couldn’t hack the 'pace' later on.
We jogged across
the bridge to our first pint of the day in S’ Queensferry. Our route
continued through the Dalmeny estate where Jennifer acquitted herself
well as guide. Alan survived a bad patch with a flu and Laurie limped
along at the rear. We all eventually made the Cramond Brig hotel where
the second of the day was downed. By now ‘legless,’ Laurie departed to
meet friends for the Hearts match.
For most of us
the river Almond walkway down to Cramond was virgin territory and most
seemed to be impressed. The Scotsman photographer that spotted Pat
wearing his mask was certainly impressed – look for the headline - ‘police
searching for Ned Kelly lookalike in Cramond – approach with caution!’
Another pint was
downed at Cramond and the aches were beginning to disappear but David
appeared slightly disconsolate when he discovered that there was more
than a mile between pubs. The next bit got a bit messy – a jog through
the Roman fort didn’t impress many (Brian's not too keen on foundations
at the minute!) and further on we
were alarmed when Brian appeared to kidnap a small child on a scooter
(the mother looked a bit put out too!) We passed through an estate
obviously inhabited by very rich people (dentists and builders!) and
then though the park where we could hear the traffic thundering along
the Queensferry road. This was where the fun nearly came to an abrupt
stop for Derek when he leapt down the wall and fell into the path of the
traffic. Alan and Fraser dragged him off the road and saved Derek from
‘the big building site in the sky.’ Safely across the road we looked
back with alarm at Pat who was about to cross the same road wearing his
mask!
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We were now onto
the traverse of Corstorphine hill with a very pleasant run on hillpaths
past the nuclear bunker, past the zoo and along the road to Roseburn. Here Andy left us
(but having come all the way from Kdy!) and Brian departed back to work.
Jennifer was now definitely looking the freshest of us (the fact she was
drinking fruit juices may have a lot to do with it!) but Alan
inadvertently put his foot in it when he asked ‘will you be going all
the way tonight Jennifer’. (he meant the run of course!)
A short jog got
us down into the Water of Leith pathway which comes as a revelation to
most that such a delightful hidden green corridor cuts through the
heart of the city. Most legs were feeling the unaccustomed hard road
miles by now (Robert looking like he'd already had a 'work out' at no XX
LXXXh
walk!) but there wasn’t too far to go. We had one more pint at
Stockbridge and then Gordie dropped his usual bombshell – ‘can we miss
the next pub out because I have to get back to feed the dog’. After much
wailing and gnashing of teeth we agreed - only so that Gordie could
preserve his perfect record of pub runs. For this reason it was
surprisingly early that we crawled into Leith and found our last
watering hole.
During the run
there had been a bit of banter about the delights (according to your
tastes) of 41 Leith walk. It had been Alan’s son Ally that had warned
us that under no circumstances should we knock on the door of number XX
and ask for GeorXX.
Just to set the
matter straight it was by pure coincidence that I happened to look up as
I was heading up the 'Walk' and found myself at the door of No XX. Just
as I was taking a photo for posterity the door opened
and a young man with a pit bull appeared. I
plucked up courage to ask if this was where GXXXge lived. Yes, he
replied, but there is a strange fellow, disguised in a mask, 'busy' with him at the
moment!
I must at this
point admit that I have declined a monetary inducement from Derek to
preserve his reputation as a connoisseur of fine ales – the agreed
story is that Dave, Pat and Derek bevvied the evening away in
Leith and then proceeded by way of number XX LXXth walk and several dubious
dancing clubs for another ‘session’ up the high street before Pat got
arrested for being drunk in possession of a scary mask.
Joking apart it had been a
great day with 22 miles/6pubs under our belts and everyone seeming happy
with our efforts.
Note: Some names
and addresses above have been disguised following legal advice!
Alan
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