Covid outings

On Tuesday we felt like a change of scene, so we drove for ten minutes to the somewhat unlovely industrial estate near the college where I used to teach. Oh, the joy of freedom! I liked working there but it did take up so much of my life and my thoughts. The best thing about being retired from teaching, I always think, is that I now have evenings and weekends without worrying about preparation or marking. 

Mr L knew that there was a path down to the canal and suddenly we were in the countryside. First we had to go along the aqueduct, which made me a bit queasy - look at the traffic far below - but then we had a very peaceful walk. 

It was such a beautiful day. 

The canal was very calm and the reflections were splendid. 

Though it looks very pastoral, it's just on the edge of the city and there was a constant, quiet hum of traffic. Where is everyone going? 

I wonder how long it'll be before this gets built up? However, it's lovely just now.

This looks like a very nice house, but there's a big road not far to the left of it these days. 

More reflections - so pretty!

Yesterday we walked round the Queen's Park with Son-in-Law 1. This is the green space in the middle of the city which has our biggest city hill in it - and also Holyrood Palace, where Her Maj stays when she's in Edinburgh (which isn't often). We parked at Duddingston, walked half-way round the park and intended to have coffee in the Queen's Gallery, but it turns out that it's shut on Wednesdays, so we walked up the Royal Mile to a Starbucks. Not quite the same, but acceptable. 

Then we continued round the bottom of the hill

to St Margaret's Loch - which seemed very popular with swans.

I have fond memories of picnicking with my friend Dorothy in this park. We often sat beside the ruined St Anthony's Chapel that you can see on the skyline, to eat our sandwiches. The chapel probably dates from the thirteenth century but no one really knows too much about it. It got repaired in the 15th century, but clearly that was about it as far as repairs went. 

And then we climbed up this road, looking at views of the city and the sea

up a bit more

and reached Dunsapie Loch. There are otters living there but we didn't see them.

I do love this hill, which has the city all round it but is so quiet and peaceful. 

We then didn't climb to the top of the hill but went back down the steps of Jacob's Ladder (somewhat hard on the knees) to the car, having completed the circuit of the park. It was a lovely morning and our SIL is such good company.