Tuesday evening departure for the Arran adventure. We caught three trains to Ardrossan, then camped on some empty scrub near the port. We awoke at sunrise for the first ferry to Brodick. A bad night's sleep - as the first night in the tent usually is - left us feeling pretty heavy, so we had a slow day. We first pitched the tent in some woods up a wee hill. It was a good out of the way spot, but it was very midgey. Subsequent scouting - after a very good breakfast at Little Rock - yielded the beach to be a much better location. We relaxed at the (very interesting) Arran Heritage museum for a while. I had a nice cup of tea and a vegan cinnamon swirl, and wrote and read, while R and I took it in turns to visit the exhibits and chill in the garden with Max. Then we moved the tent to the beach, though were beaten to the best spot by another very smug camper by about 5 minutes. Midges were less persistent because of the breeze, but still around, so Max slept in the tent (after what happened last time). He loves it.
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Awake for a glorious sunrise on the beach. We took the bus to Corrie, then walked along the coast to Sannox, checking out various interesting rock formations. We stopped for breakfast at Mara Deli, which was really delicious - kedgeree with crispy tofu, and excellent coffee. They have banana blossom tacos too which I was sad I didn't manage to return to try. A lovely outdoor location with a sea view, and dog-friendly. From Sannox we took the bus to Lochranza, then embarked on a far more substantive than expected hike over the hills. It was very glorious. Max met a boxer dog called Betty who wanted to affectionately punch him in the face over and over, and he wasn't sure what to make of that. When we finally made it to the coast, by Laggan Cottage, I read on the beach for an hour while R went off to look for fossils. Finding none, we continued, only to discover the fossils had been in the direction we wanted to walk all along. The return route around the coast was beautiful too, a bit rugged, and I was running on fumes. We were absolutely knackered by the time we made it back to Lochranza, in time for the 5pm bus. We got off in Blackwaterfoot, on the west side, having had the original plan to explore there as well. But we were too tired, and just waited for the next bus back to Brodick. We got very excellent sourdough pizza (with king oyster mushrooms) from The Parlour in Brodick, as well as nice sorbet, and ate it on the beach.
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Max and I had a restful day to ourselves while R went off on his bike to look for rocks. We started in the Little Rock cafe in Brodick and.. stayed there reading and writing and eating for a while. Finally we got our act together and set out south around the coast, towards Lamlash. Another glorious day, and another beautiful rocky path. The next stop on the food tour was The Drift Inn, which had several great vegan options. I had a cracking Beyond burger with melted smoked not-cheese in a pretzel bun. It was perfect, and the location was gorgeous too. We returned via an inland route, across some hills and through a bit of woods. Then spent the rest of the day relaxing on the beach.
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Some clouds provided a bit of relief from the sun, but still a beautiful day. We took the bus to Whiting Bay, then walked from there to Kildonan. We weren't sure if it was accessible along the beach the whole day and ended up doing quite a trek along a road which wasn't ideal. From there we bussed to Blackwaterfoot, and finally managed to hike to the King's Cave. We found a fossil dinosaur foot/handprint and some excellent rock formations, and beautiful views. We did a circular route which, once again, was longer than expected. We marched to Shiskine for the last bus back to Brodick.
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Another hike to Lamlash, via a different inland route. Found a community woodland/orchard, and R finally hit upon agates. I had lunch and read/wrote at The Drift Inn again by myself. Staff were exceptionally kind, and found vegan mayo to go with my croquettes and mac-n-not-cheese, and a vegan chocolate for me when I went to pay the bill. I stuck my head in the Old Pier Cafe; they had some vegan stuff, but it was cramped and busy. I returned by bus, and read on the beach.
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R went off for one final rock hunting trip on his bike, and I wandered into Brodick. Finally got to Wooley's Bakery, which had an astounding amount of vegan options, sweet and savoury. I started with an excellent sausage roll and a brownie, and bought more things for the journey home. Posted a postcard, cleaned up our campsite, and read and wrote on the beach until R got back. Then we headed for the ferry back to Ardrossan, and three trains home.
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Bakewell tart at the Community Kitchen. Mum taught me how to do the fancy squiggles. It took three goes to get them half-decent.
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Oat and marmalade muffins for the Greener Kirkcaldy open day. Many jars of rhubarb from the garden. Ginger set in chocolate for a friend.
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Rhubarb muffins from explosion of garden rhubarb. Carrot cake with tangy frosting in the community kitchen.
An adventure to Cambo Gardens with K and Tara, featuring a nice lunch. Tara was an excellent beach gremlin.
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Courgettes are already fruiting. Planted cucumbers/gherkins (we'll see) and tomatoes into my footpath garden. Gave away the rest of the tomatoes that we had no space for.
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A long walk along the Water of Leith, with a detour to Green Bite Cafe. Tara made many friends, and frolicked in the water. At Leith Market, we met M and Lowenna. I bought much vegan cheese and not-pork pies (from Earthy and Kama) then we had more lunch in the Sly Fox. Tara and Lowenna bring their own special blend of chaos, sweetness, and antagonism to any outings. We walked along the Water of Leith some more, then sat in a dog-filled park for a while as Lowenna joined a pack. Tara was bemused by all of the bigger dogs running around, and settled for guarding our perimeter and asserting her boundaries with yaps.
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Up at 5 to walk to the Auld Kirk to climb the tower in time for sunrise. A tradition to welcome spring. Then a nice breakfast provided by the Auld Kirk Trust volunteers, and a glorious walk back home.
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Two days of Co-op governance coworking in Manchester. As well as being very positive and productive, I found a toastie place (Frankie's) that would put ramen in a toastie with vegan cheese, and that was fantastic. The next day I went back for baked beans, potato waffle and jalapenos in a toastie. And an excessive peanut pretzel milkshake. Also had fantastic food at 8th Day Co-op Cafe, Pastan, and Wholesome Junkies.
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St George's mushrooms out bang on schedule. Dryad's starting. Fairy ring champignon in the secret cemetery?
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A braw week of sunrises and sunsets in Fife, around a trip to Manchester.
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To Edinburgh to be looked after by Tara! She bounced so high when I arrived. And accompanied me on visits to Seeds For The Soul and Chapter One Coffee. We attempted to go to Harmonium for their final weekend, but it was full. Nova Pizza squeezed us in instead. Tara is not an early riser.
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Ran into Tara's mad family on the Links this morning, for some unexpected excitement. Wee breakfast at Cafe Kweer before train to Kirkcaldy.
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Cuddles, walkies and food touring with Tara. Co-op colleagues came to cowork as well.
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Breakfast at Curran Geal. Work all day, through a day of glorious sunshine. When we finally got out in the evening a haar promptly descended on the whole city. We stomped around Holyrood Park anyway, and got home in time for dinner to be delivered from Soul Vegan. Tara crashed out, and refused any more walkies for 24 hours.
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I was at work, and Tara was refusing to get up most of the day. We did manage a frolic with a big stick on Bruntsfield Links, and a nice lunch at Curran Geal.
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My last day with Tara - lunch at Curran Geal with F. Then I returned two days later for a night before an early train. An evening walk with Tara's mad family. This is the first time I managed to get a photo of them that wasn't a blur.
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Tara and I visited F in Glasgow. We enjoyed the anti-monarchy protests, and lots of tasty vegan food.
Immediately woke up at sunrise once I was home. Finished Anne Frank Diaries. Work on onboarding new staff, co-op staffing plan, general admin. One more evening with Tara. Went to Manchester to work on co-op governance, and eat many good things. Swam in the sea. Baked for the Greener Kirkcaldy open day. Garden update. Caught up with friends.
Climbed the Auld Kirk tower for sunrise on the 1st to welcome spring. St George's mushrooms! And dryad's saddle starting. Made bakewell tart at the Community Kitchen. Went to Edinburgh to see Tara. Adventure in Glasgow with F and Cambo Gardens with K. Started and finished reading The Wasp Factory. Started watching Bridgerton.
Lots of work to get ready for new Co-op people starting. Also we're still hiring developers... Swam in the sea. Went to Arran. Hiked around the east and north of Arran; to the south along the east coast; parts of the south and west coast; to Lamlash again.
Nonstop work, but also lots of eating and walkies and Tara cuddles. Walkies around Holyrood Park and to Leith and back. Started reading Anne Frank Diaries. Finished watching Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte. Feeling excited and exhausted. Dryads!