Day 2 – glorious sunshine welcomes Fife riviera.
After two days of walking, we’re finally in Fife, ready for the next leg of our journey round the Kingdom’s coast.
Day two of Bob’s Walk started at the canal basin in Linlithgow, and took us alongside the water, on to busy roads, through Kirkliston to South Queensferry and finally into sight of the famous bridges into the Kingdom.
It was a day of contrasting weather – cool, drizzly and almost chilly as we departed Linlithgow, but glorious shine as we crossed into Fife; a day when the waterproofs were in and out of the rucksack with regularity.
We covered some 13.5 miles, slightly less than day one, and it was another fabulous day of walking.
There isn’t a huge amount to see walking along the canal out of Linlithgow, but it is lush green and calm, with just enough growth overhead to keep some of the raindrops off us.
There was a slight pause as we moved gently round a swan sitting in the long grass with her young cygnets. Her hissing and flapping of wings got the ‘stay clear’ message across, and we were grateful for the resident who popped out his door with a bag of bread to feed, and distract, them!
We left the canal path at Kirkliston, where we received wonderful hospitality at the Newliston Arms who kindly allowed us to use their outdoor tables for our sandwich lunch. Their cakes are pretty good too!
From there it was back on the road with hi-viz jackets as we made our way over the motorway and into South Queensferry.
The intermittent showers ceased at two o’clock, and by the time we got to the Forth Bridge viewing area for some photos, it was sunny.
The views were as spectacular as ever and formed the perfect backdrop for a team pic, plus photos of banners from one of our sponsors, FMC Technologies of Dunfermline.
With the rucksacks stored in our transport, it was a joy to hit the road and cross the bridge.
It’s a good half hour walk, one in which you can feel the vibration and roar of the traffic, but on a day like today – little wind, gorgeous sunshine and blue skies – you could spend hours watching the boats and yachts hundreds of feet below.
The walkway was busy with cyclists all heading towards the city, while we encountered one couple adding their ‘love padlock’ to the hundreds already in place.
The Forth makes for a wonderfully romantic backdrop, and yet just a few yards away is a smaller sign which simply says ‘‘need someone to talk to?’ It was placed by The Samaritans. Love and utter despair, two very different emotions, all within touching distance.
Our journey took us on to Ferrytoll, and tomorrow from there we begin our Fife trek, round the coastal path and taking in many towns and villages. We’ll happily settle for this afternoon’s weather each day!
Bob’s Walk is sponsored by event partners Mackays Marmalade, route partner FMC Technologies, plus ACA Sports, Shadow Blinds and Dundee & Fife Chiropractic Clinics.
Huge thanks to O’Connell’s, Kirkcaldy, and Morrisons’s Invertiel store for their generous donations.
Bob’s Walk 2015 for Maggie’s takes place from 13th to 21st June.
You can donate online at www.justgiving.com/bobswalk2015
You can also donate by text message.
To donate £5 just text DOCB99 £5 to 70070
To donate £10 just text DOCB99 £10 to 70070
