Perth Saturday 06 June 2015
Start: Dunfermline
Finish: Perth
Miles walked today: 27
Total miles: 789
On the outskirts of Dunfermline "Fife's First and only Social Reptile Store" catches my eye. I'm slightly shocked that it appears to be unique...
Further on, there are some holiday chalets. The saccharine sign announces that "The best thing about memories is making them." This awful bon mot is tempered by the two signs right next to it:
"DANGER OF DEATH -DEEP WATER!"
and
"SMILE -YOU'RE ON CCTV! "
How nice to think back about Dad falling into the deep water and reflect that the best thing was when it happened it was all captured on CCTV.
Signs in general are getting out of hand. Walking around Dunfermline yesterday every view of the beautiful abbey was ruined by a sign about parking restrictions, warnings of cyclists, or something equally unimportant. This civic vandalism wasn't even well executed with signs that were in keeping. Most were horrid plastic efforts, cable tied to lampposts or anything else which came to hand. Oh well...
Today's earworm is this:
from Gene Pitney. I've been making up my own words:
And I was only...
six miles away fr - om Kinross
Only... eight hours away fr - om Perth
I've got grit in my left boot
I can't be arsed to root it out
And I can never
Never
Ever
Walk south again...
Anyway, you get the idea ...
The wind is very strong at times, and there is rain in the air but it's never that heavy. A route on cycle paths and lanes changes to a climb over Dron Hill and then a short walk into Perth from Bridge of Earn along the A912 - not perfect but unavoidable.
Perth seems a bit big, but has some nice buildings and the river Tay running through. In my room at the Strathmore Hotel I settle down to watch the Champions League final only to discover that the TV doesn't seem to receive ITV. Whatever next!!
Kenonymous has been keeping up his sterling work on the Virgin Giving page. I feel bad that I've sampled so few of your recommendations old sausage. I've been getting emails too - keep them coming please. I hope Ken doesn't mind me quoting his email from today - I've removed all the intimate details:
"I see there have been killer whales sighted in the Firth, so dont go paddling.
I was just trolling through the Grauniad today & spotted this 'spider-in-the-bag' story. Rubbish reaction, but the comments are wonderful. I think this has to be my favourite from thehumblegent 6m ago :
I bought a bunch of bananas from Asda once and, being a bit absent minded and in a rush I didn't notice that the bag was quite heavy.
Anyway I got home and when I unpacked my shopping I noticed a chimpanzee fast asleep, clung to the bananas and a pot of natural Greek yoghurt. Obviously my partner and I fled the house in our pants and spent the night on our local B&B which, ironically, is own by Mr and Mrs Bonobo.
When we returned home the chimp had fled but had put the shopping away!!! However I was a little bit miffed because he/she had used the toilet but hadn't flushed, the damn dirty ape"
Marvellous!!! (You do need to visit the Grauniad article to appreciate the comment fully.)
