Day 51 Fri 4th June

I followed the canal feeder from the campsite through masses of wild flowers. A really good start to the day.


We followed this to the aquaduct where the Union Canal crosses the River Almond.


Then it was more canal walking as we followed the contour canal as it wound its way North. The Union Canal is 31.5 miles long and joins Glasgow with Edinburgh. Unlike English canals I saw no narrowboats and no fishermen.
I did see two buzzards circling overhead and we saw one over the campsite yesterday. Yet in all my travels through England I never saw one. Despite all of the dead rabbits that were all over the roads in the pennines, not one buzzard or any other bird of prey. I wonder why? I think I'll ask a gamekeeper....
After 8 miles we left the canal at Winchburgh and worked our way to Queensferry along farm tracks and country lanes. The Forth Road Bridge got closer and closer.


I enjoyed walking across the bridge. Tremendous views all around. We got to North Queensferry just before 3.00 and had a good look round for a suitable place to wild camp. I chose this spot to pitch the tent.


Gyp choose a nearby spotoon the thrift to snooze.


While I'm waiting for it to get a bit darker I'm sitting outside The Queensferry Hotel drinking Grolsch at £3.50 a pint. (First lager I've had in years but no real ale on.). Very, very posh reception going on inside. All the men are wearing black jackets and bow ties - many wearing kilts or tartan trousers. Ladies in posh frocks. Thank goodness I washed these trackie bottoms yesterday!