Hello all!
Today we decided to adventure out with some friends and explore a lesser known part of Edinburgh, Cramond Island. After getting Lili, Andrew and Audry out of bed nice and early, they conviened with their friends Amanda and Cash up at George's Street to catch the bus to Cramond Village. A short walk to the shore revealed the island.
Cramond Island was used as an army outpost during WW2 to keep submarines out of the Firth of Fourth. The only way out to island is at low tide, where a footpath is revealed by the large tidal range and one can safely walk out. The only problem with this is people being caught on the island as the tide floods in and washes out the path, leaving them stranded on the island. Warning signs abound to limit this happening.
On the island there are ruins of some of the buildings for everyone to wander through. Years of exposure have worn down the buildings and the island, making a fun time clambering around on rocks and ruins.
There are also safer routes, but where is the fun in that? Even Audry was having fun channeling her inner mountain goat. The big surprise of the day came when Cash decided to take the lead with Audry, conquering not only his fear of dogs, but Audry's fear of not being liked by everyone she meets.
The views from island are spectacular and Cash could not have chosen a better day for the excursion. With few clouds in the sky, the whole Firth was available for our gaze, and left us wondering how to get to some of the other island around the area.
We all had fun scrambling among the rocks and ruins, especially Andrew and Lili who haven't been to the coast since leaving Florida, and the familiar scent of salt water and sand even had Audry invigorated and running around like a puppy.
Trips of this nature always need to end properly, so after making our way back across the walkway in a timely fashion, we stopped in at the local pub for some food and drinks. This is where Edinburgh shines, where else are you able to bring you pup into the pub? Though she wasn't the happiest over being relagated to the floor and not being able to lounge on the furniture, she did appreciate the fire that warmed up all our windburned faces.
A slightly longer than normal bus ride home gave everyone appropriate time to wind down, and by the time the three of us made it back to the flat, Audry had nothing left, and quickly gave into the heated blanket and comfy couch for the night.
More soon!
-L&A
