Crail and awkward public transit...

Today I did another portion of the coastal path, this time to the town of Crail. After a lovely breakfast of Scotsman oats (my new favorite breakfast food), I set out. It was a sunny day with a brisk ocean wind blowing fiercely over the path. Quite a nice walking day; especially compared to yesterday.

Soon enough I was passing through Pittenweem with Anstruther in my sights. Last time I walked to Anstruther, it was only to go to the store, so today I got to walk all the way through the town. Being a Saturday, it was very busy along the main street. Families were milling about, looking at the shops and eating at restaurants. I was surprised at how much it reminded me of home. A beautiful, small seaside town that fills with tourists during the summer months. Once I got through the main section of town and onto the small road that lead to the FCP, it was really enjoyable. Stone building of every size and color lined a very narrow street. I love these little sea side towns... so historic and beautiful.

Anstruther bay.

Just one view down the narrow streets of Anstruther.

Then the narrow road ended and the coastal path to Crail began.

Fields of livestock lined the path to the left for most of the way. After a while of walking, a very cool sandstone formation rose up in the distance. 

 

Beware of livestock!

From there, the path became less defined and more rocky. It made it quite a challenge with my aching feet and painful hiking shoes, but it was cool nonetheless. A very enjoyable hike with more incredible beach views. Then I was approaching two ruined houses. Scotland is so cool...everywhere you go...ruins. :D

 

Ruined house #2

 Immediately after these two houses, after cresting a small hill, the town of Crail lay before me. I then meandered along the beach, stopping to take off my shoes and have my lovely lunch. A Nutella and peanut butter sandwich and an apple. Guess how many times I've had that this week? 

Damn shoes...

Check out those rocks!

Crail!

The plan was to take the bus back to St.Monans, which didn't leave until 3:50, so I had more than an hour to explore the town. Although it is another coastal fishing village, it is absolutely beautiful and charming in its own way. I spent most of my time just wandering the streets and taking photos. (Que pictures)

I could have spent like 6 more hours there getting all artsy with buildings and taking cool photos. There are just so many small architectural details I kept noticing around the town the added to its charming atmosphere and overall photogenic nature. No wonder it is an artists town...

Then it was about time to catch the service 95 bus back to St.Monans. It was about 15 minutes late, which did not help the whole uncomfortable shoe situation...but it felt great to sit when it did arrive. I used my best Scottish accent when I bought my ticket. Although it was only to say "To St.Monans" and "thank you", I think I totally nailed it. 

Anyway, in Ansturther, this lady got on with her unruly child. We were about halfway to Pitenweem when the mother decided to start to play a game of "let's see how uncomfortable I can make the other bus passengers by letting my kid run around like crazy, then yell at them loudly when I finally reliaze they are misbehaving." She won. It was so awkward... Her kid was climbing on everything while she just sat there, then she noticed it, got up, yanked the kid down and proceded to yell about it. I could see everyone sitting near looking very uncomfortable. Including me... Ahh the fun of public transit. 

It was another great day of hiking along the coast of Fife. Only a few more days left here in Scotland, which is really hard to believe. But so far I have had an amazing time. Check back tomorrow to see whatever it is I am going to do tomorrow...Yay! 

I don't know what day it is, but I am in Scotland

My dad drove me to the Boston airport around noon for my 4:50 departure to Amsterdam. It took about 5000 hours to get through security, then I waited a longer at the gate for boarding. Which also took forever. Finally, I was on the plane to Amsterdam; the first leg in the Scottish adventure. 

I was seated in the second closest to the isle in that row of four seats that are on big air planes. Next to me was a girl named Brittany who was on a artists retreat to Italy, had never been over seas before, and really liked turbo shot espresso. Who knew? I do now. Ah the perks of being forced to sit to a complete stranger for 7 hours. Surprisingly we were actually served a dinner AND a breakfast. What? Two times the crappy plane food; but it was nice to have. I am so used to flights not giving you anything but a menu with items that cost all twenty bucks. 

ANYWAY. After doing the "uh huh, I'm sleeping" for a few hours in several equally as uncomfortable and awkward positions, I just gave up and watched Silver Linings Playbook. Jennifer Lawrence, I love you. 

Then we arrived in a very gray and misty Amsterdam at 5 am their time. I knew that this airport is pretty big, so I rushed over to gate D2, only to find all these people waiting on the other side of a glass wall. My tired brain not working properly, I thought "That's my flight, I have to get in there!" (Keep in mind it's 5 am and my flight didn't even board until 7:30. Nice Annie. Nice) So I go around around the side, but no avail! It too is glass wall. So I go to the one area that looks like how one would get into this strange waiting area. Through the security check point. That is closed. But I walked right through, right into a closed sliding glass door. Dummy! Anyway it was super awkward because everyone waiting for that saw be an idiot, but it was also really funny. 

Then I pretty much zoned out until we boarded. This time the flight was only 1 hour 15 minutes. It was actually very pleasant. I actually slept and they gave us some really good sandwiches. And crappy coffee. 

We landed in Edinburgh and I got my  bag exchanged some currency and was on bus 747 to Inverkeithing rail station. It was that easy. Every day before I left for this trip, I speculated about how that would go down; could I find it? Where would it be? Would it be easy to find? Blah Blah Blah. All that projection and speculation just made me more nervous than I had to be. It was a breeze. The bus to the station. Station to Kinghorn. Which by the way, has the most amazing view of any station I have ever been to. The second I stepped off the train I was hit with fresh ocean breeze and the sound of squawking seagulls. A sounds and smell very familiar to me. Only this breeze had bite to it. It was crisp and refreshing; especially after hours of airplane air. 

Behind the station.

Luggage.

The coolest thing that I noticed about this area is the amount of old stone buildings. They are everywhere. These Harry Potter-esq type buildings just pop up every now and again.

They are really amazing. 

I walked to the top of the hill and used the pay phone to call my host to let him know I had arrived. Who knew pay phones still existed? Let alone serve a purpose? Wow.

I waited there next to my bad taking in the air and the sights, wondering how I would know who it was coming to get me. I had only ever e-mailed with him before. Then a big green Mercedes-Benz van with the words "Running of Flower Power" on the side comes pulling up the curb. Hmmm... was that my ride?

I <3 Hippies. So so much.

Then my host Adam drove me to where I am now and will be for the next few weeks; Craigencalt Farm. It's a 200 year old farm building complex that used to be a water mill. It- again- looks like it should be in Diagon Alley. It is situated right above Kinghorn Loch. An from the fields, you can see the Forth of Fife. I mean come on. These are the kinds of sights I have only ever dreamt about. 

So Adam showed me around the farm house and told me about how things work on the farm. Then he said to just go off and wander around and explore and be back by 1 for lunch. Yup. Sounds good to me. So I just explored all the grounds of this area, in a somewhat tired stupor. Here are some pictures I took. 

Olivanders shop is just around the corner...

Part of the farm is rented out by the ecology center. There's lots of paths and cool stuff. Descriptive. I know.

The road leading up to the farm.

A farm cat sitting on the stone wall. Kinghorn loch in the background.

 After my walk around, I met my fellow American WWOOFer, Mike. He is a really cool guy that had been backpacking through out the UK having cool experiences since January. These are the kind of cool people you meet when you WWOOF.

We gathered some wood for the sauna (that Adam built) then had lunch. Adam made this awesome lunch with all these fresh ingrediants. Did I mention he lives in a tree house? A tree house. The coolest tree house you will EVER see. It has evrything you need, nothing you don't, and a tree going right through the middle. I don't have any pictures right now, but I will be taking some for sure. 

Then we worked out in the field gathering up old fence peices and such. I was doing it in a tired zombie like trance, but I enjoyed it a lot. The view to the ocean is incredible. Again, I will take pictures... I won't hog all the beauty. :p

We ended the night with a great dinner with the owners if the farm. They are both super nice and it has been wonderful meeting them. 

Annie's lesson of the day: Do something out of your comfort zone and you will be amazed at what happens. 

Stay tuned for more!