Just a day trip on the bus. Or to be more pedantic, three buses and a taxi.
We took the X3 to the Town Centre and waited for what seemed like hours for the M8 bus to Perth. We could have stayed on to Dundee, but we were late getting started, or to be honest, I was too tired to get out of bed and we missed a bus. Anyway, we walked into the centre of Perth and had a coffee and a pastry each. It was a lovely day if cold, but we were well wrapped up against it.
We walked over to the ‘Ship’ which is a viewing gallery that extends over the River Tay. The flood gates were in operation today. Two years ago the council was criticised for not closing the flood gates at North Inch, leading to properties in the area being damaged. Not so today. The gates were closed.
We continued our walk beside the North Inch Park for a mile or so, then faced the cold breeze that was blowing in our faces on the way back. I got some coffee in the Bean Shop and some Decaf tea too.
By then it was time for lunch, but we were just too late to get a table at The George which would have been our favoured restaurant and ended up in The Capital Asset a JD Wetherspoon. Not the best pub in the world, nor in Scotland, for that matter, nor even in Perth, but it’s cheap and there is always a wide variety of beers and wines. I don’t think they stretch to cocktails! Scamp had a Chilli Non Carne bowl and I had Fish ’n’ Chips. As Scamp would say, “It filled a wee space.”
There weren’t many folk around the town, probably because a lot of the smaller shops seemed to close on a Wednesday and the whole place had a haunted look about it. This was accentuated when we reached the bus station. It’s an old dilapidated building with a couple of tiny waiting areas. No shops. Not even a newsagents. Nothing. We walked to the train station where there was a Costa, but nothing else.
Our bus was a few minutes late, but there wasn’t a big queue for it so we got a seat easily. Lovely warm bus, but the driver went walkabout, leaving the engine running and the door wide open to a cold wind, when we got to Broxden park and ride. The throbbing hub of Perth’s transport system. Eventually he returned and off we went on our journey through the night. I was just thankful to be able to feel my feet again!
Inevitably the bus was late reaching Cumbersheugh Town Centre and we missed the connecting X3 by seconds. Scamp gave in and we got a taxi about two minutes after ordering it.
All in all, it was a great day. Good to walk in the sunshine, even if it was cold.
PoD went to Kinnoul Parish Church on the far bank of the Tay, positively glowing in the afternoon light.
I think we may be dancing tomorrow.