Day 8 - South Queensferry to Edinburgh

Waking up in a room that was only 60 degrees F made me want to burrow under the thick duvet for another hour or so, but I bit the bullet and got up.  Breakfast was scrambled eggs, toast, smoked salmon, juice, and coffee (no photos - it wasn't very picturesque - tasted good, though).  Made sure everything was packed and started off down the street, where the Forth Rail Bridge loomed into view.

After passing under the bridge, I continued walking down the road and into the Dalmeny Estate to follow the shore path for 6 miles to Cramond.  This was a lovely route to follow first thing in the morning.  Not very sunny, but at least it wasn't raining (as was forecasted).  Passed some walkers (with and without dogs), cyclists, and an older gentleman riding on one of those mobility scooters that was all tricked out for inclement weather.  Saw lots of seagulls, a couple of rabbits bounding through the undergrowth, and a single hawk.  Lots of cheerful songbirds as well, singing their little hearts out.

 Dog poop shaming at its best.

 No, I didn't have to pay anything.

After crossing this bridge, I started walking through neighborhoods that got more and more posh as I went (think mansions with security gates and hedges that hid the mansions themselves).  I encountered my first Scottish snob in this area - a woman walking her dog passed by me going in the opposite direction, I said hi, as I have to everyone else except teenagers (who really don't give a crap), and the woman ignored me completely.  No response, not even a glance in my direction.  I figured that she might be having a bad day.  Or maybe she was English (I'M KIDDING!).

The Way took me into a park, and then lost me.  I either totally missed the waymarker, or it wasn't there at all.  Anyway, I managed to figure out what I'd done and where I needed to go to easily pick up the trail again.  After figuring it out, I continued into the Corstorphine Hill area until the feet said "uncle."  Then I caught a bus to Princes Street, where I headed to an outdoor sporting goods store and bought a pair of hiking sandals (recommended to me by a lady I passed along the trail yesterday - her daughter hiked the West Highland Way in them).

Rest day tomorrow - hoping to get some real laundry done, and meet up with a local friend.