Foxlake Swims

With IronMan date approaching this week I headed out a couple of times to the small Foxlake in Dunbar for an evening outdoor swim in my hired wetsuit. I was pretty trepidatious about the cold but it turned out to be pretty pleasant temperature wise and more enjoyable that being in an indoor pool. Swam Tuesday and Thursday doing 4 laps and 6 laps of the 300m loop.  

Dumfries House & Garden of Cosmic Speculation

 On Thursday afternoon (26 May) we set off by car for Dumfries House. We had booked a room and dinner at the Lodge. We had a very large and luxurious room and dinner was very good. Lovely gardens just outside our door which we explored briefly that evening.

The next day we had a nice breakfast and then explored the extensive grounds of Dumfries House. Rhododendrons were in full bloom and in very plentiful supply throughout the grounds.

The woodland valley garden near the lodge was particularly fine. We wandered up to the House with its formal gardens and mazes and then to the Queen Elizabeth walled garden. This latter had lots of fruit and veg and looked worth a visit in July as it was still a bit too early for most it.

In the afternoon we headed on for a swim at the New Cumnock Outdoor Pool. We were slightly fearful of how cold it might be but it was toasty hot. Quite a nice experience - work repeating.

Finally we headed on the our overnight stop of the Auldgirth Inn. Not quite as luxurious as the night before but still pretty good. Dinner was quite good - the chef trying very hard for a gourmet style menu and coming close but not quite nailing the quality.

Saturday morning was a short drive to the Garden of Cosmic Speculation. It opens just one day and year. It is the former house and gardens of Charles Jencks who has done the landscape features at the Edinburgh Gallery of Modern Art and at Jupiter Artland. A fun interesting walk around the various artworks some of which were needing a bit of care and attention.

We headed back home around lunchtime.

Liverpool - Day 3

Another visit to the Brass Balance on Sunday morning and then a trip out to view the Williamson Tunnels. A low key organisation the Friends of Williamson's Tunnels (as opposed to the Williamson Heritage Centre) showed us around the underground caverns they had excavated. A little overlong but a fun visit.

After this we visited the Philharmonic Dining Rooms for our Sunday lunch.

and then got on the tourist hop on - hop off bus and visited the Cathedral before stopping at the Baltic Zone - and old brewery area taken over by mini golf and bars.

In the evening we headed to the Glen Affric Brewery and Tap Room for drinks and finally to a very quiet Hornblowers for final drinks and pool.

I had work calls and onward travel to London on the Monday.

Liverpool - Day 2

After breakfast at Wetherspoons we got the underground into town and had a wee wander around the city centre before getting on a Beatles Bus tour. This was really interesting and enjoyable and gave a great view of different parts of the City you probably wouldn't otherwise see. I'm pictured at the gates of Strawberry Field.

On return we visited the Cavern Club. 

and visited a few more bars in central Liverpool and Sue's Bar in Birkenhead before calling it a day.

Liverpool - Day 1

Annual lads getaway this year to Liverpool, staying at the Birkenhead Premier Inn. The team this year was me, Warren, Tim, Mark and Glen. Ian was a late call off with CoVid. 

I arrived just after lunchtime after a fairly pleasant train journey from Edinburgh. Checked in early without problem at the Premier Inn.

We then walked into Birkenhead centre and on the Gerry Marsden Ferry across the Mersey. The boat took an indirect route to view some sights with a commentary over the speakers.

We went for a look around the Museum of Liverpool on the waterfront before heading off to get a train to Aintree where we spend the evening at the races. I had a couple of unsuccessful bets before losing interest with Warren on a roll winning ever bet.

We had some drinks in Liverpool city centre at the Head of Steam then got the last train back to Birkenhead and a reasonably early night around midnight.