Crail Harbour

19.1C misty with showers, almost still.

Apothecary7 had her day off today. Since we had done day off type things yesterday on the Angus trade holiday we decided to do something different.

Showers were forecast but we thought we'd head for Crail and see what happened. On the way we drove through a fairly spectacular thunderstorm with excellent lightning bolts lighting up the sky not to far away. One flash and its accompanying sound came in a split second. Maeve the Deerhound was unmoved by it all.

We had to divert at St Michael's as there were roadworks closing the main street through Leuchars. Soon back on the road to St Andrews and then making our way along to Crail. St Andrews was very busy with tourists. Once in Crail we parked and had a walk down to the harbour passing the pottery on the way. I like the big stones in Crail's harbour walls. Paintings have been made of boats in the harbour with the big stones as backdrop.

The tide was very low. We stood and watched the three boats in the blip come in very very slowly. Each stopped at the harbour entrance and the fisherman in the first boat tested the depth with a pole before making his approach. Each boat had a good catch of crabs. I didn't notice any lobsters.

The rain came on after a while so we made our way back to the car. Short debate on what to do. Took the car down to the harbour and parked. Maeve stayed in the car and we went to the Harbour Gallery Restaurant for some lunch.

After lunch and a little wander round the harbour we set off for home. On a whim, as we passed through St Andrews, we decided to see if we could get a parking spot in the car park near the R&A clubhouse. No luck there, but we did get a space on The Scores. Maeve the Deerhound joined us for a wander down to the Old Course to have a look at the preparations for the upcoming Ladies British Open. The traditional red of the sponsor Ricoh is everywhere.

When we are in St Andrews and there are tourists in numbers we are guaranteed to be approached by Americans who want to meet Maeve. She met many today. Three of them just as they came off the 18th green of the Old Course. Mostly she enjoys the fuss. Sometimes she stands still, sometimes she sniffs, and sometimes if the tourist in question stops stroking her head too soon there is a swing of the head and the tourist gets a thump on the thigh (if they are lucky, she is tall !).

We had a wander round town and ice cream was consumed on the way. Maeve gets some too. The bottom can be broken off a cone and a mini scoop of ice cream is most welcome to a Maeve :-)

We noticed a retrospective exhibition of the work of Francis Boag in the Fraser Gallery on South Street. Apothecary7 popped in and came out with the catalogue. It is full of wonderful paintings. Colour in abundance.

Back home late afternoon. A good day out.