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| Hiking | 10.42 Miles |
813 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.42 Miles | 5 Hrs 2 Mns | | 2.65 mph |
| 813 ft AEG | 1 Hour 6 Mns Break | 6 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Just a few oddservations before getting started:
1) I'm less afraid of falling on the trail than slipping in these showers. 3 hotels with no non-skid surface. I hang on for dear life.
2) The Fife Coastal Path lacks the sense of community that the Camino has. The walkers I see are mostly dog walkers or those out for a short stroll. No communal dinners. Maybe I have to make that happen? Closest I've come was The Beatles concert in Aberdour outside my hotel room.
3) I know I'm throwing a lot of stuff out there on a daily basis. Stick with me...I think this will build to a wonderful finale.
4) Yes, I'm something of a historian. St. Andrews is FULL of history. I keep thinking, wouldn't it be great to play the Old Course and have the Seve putt from the 1984 Open on #18? And make it?
OK, on to today's log. I must be a walking machine since I did 10.42 miles. I planned on about 6 but getting to the bus stop from the trail at that point would've required a long walk. And bushes only run hourly on this area. So on I went to Elie where I could catch a 12:30 bus back to Leven.
Started at 7:15am. Once again it was cool, cloudy and breezy. 3 layers worth with gloves. I passed by Leven Links and stopped to pick up a scorecard. Really nice looking course, and I'm guessing not easy since it's sloped about 129. Then walked along the shoreline past Lundin Links and Lower Largo.
I'm saying this was the most scenic and enjoyable day so far. After Lower Largo I followed the shoreline into the Dumbarnie Links Nature Reserve. Very sandy and grassy, I was thinking it would be a great place for a course. Well, someone beat me to it. Dumbarnie Links has only been there 3 years or so and it looks like a special track. For $350 I'd hope so.
I took a brief break after passing Dumbarnie. It was 10:45 and Elie was 2.2 miles away. I'd already done almost 7 miles so I figured it was Elie or nothing.
What unfolded in the next couple miles were magical views. Clifftop views, rugged shoreline and another course below in Earlsferry. Almost like the Sonoma coast I'm familiar with. I chatted briefly with a Scottish couple. One of the few opportunities I've had to really meet locals on the path.
Dropping off the cliffs I skirted the Earlsferry course. After following the edge of the beach I cut through the course and into Earlsferry. It was almost noon when I stopped at the Elie Golf Club for another scorecard. I found the bus stop with 10 minutes to spare.
The bus ride back travels slightly more inland, so I got a different feel. Fields with sheep and farms before entering Leven.
Tomorrow's walk will be shorter since I'll start about 4 miles from Pittenweem. Rumor has it the world's best fish and chips are just down the road in Anstruther. |
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