Lagoons

A window in the wintry weather today enabled a long walk without any risk of slipping on ice. The burns were full of melt water from the Pentland Hills. The Esk at Musselburgh was full despite the tide being very low. Today was a good day for understanding how flood risk is very real when the tide is high and the river system in full spate.

We walked from the house for an 8 mile loop around the Musselburgh lagoons. The mild weather, and a day off for most, meant that many were out walking, running and cycling. This route can take the increased footfall in a way that the Promenade at Portobello cannot. On the way back we noted that cars were parked the length of the sea front road from Eastfield to Joppa proving that many drive down to the seaside to take their daily exercise.

On our walk we saw a variety of gulls, geese, turnstones, red shanks, eider duck, shag, godwits and heard a plaintive curlew, but unlike last week when we saw two, they eluded us today! The heron that we saw fishing on Joppa rocks yesterday had moved to a more lucrative location today!

As we walked out on the lagoon sea wall we tried to imagine how an F1 race track would ever be built here. Our conclusion was that it would never happen ... but this time last year we entertained similar thoughts about a pandemic!

Later I listened to the radio commentary from Anfield and was disappointed that Man United did not convert a late goal opportunity. They are still top of the table, though, as I write this!