Chronicle for 6 May 2012

Full Scottish breakfast in the sunshine gave us the promise of a great day. However as we sat in the car about to leave the image in the rear view mirror was one of huge black clouds. Our first stop to get some photos was habourdside in Anstruther. When the rain started as we headed towards Crail.

By the time we got to Crail the rain had turned into hail. We had a look at a couple of galleries and potteries by which time the rain had stopped. We had a quick look around the harbour and then headed into a small gallery on the way out. We got involved in a deep and meaningful discussion with the resident artist about printmaking, advertising, and artistry in general. It took some time to tear ourselves away as they seemed inclined to want to talk.

Our next stop was St Andrews where we went for a wander around the Cathedral ruins before heading towards the Old Golf Course. Once again the rain drifted in and we sought refuge in the inn. But it was when we went for a walk along the beach that we discovered that it can rain, hail, and sunshine simultaneously here.

We finished the day having dinner at the Dreel Tavern, where James II stayed for a night during his incognito tour of his realm and was reportedly carried across the Dreel river on the back of one of the local lasses.

The tavern was one of the typical Ye Olde places that has a door that you need to duck through, ceilings that prevent you from standing upright, chunky furniture, huge fireplaces, and the smell of urine that seems to pervade them no matter how clean they really are.

When I asked the barman which of the local ales that he would recommend I was told that they had had a busy weekend and so they only had two ales left, one wasn't to his taste and the other he wouldn't recommend. Despite that we had a lovely dinner.