Out and about
So I went exploring today. This afternoon, rather, as I slept until about two in the afternoon after the late night last night (stupid time difference). It was a nice day out, and I didn't want to waste it like I did last weekend, so I headed down to Seaton Park, the park right behind my dorm complex. I cut through it every day to get to class. There's a river that runs through it - the Don, I think, though it might be the Dee. But I'm pretty sure it's the Don. So I wandered down to the river and took some pictures, following the path alongside the water until it headed up the hill, leaving me wandering along with grass by the river's edge. I saw some fly fishermen and took pictures accordingly, as it's (along with the LandRover pictures) all part of my evil plan to get The Dad to come visit me. There were two swans swimming along a bit farther down, and I followed them back up towards the fishermen as they (the swans) nibbled on grass. One of them stopped at one point and stood in the shallow water, grooming himself. His (or her) neck was so long that he could reach all the way back to clean his tail feathers as well. Handy, that, as they don't have arms. I left them there, grooming, and continued along the river. It entered into a more wooded area, and it was just so quiet, just me and the river and the trees, some growing up the hill and some leaning way out over the water. I climbed all around and followed right by the water's edge for as long as I could, and then I retreated back up to the path that led alongside the drop into the river. It was so serene and beautiful. I think this will become one of my most favorite walks. At one point, I climbed up on this hugs fallen tree that ran along the ground and then stuck out over the drop into the river. I sat there, my feet dangling, and watched the river float by. I eventually got up and headed back towards the path, ripping a hole in my jeans as I hopped over the fallen fence. And I continued on. Eventually I reached the end of the park and walked out the gate into what makes up part of Old Aberdeen. The houses are all stone, as is every building here, and they stood right at the edge of the cliff that dropped off into the river. The cobblestone road led to this old bridge, which Phillip told me at dinner is the Balgony. I watched other swans and what looked somewhat like geese swimming around the embankment down below the bridge and saw a lone kayaker paddle under and around a bend in the river. These two bikers were nice enough to take a picture of me. Just past the bridge was this group of men dressed in camouflage and carrying guns. I'm not sure who they were, but they may have been the version of the ROTC that they have here at the university. I walked past them and continued along the road, the river to my right and little old stone houses to my left. I wasn't sure where I was, but I thought I might follow the river to the ocean (well, the North Sea), as I knew my wanderings had taken me in the right general direction. And so I did.
I walked down a street that took me slightly away from the water, but eventually I ended up back at the river with the North Sea off ahead of me. It was interesting, as there were swans here, so close to the sea. The river and the sea meet at right angles. There is a small opening on the beach, with the water of the river just lapping on one side and the waves of the North Sea crashing on the other. There was a distinct chill in the air, but it was nice. I climbed down onto the sand. The beach is far different here than what I am used to. The beach for me is Long Sands in York, Maine. A long stretch of sand with rocks holding it in. The smell of salt in the air, mingling with that of seaweed, fried food, and - in one area - the distinct garlicky odor of Mimmo's Italian food. This beach, though, here in Aberdeen, is held in my sand dunes with tall grasses growing up the sides of the dunes and even on the flat sand of the beach itself. The waves are harsh, and in brighter weather, you can see the seals and dolphins playing the surf. I got a glimpse of the leaping dolphins on one of our tours around the city. Out to sea, you can clearly see the ships that dock in the harbor in town. In earlier times, they would have all been fishing boats. However, with the discovery of oil in the North Sea in the 1980s, Aberdeen has become the energy capital of Europe, and almost 90% of the activity in the harbor and the surrounding waters has to do with the oil industry. It was somewhat disconcerting to see the ships out there. Back home, there's never more than a sailboat or some yacht off in the distance when you look out across the ocean. And so I wandered across the sand, picking up a shell or two along my way, keeping my eyes open for sea glass, as that always makes for a beautiful souvenir. I didn't see any, but maybe next time. By this point, it was heading on towards five and the sun was no longer up in the sky, so I headed back, across the carriageway and into the more residential part of Old Aberdeen that I had walked through after crossing old Balgony bridge. Instead of going all the way back through Seaton Park, I found the back entrance to dorm complex and headed into the Central Building for dinner. All that exploring had made me hungry, but all in all, it was a wonderful "adventure."
I walked down a street that took me slightly away from the water, but eventually I ended up back at the river with the North Sea off ahead of me. It was interesting, as there were swans here, so close to the sea. The river and the sea meet at right angles. There is a small opening on the beach, with the water of the river just lapping on one side and the waves of the North Sea crashing on the other. There was a distinct chill in the air, but it was nice. I climbed down onto the sand. The beach is far different here than what I am used to. The beach for me is Long Sands in York, Maine. A long stretch of sand with rocks holding it in. The smell of salt in the air, mingling with that of seaweed, fried food, and - in one area - the distinct garlicky odor of Mimmo's Italian food. This beach, though, here in Aberdeen, is held in my sand dunes with tall grasses growing up the sides of the dunes and even on the flat sand of the beach itself. The waves are harsh, and in brighter weather, you can see the seals and dolphins playing the surf. I got a glimpse of the leaping dolphins on one of our tours around the city. Out to sea, you can clearly see the ships that dock in the harbor in town. In earlier times, they would have all been fishing boats. However, with the discovery of oil in the North Sea in the 1980s, Aberdeen has become the energy capital of Europe, and almost 90% of the activity in the harbor and the surrounding waters has to do with the oil industry. It was somewhat disconcerting to see the ships out there. Back home, there's never more than a sailboat or some yacht off in the distance when you look out across the ocean. And so I wandered across the sand, picking up a shell or two along my way, keeping my eyes open for sea glass, as that always makes for a beautiful souvenir. I didn't see any, but maybe next time. By this point, it was heading on towards five and the sun was no longer up in the sky, so I headed back, across the carriageway and into the more residential part of Old Aberdeen that I had walked through after crossing old Balgony bridge. Instead of going all the way back through Seaton Park, I found the back entrance to dorm complex and headed into the Central Building for dinner. All that exploring had made me hungry, but all in all, it was a wonderful "adventure."