Sunshine in Kinghorn

Believe it or not, today was a Sunglasses Day!  So glad that I brought them along and ignored Marty's laughing when I decided to pack them.

I decided to check out this place, which is just one town away on the coastal train route, after picking up a brochure at the Visitor Center.   I was particularly curious about seeing the spot where Alexander III fell of his horse and died.

When I stepped off of the train,  I couldn't believe the vista. I quickly headed along the path down to the coastal route, having somewhat of an idea where I was going.  The monument wasn't exactly located on the map that I had.  Just an arrow pointing in a direction where I could find it.

Within short time, I met Bobby and his owner:

He was a wee friendly dog.....at least to me, he was.  A lovely friendly Australian Shepherd meandered by, hoping to have a romp with Bobby, but he wasn't having any part of that.  Little  Dog syndrome, we call it.

Bobby's owner gave me some tips regarding today's adventure, and she suggested that I walk along the coast to enjoy the views, then make my way up some stairs to the road where I'd find the monument.  She hesitated for a  minute, then warned me that the steps were very steep, but worth the climb.

Well, that sounded fine to me, so I bid fond farewell and headed out on the coastal path.

The views were spectacular.  Here you see Pettycur harbor.

It wasn't far from here when I began to make my way up to the road.  I didn't see any steps, so I presumed that the road that I was on would take me up the hill to my destination.  But then I saw the train pass by between me and the road and I knew I had better rethink my path.

I spotted a man painting his fence, and he was more than happy to point me to the secret steps that led up the hill to the road.  Once again, this man hesitated, then stated that he called them "cardiac" steps because they were a real challenge to climb.

Well, after two warnings, I was worried about what I would find. I was looking at a pretty steep cliff above my head.  Would I be mountain climbing?

I made my way through the fenced path, turned the corner, and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw steps, in many levels, making their way up the hill.  Twisting and turning, but with a handrail if necessary.  As I began to climb the steps I couldn't help but chuckle at how these people presumed that I would find this climb to be difficult.  They obviously were unaware of many of my past  adventures.  

In any event, I was relieved to not have to face yet another challenge.  I made it to the road, and began my hike to find the monument.

I was walking much further than I had anticipated.  I stopped one man and asked if I was on the right road, and assured that I was, and he told me that I had about 3/4 of a mile to go.

I'll admit that it seemed much further than that, but I finally rounded the corner and saw the monument in the distance.

There it stands, above the beach along the Firth of Forth, and at the base of a cliff.

To the illustrious Alexander III

the last of Scotland's Celtic Kings

who was accidentally killed near this spot

March XIX-MCCLXXXVI

And, here's a photo of the cliff opposite the memorial:

It actually looks much steeper in person.  But consider yourself lucky that I have this photo to share, because as soon as I snapped the photo of the Monument, the battery In my camera died.

I couldn't believe it.  I popped the battery out of the camera, tried all of those tricks that my dad taught me, like rubbing the metal to get it warm, popped it back into the camera, aimed and took this photo of the cliff. But my camera actually gave me the dead battery symbol, so I was pretty surprised to see that this last photo somehow sneaked in!  

Thanks Dad!