Monday 5th September 2023
On the road again. The hardest part of this traveling is saying goodbye to family and friends at each point. After being 'settled' for a month it felt strange moving on this morning. Fortunately it was sunny which always makes it feel more cheerful.
My train was stunning. I remembered to sit on the coast side but the train was empty. It was a fast train and the farmlands flash by with scenes of sheep in between the hedges next to yellow fields of recently cropped wheat. I managed to see Lindisfarne and Holy Island but it doesn't seem as clear in the photos.
I changed to a bus in Edinburgh and my short walk between stations had me realise that the city is still full of tourists. The bus trip had me sit on the 'naughty' back seat and keep track of all the bus stops. It seemed a local service in Edinburgh but was soon speeding towards the Borders area. Fortunately there was a helpful student on board who confirmed the small town stop. The cellphone certainly helps any anxiety about traveling with tracking and GPS. I know my trip would be far more stressful if I didn't have this small miracle.
My purpose for coming to this small town is my research on a Scottish Randlord, HB Marshall. The Marshalltown area in Johannesburg is named after him but not much is known about him both in Peebles and South Africa. I had tracked down a portrait of him in Peebles Council Chambers and I find myself here on my single bed in the Green Tree Hotel.
It's all part of my bigger picture which I'm figuring out as I go along. But it's exciting and pushing me out of my comfort zone by having to call strangers and make unusual requests. The Scots people are incredibly helpful friendly and I'm looking forward to stomping around the village more tomorrow.
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