Week 3
Brother John Green’s Journey – Week THREE
Friday 16 May – Forth Bridges and Childhood Fires
A quiet day in Edinburgh gave Brother John the opportunity to travel across the Forth Bridge to Fife, tracing the footsteps of his early childhood. “When we lived here, we would collect coal from the beach,” he recalled, “broken up by the sea from exposed seams in the seabed.” His family’s boiler ran on “pearl” coal—tiny pieces, just like those washed ashore. That nostalgic moment brought the past into sharp focus, framed by the modern marvels of the Queensferry Crossing and Forth Road Bridge.
Saturday 17 May – Asparagus and St Andrews
Travelling from St Andrews to Blairgowrie, Brother John passed “many former coal mining villages,” reflecting on the region’s industrial legacy. A stop en route led to a surprising delight—the UK’s first commercial asparagus farm. He marvelled at the machinery used to trim and sort the shoots: “It trimmed each to a standard length and sorted them by thickness. Fascinating to watch!”.
Monday 19 May – Grey Skies, Grand Hospitality
After a restful weekend, John journeyed from Blairgowrie to Aberdeen, via Dundee, noting that it was “uneventful under a grey sky.” But Aberdeen delivered warmth of a different kind: “I was wonderfully looked after by the family of my youngest granddaughter’s young man,” he shared, admiring the diligence of their two sons, both studying away.
Tuesday 20 May – Stonehaven Surprise and Stagecoach Kindness
As he passed through Stonehaven, Brother John spotted the famous Carron fish and chip shop, which boasted a banner claiming it as the “home of the world-famous deep-fried Mars bar.” He wrote, “I had thought that was a Glaswegian speciality—turns out it originated on the opposite coast!” He confessed he hadn’t yet tasted one, but added with a wink, “When in Glasgow, I’ll try to partake.”
That same day, a comfortable ride on the Stagecoach 10 bus to Inverness led to a charming moment: he and the driver exchanged photos during the trip—”a quiet joy on a smooth journey”.
Wednesday 21 May – Avoch Views and Highland Hospitality
Upon arrival in Inverness, Brother John was “whisked away by the brother of a friend” to Avoch—“pronounced ‘Auch’, with the ‘v’ silent, to my Sassenach ear.” The home offered panoramic views of the Morayshire coast across the Moray Firth, which he described as “breathtakingly serene”.
Thursday 22 May – Thurso’s Tales and Scenic Epics
On his journey to Thurso, Brother John noted how his bus driver had recognised him from a Stagecoach circular on his “circumnavigation.” As they travelled, he detailed the route vividly: crossing the Black Isle, Cromarty Firth, Dornoch Firth, and hugging the coast with “hills to the left and the sea to the right.” Beyond Helmsdale, the bus climbed above cliffs before cutting inland at Wick, bypassing John O’Groats and Duncansby Head, and finally arriving in Thurso via Castletown.
Thurso left a strong impression: “It boasts a beach, beyond which lie the part ruins of Thurso Castle, damaged by a German mine in WWII.” He was also struck by St Peter’s, “an ancient kirk dating back to the early 13th century, replacing one founded around 1125—much the same time as St Cross”.
