The Photography of Dr. Jeff Harper

It was a nice Saturday and a time for another road trip south along the coastal highway to a town famous for its smoked fish, smokies - Arbroath.

Picture perfect Arboath harbour on a late April Day. Arbroath dates from the iron age and has played a major role in Scottish history: "On 6 April 1320 the Scottish Parliament met at Arbroath Abbey and addressed to the Pope the Declaration of Arbroath, drafted by the Abbot of the time, Bernard. This document detailed the services which their "lord and sovereign" Robert the Bruce had rendered to Scotland, and affirmed in eloquent terms the independence of the Scots^" 

Wonderful 18th century quay side buildings painted from a colorful pallet.

An Arbroath trawler ready for action.

It was a perfect early Spring day along the northeast coast of Scotland.

As luck would have it, some restored historical fishing vessels were in port for the final day of the Arbroath Harbour Festival.  The Arbroath smokies have been coming from here for centuries.

Festival-goers doing what festival goers do . . .

Festival-goers sauntering and waiting for homemade ice cream.

The Arbroath Harbour Tower was a very photogenic structure.

There was a carnival associated with the festival.  Children, the brave, and the foolish partook of the rides.  Being none of these, we sat and enjoyed the visage of others terrifies, shaken, and stirred . . . and suffocated in clear plastic balls.

This ride we dubbed the Hipster Vomitron 5500.

No, no, no.  Just NO.

Hundreds of feet off the ground.  You cannot see the look of abject terror on these festival-goers faces.

I wasn't sure what you won at this dart toss.

As is our want and habit, we scoured the little town for interesting things to bring back home . . . and eat.  We bought smokies (smoked haddock), scallops, shrimp, and sea bass filets.  We had a great day out and about in Arbroath.