This path already has a reputation for unsavoury characters, broken glass, dumped shopping trolleys, burnt-out scooters, dog poo etc.
However I had an "encounter" on Sunday with someone who would make me seriously consider going this way again.
I was heading up from Seafield back to Easter Road direction, somewhere in vicinity of the allotments. I passed a fellow - we'll call him Jakey McPake - walking a dog, which I think was called "Wally" and was a black and white bull terrier of some sort. Anyway, Mr. McPake was on one side of the path and the dog the other. I wasn't going fast to begin with and pulled as far to the right (dog side) as I could to avoid the walker and let the dog go where it wanted. Dog started to bark and run towards me as McPake shouted on it "Wally! Wally! For f*** sake! Get the f*** over here ya wee ****". Fair enough I though, he's at least making an attempt to call the dog back. But the dog continued to chase and was right at my heel, barking and slavering and attempting to snap at it. This went on for about 50m, by which time dog was beginning to tire / get bored. I called back to McPake that he might want to get his dog under control - no aggression or swears, just a helpful suggestion.
Well. He wasn't having this and seemed to explode into a fit of rage and tried to chase after me. Not that there was any point, with me on a bike and him on foot. I just ignored him and cycled on until he gave up chasing, but I got the full hard-man act. I believe McPake was requesting a "square go" so that he should have the chance to physically attack me (I believe "murder" was on the cards) for the slight in suggesting that his out-of-control dog should be controlled. I wasn't particularly paying attention - aggresive, irrational characters like this are all too common in some parts, and the best solution is just to ignore them and move on. But the amount of swearing, strength of the language and threats made and the physical "come and have a go" body language were somewhat in the extreme. I was passed him and the dog was tired out, so I didn't feel particularly threatened, but if the situation was different and dog had begun it's act before I had pased McPake, it could have been different.
I couldn't even describe the guy beyond he was - in the vernacular - "a bit of a Jake". But if you do see someone on this path who looks like a bit of a Jake and is walking a black and white bull terrier off the leash, I'd give him a wide berth and just keep on pedalling.
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