A ‘cowboy’ left his horse behind and walked 111 miles over six days to Arbroath to buy a pair of smokies.
Glasgow-based Johnny Gauld, who also goes under the name of Caledonian Cowboy, turned up at Stuart’s Fresh Fish to purchase a pair for his dad’s birthday.
Mr Gauld also wanted to walk to Arbroath to sample what he has described as “Scotland’s greatest fish supper” at Peppo’s while he was in the town.
“I kept everything low profile until I was done,” he said.
“I never revealed where I was heading or why I was doing what I was doing and the fish folk were astounded by my story once I reached Arbroath.
“News quickly spread around and I was stopped on several occasions to be asked and queried on my walk.”
Mr Gauld was a frequent visitor to Arbroath as a child, spending six weeks of every summer at the Red Lion caravan park.
He cooked up a six-verse poem about Scotland’s greatest fish supper following a visit to Peppo’s in Arbroath in July 2017 which gathered national headlines and caused the shop’s sales to shoot up more than 30%.
Mr Gauld said: “My dad has always been a great dad and it was his 71st birthday.
“My dad has always liked Arbroath smokies.
“But would I walk to Arbroath to buy smokies for my dad?
“Of course I would. So I did just that.
“Other than the expected aches, and occasional pains, this walk was a total triumph.
“As I headed into Arbroath, and to the harbour, I called my dad to tell him.
“But that’s only part of the story.
“Last year I presented a poem to Johnny and Frank Orsi, of Peppo’s Fish Bar, Arbroath.
“The poem was written from the heart, and tells of me finally, after a 43-year search, finding the greatest fish supper in Scotland.
“I was once asked – How far would you go for the greatest fish supper in the country?
“I knew I would walk it if needs be. So I did, so I could.”
The smokie shop and the chip shop are right across the road from each other.
After 111 miles Mr Gauld crossed the finishing line at the exact same place.
He stayed overnight at Osborne Guest House following his adventure where he finally got a chance to put his feet up.
Mr Gauld described landlord Rob Johnston as “the greatest scrambled egg maker in the country” after refuelling the following morning.
A Bold Statement Indeed (Scotland’s Greatest Fish Supper)
By Johnny Gauld
A question long asked,
But who is up tae the task?
An’ by their answer they’ll dare boldly stand.
Whilst so many they claim,
That there’s nane like their ain,
An’ theirs in the best in the land.
Some say it’s up north,
Or the west islands of course,
Mebbe the borders or somewhere they’ve roamed,
But far the travels I’ve done,
The fish supper that’s won,
Is jis that wee bit more closer tae home.
So let my opinion noo scupper,
Debates o’ the greatest fish supper,
An’ there’s nae need tae get pent up or hoarse.
For the truest answer I’ve found,
Through oor great ciries an’ towns,
Is Peppo’s in Arbroath of course.
