September 20th

 A Hike

On the evening of the 19th Shona and Bob helped us plan a hike for the next day. We decided to take a bus to our starting point, hike the 10 miles to a little town called Strathyre. We would eat lunch there, and take a bus back. We had to hurry on our hike, as the bus left once every two hours, and if we missed our bus we would have to hang around Strathyre for two hours. We thought that hanging around Strathyre didn't sound entirely dull, although Bob warned us that there was nothing up there but the pub and a few houses. Because of the way that Susie and I planned this out and wrote down bus times and numbers, Bob referred to us as "team" after this: "Are you ready, team?" "What will it be today, team?"

We read that there were Roman eathanworks along the first part of the path, which is probably what these are.

There is a handle on the pulley that rides these lines, in order to facilitate the crossing of the river.

The first, and maybe the last, actually pretty cow that I have ever seen.

These sign posts loved to point authoritatively into the bushes. They added a sense of confusion, and thus of adventure, which must have been their original intent.

The Kissing Arch

Loch Lubnaig

Strathyre!

Everyone was feeling very patriotic, preparing for the referendum vote.

While Susie and I were heading to the bus stop, after having eaten a very good lunch at the pub, our bus came -- ten minutes early. It barely stopped, and looked like a renovated RV with a carboard sign showing it's route number. It left before we could realize that it was our ride, much less flag it down, and we realized that Bob had spoken the truth: Cute as the town was, there is nothing to do in Strathyre.

Fortunately the next but that finally did come after a few hours of waiting was a much nicer type of bus. It was the City Link bus that came through only once or twice a day.

That evening we went to a Scottish pub in Airdrie for dinner, and quickly found that Scottish pubs are very different from English pubs. Or, at least, that Scottish pubs in the city are different from English pubs in the country. Big Owens was a happening place, and Susie and I are far more comfortable in something more... boring. Here we are, adding character to the pub, by sipping tea in the corner.

September 19th

The Glasgow Way

Glasgow holds what Susie and I dubbed the Most Random Museum in the World: The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

There were some fine displays of Scottish art, most particularly the Glasgow boys. Probably one of my favorite groups of artists, Susie and I were forever writing the titles of various paintings down, in order to look them up and maybe procure prints. This is Susie being a highbrow with one particular piece that was a favorite of ours.

Here I am, same museum, being a low-brow,

I think this picture represents the importance of a cheery disposition in attracting feminine company. All this fellow did was sit there and look benevolent, and yet here he is getting along splendidly with Susannah.

No worries! I employed some tactical maneuvers. He missed.

September 18th

Stirling Castle Ahoy!

Stirling castle was one of the things that we wanted to see in Scotland, so the next day we headed out to see what could be seen.

Susie and I found this pretty stone thing, and took some pretty pictures. Not sure what original purpose was, so Susie used it as a platform.

Large parts of Stirling Castle have been restored to a replication of their original grandeur. It was quite impressive.

Wood roof carvings. The lady doing the demonstration in this room was quite knowledgeable, and fun to talk to. King James the V made the castle palace as a present to his new wife. He wanted to prove that she had not married down by coming from the French court to take James as her husband. I thought he did a pretty good job.

The King's knot!

A great Great Hall

William Wallace memorial.

the German fellow that took this was a little confused by my explanation of the camera, but he did his best!

 Argyll's Lodging. Susie took a moment to prepare a quiet repast in the kitchen.

What we really had for lunch: Doner Kebab! 

September 17th

Scotland, Here We Come!

We left for Scotland on the 17th, arriving there in the evening after a few good conversations on the train. We talked about the Referendum with several people, who refused to say where their loyalties lay in the matter. 

Before we left I photographed out little breakfast room at Chestnuts Cottage.

After we settled into Scotland our hosts daughter came in in a very excited state, and said that she was off to a "Yes" rally. She asked if we wanted to come, and we said yes! It seemed adventurous. It was great fun. Sheena paid for our train tickets, "because", she said, she "couldn't have us telling people at home that the Scots were stingy".