We arrived in Scotland on the 17th August on a overcast day.
We drove up the A6 to Eaglesham on the outskirts of Glasgow where my friends Marion and Alex White live.
We did not know we were in Scotland until we noticed a big Blue and white Scotish sign on the side of the road saying welcome to Scotland.
We also noticed that the sides of the motorway were nicely kept and we were able to read the large road signs as they were not being blocked by trees etc, which was happening in England.
We arrived at Marion and Alex's to find them not home so a look around the area filled in some time , before they arrived home.
It was amazing to think that I had not seen Marion for over 40 years and we just started talking like it was only a short time ago I left Scotland to go back to New Zealand.
An evening of catch up was wonderful and to also met Cameron and his partner Lauren ( Marion and Alex's son who now lives in NZ.) who was over home for a month of visiting.
18th August,
We took a bus from outside Marion's place to Glasgow . Here we did the Hop on hop off bus tour of Glasgow. This took 2 hours to go around the city. Then it was time for us to work out were we wanted to visit . First stop was the Tall ships and Riverside Transport museum on the Clyde river.
Here displayed was a history of transport vehicles, trains and vessels. There were model replicas of ships that were built in the dock yards on the Clyde. The famous Cunard Line were all built in Glasgow.
They had placed classic and vintage cars on shelves along the walls and motorbikes as well. these were in all working order.
Two of the motorbikes on display came from Ewan McGregor . One he rode across Asia in the wrong way round and the other he rode from John O'Groats ( top of Scotland) to the bottom of South Africa in the book The Long Way Down.
This ship was built in 1895 and has circumnavigated the world 4 times.
Science Museum
The two bikes ridden by Ewan McGregor
I know they look like matchbox cars but they are not they are the full size
Commonwealth 2014 Glasgow superstore for souviners
This display was designed by a 7 year old boy for the commonwealth games 2014. It proved to be so popular they kept it up after them.
We hoped on the 4a bus back to Marion's like we were told and found out that it was going In the opposite direction. Lol. So instead of a half hour bus ride , we ended up having a 2 hour one . We sure did see a lot more of the area arriving back at Marion's at 8.00 pm both tired, but a geat day.
19th August
A drive around Ayr where I used to live and work. Then onto Preswick ,Troon, Kilwinning , and onto Kilmarnock around the farm roads.
My old local pub I used to visit on a Saturday night 40 years ago.
Ayr beach another area I liked to walk along
Ayr
Farm land around the Ayr district
Heather covering the local hills around Kilwinning
Mauriel another friend we visited who has worked in the same tabacoonist for 45 years well done.
Smokes every where
Cigar room at Mauriels shop
The above two boxes are used in the winter for salt and grit to stop the roads from becoming to slippery in the snow. These are scattered throughout England and Scotland.
20th August
Today we visited Edinburgh castle and walked down the royal mile visiting the different museums and souviner shops. The castle was built out of a rock that came from a volcanic eruption many century's ago on the same spot. A great day.
Edinburgh Castle
Cottage in Princess garden below the Edinburgh Castle
John walking up to the entrance of Edinburgh Caste. Note the seating, the tattoo was on at the same time.
As soon as I stood by him he began to play my favourite song by the pipes Amazing Grace beautiful
Scottish parliament building
Hollyrood House
The mile in Edinburgh with the Fringe festival
Advertising Haggis
Haggis, corn chips and cheese our lunch in Edinburgh
Tonight is our last night staying with Marion and Alex's White. Cameron is flying back to NZ tomorrow morning with Lauren . We had a lovely quiet evening reminiscing when I lived in Scotland and saying our good byes. Many thanks Alex and Marion for everything. We hope to see you soon in NZ.
A Patterson tractor made out of a model t ford front with a Scottish modification on the rear.
The cutting of peat for the winter fires
A man trap used on poachers
From here we visited the Falkirk Wheel . This wheel takes the place of a staircase of locks, and Delivers canal boats from one height to the other. Very interesting to watch it in action.
From here we visited the site of the Battle of Bannockburn near Sterling. On this site is a memorial to commerate the battle in 1314 between the scots led by Robert the Bruce against the English led by Edward l l .
I had the oppurnity to try on the armour that they were in fighting wow it sure was heavy . The chain mail weight was heavy, by it self the total weight of it all was around 20 kilos.
In 1328 a treaty was signed recognising the independence of Scotland.
The accommodation along the coast here inScotland is very expensive due to the influx of oil and gas workers during the week. .
Aberdeen is a city build out of dark grey stone. Which gives the impression that it is very drab and cold city.
22 nd August
Today we are travelling to the tip of Scotland, John O'Groats, we had been to the bottom of England so we thought why not go to the top.
From Aberdeen we traveled through to Inverness where we had lunch and then made our way up to John O'Groats. The road along this route was very scenic and rural . Lots of barley still lying in the fields waiting to be harvested due to the wet condition. We also saw big stacks of warped silage ready for winter. There were many paddocks with a lovely colour of pink flowers this is heather.
It was very cool at John O'Groats point. After talking to a resident she said that it did snow there, but because of the sea it did not last long, However the winters were cold and long and they get a lot of gales and rain. After having a tub of hot chips to warm us up it was time to return to Invergorden for the night. The trip from John O'Groats to Invergorden took us 3 1/2 hours.
This was were we stayed in Invergorden for the night. We were right on the coast where the large cruise ships dock . We awoke I the morning at 6am to open our curtains and this cruise liner was coming into dock. What a sight it was to see.
The Ruby Princess cruise ship
When we went to leave here there was a road block due to a large vehicle moving stuff.
We had a talk to the local police officer, he would not let me take his photo but I could take one of his vehicle as he had let his photo been taken before but they put it on Facebook and it did not go down well he said.
Scottish police car
23 rd August
Today was overcast with showers. From Invergorden we traveled to Invergarry stopping at the most famous Loch Ness . No we did not see the legend. It was a cool day and misty.
Loch Ness
Standing on the shores of Loch Ness
From here traveled to Oban Bay via Port William . Oban Bay is a beautiful fishing village on the west coast of Scotland. It was wonderful to revisit it. We had a lovely cuppa and muffin watching the kayake race from a coffee bar up stairs looking over the bay.
Thank you Scotland for a wonderful holiday.
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