Jeremiah Watt

THE GROUP AS WE PREPARE TO LEAVE MELVILLE CASTLE IN THE AM.

The night at a Castle had been consummated and we are ready to get on the road and see what lay in store for us all, the day was bright and one of the first to at least begin with bright prospects, so we got our Swedish metal suppository headed down the British roadways to find out……………….?

The first stop did not take us too much further down the road, some 8 miles to the Melrose Abbey, a place of immensity, an imposing stone and artistic architecture where it is said that Robert the Bruces heart is buried. How it comes to be that a mans heart can be buried in one place and his body another……………is well, a story. Robert the Bruce was the man given credit for handing Scotland her independence from English tyranny by way of the sound drubbing he gave the English at the battle of Bannock Burn. At that point Robert rose in stature by heaps within Scottish eyes, you could say there was a seething hatred for the rule of England. And yet before Robert the Bruce would come to his end the rule of the world would be shaken by a war of a different sort. This war would be fought on soil far from home and for reasons much different than home rule, this was a rule of religious doctrine. And due to health and age Robert the Bruce could never join those he called his countrymen in the Crusades to his south. So in the stead of his body and weapons, he opted to have his heart cut out upon his death and sent to be buried in Jerusalem as a show of support for all of Britain in the battle that raged. The heart only made it as far as Gibraltar, and never to Jerusalem. The heart, packed in an ornate carved wooden chest, its bearer having been killed, was then carried back to Melrose Abbey a religious edifice that the Bruce loved. His body in the meanwhile is buried beside that of his wife in far off Bannock Burn.

SAME MELVILLE

BRIDGE BUILT IN THE LATE 1770'S

BRIDGE DETAILS

BY the time we have done the tour, read the plaques and what not it is getting close on too chow time so we stroll the streets of Melrose and find a great Butcher Shop with a great selection of pies/tarts and or Pasties as they are so commonly called. Now these come in a great selection of flavours ie: Sausage and Cheese, Bacon and Mushroom, Steak and Tatties, Leeks,Neeps and Kidney, Pork and Stilton, Pork and Mushroom………and on and on. The pies range from the philo type pastry folded over the fillings, to more of a tart shell pastry that is then filled with the selection. SO, on this day I choose the oddest item I could find, that being a Pork Sausage topped with Apple Glaze and chunks of fruit. I just knew that this odd ball was going too send me into the “Darren Reflex”, which it has come to be called. After the lunch shopping, we strolled down the street to a group of benches and sat outside to eat ………..WOW, I know I have used it before but this is just astoundingly good. We had all chosen something, and shared the tastes amongst each other. What a fine treat, along with a few Fanta’s and we are gassed up and ready to Rock&Roll.

Next stop, some 35 mile sdistant is the huge Jedburgh Abbey, built in 1024 and of immense scale not quite equal to that of St.Andrews but close in some respects. The top of the arched vaulted roof is 80 feet at its center. The columns are larger diameter and of a different and more complex construction technique. Sadly it was once again time to get back on the roads that would take us further down the road.

IN THE TINY TOWN OF MELVILLE, LOOKING DOWN ANY ONE OF THE STREETS WOULD HAVE BEEN EQUALLY AS QUAINT.

MELROSE ABBEY

MELROSE ABBEY

MY BEST WORK SO FAR, HAS BEEN MY CHILDREN.

MELROSE ABBEY

THE SKYLINE VIEW OVER MELROSE, EVERY WATER SPOUT ON THE ABBEY WAS OF A DIFFERENT ANIMAL

JUST ONE OLD CITIZEN OF MELROSE WHOM AHD SEEN HIS FILL OF TOURISTS.

While driving we noticed a sign that took us to an Roman Aquaduct, build in 987 and still standing today, quite a testimony to the workmanship of the day. We also passed this long span bridge of 425 feet length and 130 feet height over the river Tyne I think it was. This bridge was built in 2006………………just kidding, it was built in 1774.

We head now into the Cumberland region of the country and in amongst the sheep covered hills. What a spectacular area this is, we had some sunshine thru the broken cloud cover and it made for pictures that are much more vivid. In many places the sheep are open range grazing and therefore on the road. Just my opinion, but I think that America could stand to re-trace her driving steps a wee bit, and harken back to those days when livestock ruled in the countryside in which they should be expected. Where road side ditches are not 60 feet in width and covered in foam rubber so you cannot possibly get hurt if you run your own car afowl, over here the ditch is often only 6” past your car mirror and it is not a ditch but a rock wall. Another amazing thing is roadside parking and or construction work. Over here it seems to be legal to just park your car where-ever, and if the roadside is real wet, that also means that often the car is almost fully in the lane which it has come to stop. You do not complain, nor sit there honking your horn and winging, you simply buck-up, and pass the car when it is safe to do so. But no place is it more amazing than at a place where road work is being done, which NEVER has a wasted effort flag man at each end of the zone, and seldom has a sign warning you of the eventuality of a road work zone, and was never a problem. Can I finish my rant by saying that the American driver is solidly spoilt and likely to never improve a tad.

CAN YOU TASTE IT.......................UMMMMM, SO GOOD

ONE OF THE BEST RIGHT THERE IT IS.

The way thru Cumberland led us by the famous wall, built for Emporer Hadrian to mark the northern most point of Roman occupied England. Today that same Hadrians Wall follows very closely the defining line between England and Scotland. And now I will tell you the rest of the story, as it goes just like this. Jeremiah is not a TV sort of guy, but he sure likes his movies and does not miss very many. You should know that for the rest of this to make sense. We are rolling along on a very narrow lane/road, keep in mind that on a road like this you seldom have a dividing line, no shoulder markers, just Blacktop or Bitumen as they call it……….and each side of the road will be lined with a rock wall that clip your mirrors if you do not pay attention. In other cases the road will be lined with a hedge, very thick and dense, they often call it Yew Hedge, or Gorse Hedge. With out trying to embellish this to much, the hedge has a groove in it where the mirror line of cars lays, matter of fact the side of the hedge that faces the road has a CAR SHAPE to it. We are rolling along and every so often we top out and see some splendid countryside. And on one such occasion, both my boy and I are looking out the same side of the car and we immediately recognized a location that had to have been used in the Kevin Costner version of Robin Hood Price of Thieves…………..without a doubt baby, just had to be.

So we pull in about a mile down the road to what looks like a State Game Warden sort of place, and my intention was to go in and ask if we could hike back to the narrow gap we had seen…………….but while walking to the office area, I passed a Land Rover and noticed a decal on the door of a Rover that I had seen before. Yes, yes that’s it, about 6 years ago my friend Randy Rieman brought a fellow around to visit and he was a Pipe Player whom had just done a show at the Elko Poetry Gathering. As it turns out his name

THERE WERE LINES OF FOLKS AT TIMES WAITING TO GET INOT THIS SMALL TOWN BUTCHER SHOP

JEDBURG ABBEY

JEDBURG ABBEY INTERIOR SHOT OF THE ARCHES THAT WOULD HAVE LINED THE ACTUAL SANCTUARY NOT THE OUTSIDE WALLS

is Andrew Millar and he lived a little further north than this location and did work with this Park System. Well asking this sort of broke the ice for us, and we then got the full Monty on the Sycamore Gap that we had seen in Hadrian’s Wall. As it turns out it is indeed the very same location used in the movie, one in which Kevin and Morgan save a young boy who climbs a tree to escape the jaws of a dog, and then Kevin proceeds to kick the tail of three or four guys…………..you know the scene, if not then rent it and watch it. Some fun details, first the actual tree is a Sycamore, and not the Oak that Robin makes reference to. So to get around the small tree details, the crew wired Oak branches to the Sycamores lower branches so the all leaves readily visible would indeed be that of Oak. Another detail that we learned later from some of the other locals, was that it was cold during the shoot and “Kevy just coud’nt stop is’wingin about et all, cood’e”

Hadrian’s Wall, is 73 miles in total length, laid out with out the aid of any modern techniques to establish a strait line, and these Romans laid a strait line right across the narrowest part of this island…………and how did they do it. The wall varies from 5 to fifteen feet tall art places, it runs from 4 feet to fifteen feet in thickness, and to top it all of, there is a small fortification built every mile along the wall for guard posts and beacon fires etc. The fortifications at each 5 mile point are very large in over all layout. We hiked a good 20 minutes back along the wall so we could take our picture at this same spot were a Roman Emperor had once stood as well as a couple of Hollywood celeb’s.

MOM AND DARREN STANDING AT THE HEAD END OF THE OLDEST GRAVE IN THE ABBEY, MEMORY IS FAILING ME AND MY WIFE IS SLEEPING AS I SIT HERE AND WORK SO I THINK IT DATES 1022

JUST A EXTRA SMALL COUNTRY LANE WE TOOK TO SEE WHERE IT WENT AND HOW NARROW THEY COULD MAKE ONE............BELIEVE ME THEY MAKE SO THAT THEY CAN SCRATCH BOTH SIDES OF THE SAME CAR, NARROW.

LOOKING EAST OUT OVER SOME SECTION OF THE CUMBERLANDS, MY GOD WITH THE SUNSHINE WE HAD, AND THE COLORS IT WOULD BE HARD NOT TOO KNOW GOD EXISTED.

We are headed for Carlisle and a bed for the night. Our stay tonight is at an official Hotel. And it has been our worst since we arrived, quite a bit below the Hostels we have undertaken as well. Just a road side truck stop is all, with average torn apart rooms and leaky showers……….but hey it only cost us 65 quid so we cannot complain.

Supper tonight was an accident again, as we drove around in downtown Carlisle we kept getting sent by this one particular Greek Restaurant as if by divine providence. Finally on our fifth pass, I made the executive decision that we will just by god eat right here………..to an exclamation from the back seat that this would be all Lamb and Feta Cheese…………DAD!!!!!!! As it turned out once again the kids are very pleasantly surprised at how good a new taste can be………….poor Darren. He had to choke down a couple of black olives and cucumbers, but thought that the Kebab was just fine. Instead of eating desert at the Resturant, we drove down to the local grocery store, which is quite different that what we are used to in both size and selection. We bought some chocolate bars that we can no longer get in USA or Canada., made tea in the room and went to bed.

Good Night and God Bless

A FIELD OF POPPIES THAT WE HAPPENEND BY IN THE EAST CUMBERLANDS DISTRICT.

THE CUMBERLANDS HAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF STACKED ROCK WALL SUH AS THIS. QUITE LITERALLY THERE MUST BE THOUDSANDS OF MILES OF IT IN TOTAL. iI WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHATA RUNNING TONNAGE IT WOULD BE FOR A 1/4 OR HALF MILE LENGHT AND THEN DO THE MATH TO SEE A TOTAL????

AT THE SYCAMORE GAP, IT IS FLANKED BY A STEEP ROCK ESCARPMENT OF SOME 200 FEET.

LOOKING DUE WEST OUT OF SYCAMORE GAP

SYCAMORE GAP, AND MY OWN THREE CELEBRITIES STANDING AT THE BASE OF THE SYCAMORE TREE.

ALL OF US AN HADRIAN'S WALL AT ABOUT THE SAME LOCATION AS KEVIN WOULD HAVE BEEN STANDING WHEN THE BATTLE BROKE OUT

FURTHER NORTH NOW AND CLOSER TO CARLISLE

Good Night and God Bless

Posted by Jeremiah Watt at 4:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

This ain't no Honeymoon we are living ..

NOT SURE HOW THESE CABBIES ENDED UP HER AGIAN FROM EDINBURGH, BUT HER IS A CLOSER IMAGE

You could say that being married to me, has been no honeymoon for my darling wife. And I want to say publicly, that without her in my life I would have amounted to nothing. So Colleen, thanks for what is now 25 years of marriage. I love you, today, tomorrow, and always.

We began the day in Edinburgh as early as we could so that we would be amongst the first to get into the Edinburgh Castle. Now understand that when you travel with my wife, you don’t take cabs, nor very often busses unless the walk will excede 15 miles in length……….so baby, we walked till we sweated. The sites, the skyline and the buildings made the walk fun. We passed all the stores preparing to open for the onslaught of tourists, the Mongers cleaning stalls of the old fruit and veggies…….the aromas that make a visit that cannot be captured by camera, even digitally.
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Edinburgh Castle is the home to Scotland’s Royal Jewels. That being a small cluster of granite rocks hot glued to a tin helmet…………..I am just kidding. The total is a Royal Crown, that you cannot take a picture of………….then a Mace, that you cannot a take a picture of, …………..a Necklace that you cannot take a picture of, and finally a commemorative Sword that you cannot take a picture of. There was however, a one legged custodian in charge of that area, that you could take a picture of. The display consisted of primarily the well kept Castle formation, and not much besides that, which is also the case for many of the other Castles we have visited.

We strolled the streets of Edinburgh at a little slower pace now, being glad that we walked briskly to the opening as we passed a huge crowd of folks standing in line to get in now. We done a little shopping, and walked thru a neat exhibit of working tartan making and weaving, that uniquely combined a historical aspect and a wallet stripping aspect. In amongst the entire exhibit were small kiosk type shopping spots for each of Edinburgh’s finest weaving shops. SO we left with our hands a little fuller, and our wallets a little lighter.

OVERLOOKING THE HARBOUR AT EDINBURGH

INSIDE THE WALLS OF PROTECTION AT THE CASTLE.

THIS BOX, MADE BY THE HANDS OF A PRISONER IS MARQUETRY AND DONE IN THE VARIED COLORS OF STRAW THAT STUFFED HIS BED WHILE HE WAS A PRISONER

Down the street, and stopping to watch a young man play his Bag Pipe for pocket change, we happened onto the front doors of St. Giles Church. It was commenced in 1075, and completed in 1395. WOW, what a place to come and worship it must have been when people actually came to worship. I say that because you see there is a new trend going on over here, and that is to take these great old churches and turn them into Dance Clubs. That would be a shame in a plain old brick building, but even worse to do that to a Church. What the heck, the Indians always danced outside, why can’t these drunk teenagers, bunch of weenies.

I am not sure how to describe the work we seen on the inside of this Cathedral, but in every aspect it was an amazing testimony as to the skills acquired by the CRAFTSMEN who built it. From the engineering of the building and its massive scale, to the stone masons, to the wood carvers and wood workers, to the plaster artists, and marble carvers. Unless you have had the chance to walk into such a Cathedral and turn your head towards heaven and witness the majesty of all these pieces of work that can be seen, you may well not believe my words anyways. For me the Thistle Room as it is called is one of the most splendid rooms I have ever sat in, the wood work within this small interior enclave is just outstanding. Remember that the light is low, and I have no tripod, so my shots can be a little off.

ROYAL HIGHLANDERS SHEEP HEAD SNUFF CONTAINER

ONE OF THE GENERALS PERSONAL SNUFF HORNS WHICH ACCOMPANIED HIM ON A CAMPAIGN TO KASHMIR REGION

FRONT ENTRANCE TO HOLY CHAPEL AT EDINBURGH CASTLE.

THE MOST REVERED SPOT IN ANY CATHEDRAL, THAT BEING THE BACK WAL UPON WHICH SAT THE CROSS

We headed out of the Cathedral, wending our way towards HolyRood. This is the Queens Official stopping place when she is in Scotland doing any form of official state business. The word ROOD, is Gaelic for DUCK……………….er, no make that CROSS. Sorry I was looking in the wrong part of my Garlic/English dictionary. The HolyRood had an exhibit of many military items used by the Royal Highlanders Regiment, with plenty of Bag Pipes, kilts, Dirks and fancy Sheep Snuff holders to take a picture of. The gardens here are vast, since the HolyRood sits on some 1200 acres of ground and backs up against the Craig Heads National Park. We took high tea at HolyRood and Nevada bought a new tea cup and saucer for her collection of such things as a young girl of sound mind collects.

HIGH VAULTED CIELINGS AND HE PIPE ORGAN MAKE UP THE EAST WALL OF THE AMAZING CHURCH.

A CLOSEUP OF THE ASTOUNDING PLASTER WORK DONE AT THE SEAMS OF THE VUALITING OF THE ROOF

THE CARVED SEATS OR THRONES IN THE THORN ROOM, ALL DONE IN MAHOGANY OF ABOUT 2" THICKNESS

THE CIELING OF THE THROWN ROOM IS GILDED IN 24 KARAT GOLD.

EVERY INCH OF THIS ROOM IS EXQUISITE CARVING, FROM WOOD TO PLASTER.

Off we go, with the late noon sun to our backs as we head for the far side of the city and our car, so we can head out of Edinburgh to our next accommodations. With a little sun, all sorts of citizens of the city come out. There is a street type musician/thespian vendor on almost every street corner, from playing instruments, to acting as a Mime, to actual window dressing or just plain looking freaky…………we seen in all in that 27 block walk. Very little shopping, just a lot of walking, talking, and looking.

Lets find that Castle that we booked for a one night stay, and we start our leather lined Swedish luxury liner and head out of Edinburgh with very little trouble. Mom always has that magical bag of something stuffed under her seat for those moments when kids just cannot hang on to eat at the proper place down the road. SO we had some excellent Stilton on Oval Eddie Crackers, a few pieces of what they call Flap-Jack over here. A very edible almost all Oatmeal and Honey cake, sort of thin, and rather hard than soft like our cakes are. EXCELLENT road food.

A VERY TALENTED GIRL PLAYS A POOR MANS VIOLIN FROM JAPAN.................NOT SURE WHAT IT IS CALLED

THIS LADY FELL HEAD FIRST INTO A STAPLE & SCREW BIN

ANOTHER LOAD OF SIGHT SEEING TOURISTS HITS THE STREETS

FRONT ENTRY TO HOLLYROOD CASTLE

We make our way out of Edinburgh in our Swedish made, leather lined road rocket, that is now stuffed to the gills with every thing that you could imagine……….if we ever got in a wreck I don’t think there is even room for the airbags too go off. We are spending the night at a Castle that we booked on-line. And by 7pm, we pull into the grounds of Melville castle. A smallish Castle by the tourist standards, but one with luxury appointments that you would expect from a $575.00 pound per night stay ( translation is about $1000.00 per night in dead Presidents currency) Castle Stay. We couldn’t believe our eyes, there were sheets on the beds, no socks hanging from any of the bed posts………..and no one was sleeping in Goldie Locks bed when we went to check our rooms. This was Mom and I’s one night of luxury, a room all to our self………….for final results please check this blog in nine months.

We are taking the kids out on our Anniversary treat, our 25th to be exact, and I can’t think of any body better to share it with than my kids , my wife and Darren. Every one had Brazed Angus Beef Steak, while I ordered the Chicken stuffed with what they call Black Pudding. Black pudding is very common, made of a mixture of items that most folks rub on castle walls when they want to protest high taxes or something similar. But since UK has moved to VAT tax on all gods, they have little resource for using thess extra animal parts up except on us un-expecting tourists. I guess it goes without saying that each region has its own recipe for Black Pudding, but it goes something like this: a pinch of Blood Sausage, and a smidge of Liver, a handful of bread crumbs soaked in blood, along with a dab of toasted Oatmeal. All of this is mixed with a little Port and a sprig of various spices. Cloves for sure and I think all-spice. This is packed in a gut and then rolled till round and well shaped. Once cured………….not sure by what stage of de-composition that you know it is cured, but anyways it is then boiled and cooled and then sliced and quick fried it seems. To be honest, I have come to enjoy it very much, to end this pudding story, I will tell you that they also have a very commonly available Whit3e Pudding. It is never offered in Restaurants, but al most always available at each towns butcher shops………….it is comprised mostly of Bacon and Bread and Oats, minus the Blood, Liver and guts that cause Mad-Cow-Boy disease.

GARDENS AT HOLYROOD

LEAVING EDINBURGH TO THE REST OF THE TOURISTS, AS WE DEPART FOR OUR CASTLE STAY

MELVILLE CASTLE

For desert we had something that Darren had to be forced to eat, had to live thru and now cannot get along without. I am telling you I think that food freaks are made not born. You wouldn’t think that any kid could find a reason to not want to eat desert…………I mean could you? Well our friend Darren had this thing that he has somehow developed, in which if something rhymed with something that he didn’t like he would then have two things he could not eat. I am telling, somehow this kid has got to this stage of life on plain white bread and water…………….the toughest of military prisoners would have starved to death long ago and her he stands in all his 83 pounds of glory. So it commenced, that we all ordered a desert, and the idea is that we all sample each others fare. Darren had to get past the fear of BLUE BERRIES, of all things to have a phobia about…………..can you imagine. All because they sounded like Strawberries…………..which I crammed down his overly narrowed gullet just a few days later.

The stay was a luxury one to be sure, and a nice way to say thanks to my very Blessed bride. We capped of the day with a very late stroll thru the way to dark woods and we actually convinced my height fearing wife to try her hand at crossing a 12”wide x 60 feet long swinging bridge that spanned a swift flowing stream……………yes at night and no flashlight, just 6 glasses of Wine. As it turned out it all went well, we patted her on the back for success and just hung her clothes to dry for the night.

Good Night and God Bless

THREE KINDS OF FRUIT SORBET, OUTSTANDING

VANILLA BEAN CHEESE CAKE, POURED OVER WITH HEAVY CREAM

DARREN BEFORE HE ATE THE BERRIES

DARREN AFTER HE ATE THE BERRIES

THE BLUEBERRY DISASTER, SHORT BREAD TOPPED WITH CHOCOLATE AND THEN A DOLLOPE OF VANILLA CUSTARD AND POURED OVER WITH CREAM AND BLUE BERRIES TOPPED WITH A MINT SPRIG THAT OUR YOUNG CHAGE REFUSED TO SAMPLE.

A CUSTARD PIE, WITHA PIECE OF BLUE CHEESE AND SOME BLACK BERRY COMPOTE.........WOWZER, THAT IS IF YOU LIKE FOOD THAT SMELLS LIKE A TEENAGER'S GYM BAG

THE CASTLE LIBRARY, WHERE FINE SCOTCH AND A GOOD CIGAR COULD BE HAD TO ENJOY AFTER DINING.WE TRADED MOM THE CHANCE ON A ROPE BRIDGE FOR HER USUAL CIGAR AFTER SUPPER.

THE DRAWING ROOM................UNFORTUNATLEY NONE OF US BROUGHT PENCIL NOR PAPER.........

SWINGINH MAMA HITS THE ROPES OF THE CASTLES VERY SWINGING, SWINGING BRIDGE...........AND MAKES IT

Good night and God Bless

Posted by Jeremiah Watt at 3:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Sod Clobbering at Andie's

JW WARMS ONE UP IN THE GRAND TURF FLINGING TRADITION.

Not being the best at any thing in life, this may come as a surprise to some of you that while playing GOLF at St.Andrew’s, which is also the birthplace of the game of golf. I did indeed win the game after a fashion that is. Before I get too far ahead of myself in my tee’d off excitement let me tell you more about the day.

Nobody could be more excited about being in St.Andrews than our traveling companion Darren, his Dad is an avid golfer and Darren has picked up on that same enthusiasm. We heard all sorts of details, that non of us Watt’s would have known because to us it is still Sod Clobbering and the finer points of GOLF have not rubbed off nor for that matter even been considered. Golf is not as technical as roping lets say, because you don’t have to read the cow……………golf balls don’t move, have no brains, and some times the little buggers won’t move even when your swinging at them…………..even further proof to a cowboy that balls have no brains because I was trying to kill mine.

NEVADA WARMNING UP WITH THE BLONDE BALL

We began our preparations with some serious stretching, you know the cross lateral’s and bi-hemroid stuff, just to get the old lactic acid coursing thru the body so we can play at the peek of our form. With that done we all hobbled down to the breakfast room to gulp a Euro-Brekkie and hit the streets to our tee time at St.Andrew’s. Now we booked all of this frivolity online and as you know computers like women often have a mind of their own…………..and often enough mind left over to have one for YOU as well. That’s the nice thing about wives, they take the VOW to SHARE more serious than all the rest. With the booking, somehow we ended up with a couple of extra games booked and for different numbers of people, so we wanted to be a tad early to see how many games of golf we had to play today. Thanks, but 9 holes instead of 18 is perfect for me………then go see the acupuncturist.

Turns out the guys who run the rental desk see duffers like us all the time……………matter of fact this game is a lot more like roping after listening to them. Like ropers, most golfers aren’t as good as they would have you believe either.

PINE SENDS OFF ONE OF THE KNEE CAP MISSLES

We had a little confusion with trying to get Nevada on the course due to regulations and game etiquette and the like. But they were nice about it all, gave her a game card that looked just like ours, gave her what they termed a Blondes Handicap Ball, I guess it’s the more legalistic approach to playing a cross gendered game of golf. Anyways Nevada teed of right along side the boys and done just fine. What’s that you say? That ball looks sort’a funny………well we thought so at first, just as you are right now…………but by the end of the game we were all asking to borrow her ball because we couldn’t hit ours.

We got a few quick lessons from Darren as to swing, grip, stance and send off. We each had our problem areas to work on, but all in all we done not as bad as I had thought. I guess because I am a full grown and I might say an athletic individual, I did manage to throw my club much further than the boys in the send off stage of the swing. That first tee box take off didn’t look to sharp nor crisp, I had 9 swings into it before that ball was smart enough to get up and leave some 5 feet across the turf………….Dang, I hit it on the back swing………….now I’ll have to be TEE’d off even further back.. We are off the 1st TEE box, and like quail, we left in different directions and stayed off all the nicely mowed grass. The complexities of this game really become apparent if you dare to play it in the RUFF instead of the “beginners lane” which they keep manicured and smooth. It was a traditional day for golf you could say, the wind was blowing by with an assortment of odd items being carried along with it…………..things like Tam’s and knitted club head covers, broken Tee’s which flew like little arrow heads and impaled sea birds as they were aloft above the greens. We weren’t born yesterday and played with those knitted covers on the heads at all times, we ain’t about to have to pay for a lost one…………..and we found that it seems to diminish the amount of turf that sticks to the club………….as I walked down the fairway and casually looked back up the green, I thought maybe that’s what they are there for.

DARREN WARMING UP HIS PUTTING STROKE

A DAY ON THE LINKS PLAYING WHERE THE *&#@@ IS MY BALL?

A HERITAGE SHOT TO SHOW THE GRAND CHILDREN, THE DAY I PLAYED ST.ANDREWS

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THE COUNTRYSIDE HERE IS LOWER VALLEYS AND THE HILLS ARE A DISTANCE OFF.

We had a bit of an excited chap playing next to us on the Fifth Fairway, maybe a little dramatic………I’ve heard that about the Brits. My son Pine, the poor lad, is the result of family genetics and the inherited traits that come with it. His father the “athlete” in the family tree, has a serious hook to the right………..a serious hook. You are best of to stand well behind if you don’t want to be hit. Pine it seems has the same hook but to the left…………..hence the reference to family genetics, since his Mother is so far left politically. Interesting isn’t how genetics takes all these attributes and makes a new individual from all the mixed parts……….and my boy came out with a serious left hand hook. Like his father he can send a ball at blazing speed off the TEE but only about 3 feet off the ground…………..us regulars at golf call it a Knee-Cap Missile. Ping went the head of the 3Wood, swoosh went the club as it finished its final stroke after the power hit had played out…………..Shi………………….Son of……………..Who the h……………..thankfully the wind blew most of the pain away, or the sounds that anguish produces. Pine and Mom walked around the corner of the green to see a Scotchman wreathing in pain and doing a modified one legged “Jack Hammer” dance step on the 5th green tee box, then he turned turnip and folded to the ground holding his …………yes, holding his left knee cap. Mom’s first thought since she knows well the game of golf, asked him if he hit himself on the swing………….wagging her finger as she commented of course knowing full well she was correct and wanted him to know it. Have you seen my sons ball, she asked as the fellow took a breath so he could swear a little more. Apparently swearing is an integral part of the game, according to my wife.

A HIGHLANDER WHOM CAME FULLY FRESSED AND WITH A GREAT LOOKING WOF HOUND AT HIS SIDE.

THIS GUY HAD A GREAT FACE, IT WAS JUST FILLED WITH CHARACTER, BUT HE WAS TO SWAMPED WITH PEOPLE TALKING TO HIM FOR ME TO GET A MUCH BETTER SHOT.

THE DIESEL POWERED SCOTCHMEN ARE LINED UP FOR THE HAMMER THROW, POOCHY MAGGIE SOME OF THESE BOYS WERE BIG FELLAS.

Was that your *&##@ son who hit this ball as he held it aloft for our inspection. Time for a father to step in and take charge of a event before it got out of hand. I needed to make sure it was indeed Pine’s ball that had caused the serious infraction. Sure enough it was Pines game ball, a Sterling brand with two deep cuts through the exterior of the ball leaving the name hard to read………….my sons balls look just like mine…………heh, genetics. Sorry buddy I say, maybe you ought to put a little ice on that goose egg on you knee before it gets to bad.

Now have you ever heard about someone who just seems to have a magnetic personality, well I am thinking that this poor guys Mom must have been a fridge and he was a golf ball magnet. He finally got up on his feet and his “Big Bertha driver” was now used as a sort of crutch/cane affair………..and that knitted cover came in handy here as well. Good I thought as the injured player made his way back toe the Tee box and stroked a terrible hook to the left and into that ruff stuff we were playing in. Ping went the face of the club as a ball was cleanly stroked somewhere up the 4th fairway…………….shshshshish went the ball………..allot more cussing then fills the air and suddenly all is quiet. A second ball came flying in and just narrowly missed the same fellow not more than fifty feet out in front of his own tee box. Clump, stump, clump, stump went his foot falls as he made his way up the fifth fairway. We let “Le Miserable” get off of the end of our fairway and into his own box on the 6th. The fifth was a par3, and I really wanted to give my putter a go and thought finally I had the right place to do it. I let go with good full circle swing and stroked one of those family heritage shots off to the right…………………what the heck, where is all that cussing coming from now. Oh wait, I can see a club waving above the shrubs and grass down on the tee box at the 6th…………..we all waved, it was Mister Magnet. And apparently I stroked one in on him very close as well. Hey what can I say, Golf like Rugby, is a mans game and in juries are just a common occurrence.

NOW THATS THE LOOK OF DEJECTION RIGHT, AND IT SHOULD BE. OUR FRIEND TINY HERE, HAD JUST STEPPED ON ONE OF HIS CROSSED SABRES AS HE COMPETED IN THE HIGHLAND FLING........

TINY'S COMPETITION

The game is over, and its time tot take a tally from the score cards. Nevada done great, since her card asked for the player to make an X if she missed, and an X if she hit. Then at the end add all the X’s to see the final score. We men had the regulation score card, and took our totals a little differently. In the end I had a 198 game, used 34 balls on 9 holes and finally abandoned using the little wooden chummies that you set the ball on. At this point it was a really pretty much of a tied game as each of us where quite close. SO it was finally decided amongst us to use the Old Course Turf test to decide, and so it is that I won since I had sent at least 6.5 yards of turf down the fairways of St. Andrews. Yes, it was one of those moments of immense pride to take two eager young men and introduce them to the true Gentlemen’s game. Golf!

Inevitably it is time we got on the road and headed for Sterling, the home of the William Wallace Memorial. My Mom, may God Bless her, was really into family genealogy and came to Scotland to do research on our family background. The sad truth is that there are so many “Bastard” children in the tree that the branches are very limited…………..so we kids decided to just play pick a relative that we can relate to, and I choose William……..I really liked the blue paint.

SCOTTY THE PROTAGANIST, TEASES HIS ENGLISH COUSIN WITHN HIS FEED OF CORN ON THE COB

A DISTANT SHOT OF THE TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM WALLACE AS IT IS SEEN FROM THE STERLING CASTLE.

While we are on the way to Sterling , we pass thru the little town of Alba. This is the first town to resume the playing of the Highland Scottish games after the English had stopped it all. Now I can tell you this is no place for most school kids, these games have an edge of tough to them. There was bike racing on the grass course, running, short distance sprint type races and the throwing of the hammer, but the toughest as the Corss country running. Poochy Maggie, these players had to be tough for this steep uphill run. They ran kids from 7 years of age thru 14 , then 15-20, and last by adult . Of course they also had a bunch of dancing of the traditional Scottish dancing, the Flings, the Flungs and the Twist.

Alba has been running without miss for almost 225 years now. We seen planty of well dressed types, with full accoutrements and it seemed fashionable to have a Wolf Hound along to complete the fashion statement.
The grey leaden sky was taking on a fractured look as we drove from Alba towards Sterling. The hills are leaden with deep green grass, and the rock hedges that line the roadways are covered with Ivy and Berries of a differing shades, the Oaks and Beechnut as well as the Chestnut are all different shape and color. The hills about are filled with sheep more so than cattle, and the lower fields often are home to grains like Oats and Barley,, and quite a bit of Canola is also grown here. A huge stone monolith pierces the skyline, and we all wonder as to it’s importance hereabouts. The road seems to be drawn to as much as our gaze is drawn the same, and it turns out that this is indeed the William Wallace Memorial.

WILLIAM WALLACE MEMORIAL, BUILT IN 1885

MY CREW AT THE TOP OF THE WALLACE MEMORIAL.

The stone monolith stands some 285 feet tall, and about 120 feet in diameter. A four sided structure as is an obelisk, but instead of a pointed top of 4 equal triangles, this top has a very ornate ribbed crown type affair. The spiral staircase winds some 185 steps up on its route to the top most level. Now this is also the home of the actual sword that it is said William Wallace had carried, and was for JW the only real reason I could come up with for going to the UK. Did I mention that this was a VERY crowded exhibit, and the the single file stone stairs even further enhanced the crowd effect. Well it was in one of the side rooms which held the SWORD that somehow I walked thru and YES MISSED> DO I feel like an idiot……….yes. Truth is it really was not my fault, it was my young charge Darren whom proclaimed the room to be free of all things interesting………the kids built like a garter snake and can squeeze thru crowds much easier than I.

From the monument to Wallace, we went to the Sterling Castle. The Sterling Castle is an amazing structure like so many others we have seen. It sits high on a hill top, protected to one side by fairly steep rock hillside, and the other falls towards the plains over rough terrain at best. The castle covers some 35 acres of ground with huge rock walls of 20 foot thickness, countless cannon caissons and various draw bridges and other forms of fortification. This is a little more modern castle, being commenced in 1275. It has been held by the English at times, but remained mostly in the hands of the irascible SCOTS. We finally had some clear sky working its magic on the hills about Sterling, and it brought out shades of green that only Willy Mathews or Russell could do justice to, it was time to head into town and find our hostel and something to eat.

THOSE SPLENDID SPIRAL STAIRS THAT LEAD YOU ALOFT AT THE WALLACE MEMORIAL.

ONE OF THE MANY CANNON BATTERIES ALONG THE WALLS OF STERLING, TIS ONE INTERESTINGLY IS POINTED DIRECTLY AT THE WALLACE SITE.

We made the final leg of the trip into downtown Edinburgh, the 5-Star Hostel was just fine, which is how most of them have been on this trip. What the heck, all you do is sleep for a few hours so why insist on luxuries you won’t use……..like sheets, or pillows and warm water showers. And who among us really needs a “Chocolate on the Pillowcase” anyways, what with world OBESITY and all.

We walked the town for a while, and then in an offer of kindness I told the kids they could pick where we ate that night…………………so, as we walked the town awhile longer I could the scheme unfolding. They chose purely by safety and not by taste. They headed into an Italian Trattorie that only served pizza……………..that is the last act of benevolence that will be offered on this trip. Pizza is something that comes frozen in a carboard box and is heated up by the ranch wife on those nights when she can no longer lift a Dutch Oven or there is nothing else dead in the freezer to eat………………but it’s surely not a meal.

We are done folks, we have walked the town till 12:35 and it is time to quit and head to bed, because tomorrow is a very full day.

Good Night and God Bless

THESE WOULD BE THE SERVENT QUARTERS THAT SIT PROTECTED BUT TO THE LOWEST SIDE OF THE CASTLES FORTIFICATIONS.

A VIEW OF STERLING CASTLE FROM ITS MOST IMPOSING SIDE.

ONE OF THE MANY QUIET CORNERS AMONGST THE WALLS OF STERLING CASTLE.

A BRIDGED ARCH TO ENTER INOT THE SANCTUARY GARDENS INSIDE THE PROTECTED WALLS OF STERLING.

THE STREETS OF EDINBURGH AS WE WALK AND SEE SOME SITES OF NIGHT LIFE. WE MET A WONDERFUL COUPLE FROM NZ, THEY HAD BEEN TRAVELING FOR 3.5 MONTHS ALREADY.

HERE WE ARE ON A STEEP 16% GRADE, AND THESE CABBIES ARE PEDALING SOME HEAVIES UP THE GRADE, THERE FRONT WHEELS TRYING TO LIFT OFF THE GROUND AND THIER TONGUE HANGING OUT AS THEY LABOUR.

Good night and God Bless

Posted by Jeremiah Watt at 3:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

You wouldn't know this but JW is running a little on the tightside tonight........oh, the day was just fine its not that............whats that you say, was it the kids that fired me off............no, they to have been just fine. Its the danged BLOG, I have done this page now 4 times and right now makes the fifth. So lets hope the restworks from here. The morning seen us leaving Aberdeen rather early for this crew at least, we had decided that we wanted the get an earlier start on the day since we had a lot of Castles to see.

We stopped in one of the very quaint little towns that speckle this area along the north coast of SCOTLAND. And pulled in to a town with a very nice bakery. NOw I have to say that once again, Bakeries here are just not the same as we are accustomed to back home. NOw I hate to rag on my home country, I love it and all, but really folks we should have a Donut Revolt. I suggest maybe a Tartan CLAD BUNCH, BUT INSTEAD OF SAY THE PLAID THINGY........ maybe we could come up with a pattern that has donuts on it and Maple Bars as a background. We can tip over the sellers counters as they peddle the danged donut to us. You would join the revolt if you had a chance to taste some of this baking over here.

We had breaded meat pies for breakfast, and the words I know just do not do any of them justice. It sounds like this "what kind did you get me Mom? A WHAT............. for ME! JUst eat it and shutup, try it you may just like it. Crunch, crunch, crunch..........emmmm, crunch, crunch.............eyes roll back in enjoyment, crunch, swallow, and lick lips twice to be sure you got it all. Ohhhhhhh, you guys need to take a bite of this one it is sooooo good! Honestly, we have not hit a bad one yet. We start theday well fed, and looking over the ruin of Dunnottar Castle, shown here on a high sea island.

Dunnottar, biuld in 987 along the very coastal edge, it stands on a small island right off the coast. The sea walls jut upwards some 70-125 feet in places, sheer black Limestone rock faces. On top of this is build the huge fortification known as Dunnottar. This is a castle that has fell to two sieges, a full sacking by William Wallace, and a burning by the English.

Here was a castle that was by design a family fortification, built a t first by the Picts. It contained a full set of houses, and a Chapel and Abbey.

The inside of the Garrison was about 9 stories in hieght, and here we see the prison entrance for those to be tortured or be-headed.

The gable end of the Chapel that lays to the seaward side of this anctient fortification.

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Just one more of the very quaint cottages that are strewn about in the whole of this country it seems. Here we stopped becasue of the huge amounts of hand stacked rock walls that there were.

The view here is from the inside of the front door sill to the St. Andrews Cathedral. It just amazes me to think of how massive these constructions are, and how few tools were on hand when they were built. This Cathedral, was started in 1175, it is 330 feet from door sill to the inside of the back wall behind where the Cross would have sat. It has been estiated that the inside hieght of the Chapel roof would have been 70 feet. The hand cut stone columns were 12 fwwt in diameter and taperd to the top at 8 feet in diameter. Each column was a 12 ridged affair, not just a round taper. What truly amazing piece of architecture this was, sorry I do not know enough about the subject to do it justice with my descriptions.

This is a funerla cross used to mark a fresh grave and would have been moved around at one time for that pupose. Here it has found a permanent home in a area that at one time would have been an interior courtyard, and so it sits in an appropriate place I guess.

A little Lawn Bowling anyone, tougher than it looks. The balls are not exactly a true round, but ratehr they are an ellipse. But we didn,t have a ton of time to stand about and learn the finer points of lawn bowling, so we moved on.

It is just 166 red sandstone steps that separate you from the green sod and the top most point of the bell tower. Have a go at it, but do mind becasue the spiral does also tigthen as it winds its way to the sky above. And it is true, a spiral stair case with out window slots does make you very dizzy.

A look down the upper walls of what used to be the Cloister wing of the Abbey. It had a series of three rows of pointed topped arches, each diminishing in size as we got closer to the roof.

Walking the streets to the grounds of St. Andrews.

St. Andrews from a few blocks away is still impressive, and it can be seen for several miles around as you approach this area.

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A view from the top of the bell tower. We get the full panorama effect and see just how much stone was used in the construction of this town. It was so windy up top here, that most of us wanted to hit the turf below on our feet and not our heads, so down we went.

All the more reason to buy a used car in the UK, some of these liitle rigs are so cute they look like something you get in cereal boxes

Take a guess at what it is????????? Dave Brennon you are out on this one.

The back window of the Abbey Gilvain.

Good Night and God Bless

Posted by Jeremiah Watt at 1:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

The Hostel was just fine, we slept well enough and for 15.00 per person what do you expect. Breakfast was a simple affair of some toast and tea.

We are entring into Fort George over the draw bridge. This is the last fortification built in Scotland. This one though is different than all the rest as it shows some modern tendencies in fort construction. FT George has earthen walls of 60 feet thickness, and each wall is a moat surround, each wall is also lined on its 40foot hieght with smooth rock. This makes a wall very indestructible to enemy catapult and canon fire since it is just dirt and not stacked rock. The Fort is still in use today, and is a final staging point for troops headed to Iraq at the moment. In the past it has housed trining for troops headed to every UK skirmish, especially Afghanistan, India, Burma, Cameroon and South Africa.

Today the barracks house both a historical Museum and also young troops in specialized training for extended military missions that require a special soldier.

A HIghland Pipe Players "Sporran", usually made os Angora, or as we see here Horse Hair, but we have also seen them done in the long hair of the highland cattle.

The horn of a local sheep has been turned into a gorgeous Snuff Horn. The horn is cleaned, scraped on the outside to get a good clean color, then it is dipped in boiling water to soften and while hot the curling process is begun. It takes several dips and restarts on the horn to achieve the graceful curled effect............not to mention some practise.

Here is something that my knife crazy boy would love to find, an antique Dirk. Showe here in the traditinsl leather coverd wooden scabbard, the handle is a piece of Bog Oak, that has been carved to resemble an intricate braid pattern. The top of the handles is adorned with a orange colored stone known locally as a Cairngorm.

We leave the shores side location of FT. George and begin the ascent inot the area that is known as the Cairngorms, a very rugged area coverd with dense forests, livley streams and sheep aplenty.

We are in the heart of the finest Malted Whiskey distilling area in the world as a Scot will tell you. There are almost 600 distillers in the region, and I think that it said only some 50 or so have any distribution beyond that of direct sales at the distillery. SO for Scotch lovers the tasting is the only way to find the new ones we haven't heard of.

Without doubt this has been one of my favorite drives of this trip, with narrow roads and very little traffic.

Now here was a classic piece of iron that was really getting the attention, behind the car stands the BALMORAL Castle........but for now at least all eyes are on the 1956 Jaguar. I thought Pine was going to try and climb in this beast, but fortunatley he found his good manners and just opened the door and sat down........Ia'm kidding, take it easy.

Here we are at the Castle that I think the kids have been waiting on the most, that is Balmoral Castle in the background. Balmoral is the summer home for the Queen and her favored estate at which to visit. Once you walk the splendid grounds with huge trees collected from all over the world, the forests of huge Pine and Fir trees you will know why. The inside of the castle is just amazing, even though we only had addmitance to one room, you could tell it was opulent. One of the most amazing features was the gardens and the flower beds.

A cool little car was sitting out behind the gardeners work area, and it turns out it is the SPORTY version of a Smart Car which is made in Switzerland. It is a very quick, two seater that will be in America soon enough.

The last CAstle of the day was a surprise, as none of us had even heard nor planned on it, the sign to Craites Castle just popped up and we turned in. NOw the Castle itself has a family living in it, and as such we are not allowed inside. BUt the garden grounds are open to the public. The gardens are just spectacular, even the kids thought they were fun to take a look at.

Supper this eve turned out to be one of the best I can remember. We pulled inot a relatively modern urban Pub called the Ploughman's Pub. It was chosen by my crew simply becasue it had a lot of cars parked outside and the assumption was made that the food had to be good, and indeed it was. I had a pie called " Fail me never", and consisted of minced & onioned beef with a gravy in it. This was placed inot a nicely browned Yorkie pastry, and along side of it was an item called "Skirlie", which as it turns out is nothing more than oven browned dry Oat Meal with a little hint of spice added inot it. What a fantastic meal this turned out to be, and such simple ingredients. Colleen had a Stilton stuffed Pork Chop, along with Neeps and a Beet root. The kids each had a different kind of fish. BUt desert was where we really went out of the way, we had another go at the Sticky Pudding and Custard........WOW. Then we had a Chocolate brownie with Maple sauce which was also a sock roller. And a simple tart with lemon, you have to understand that they do not make their fruit items as sweet over here, and manage to maintain more of the fruit flavor.

Good night and God Bless

Posted by Jeremiah Watt at 8:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

As you can see the heads were just a tad sleepy this morn, so we let them get thiere beauty rest. It was near 9 when we headed down stairs for our Euro Brekky, with some toast and jam, and a croissant. Just fine to my way of thinking, and seemed okay for my crew as well. The downtown to do a little shopping, not sure just what got bought, but we left some money in this back backers community.

This hostil was the usuall converted house, and a rather eclectic mix of cultures and spiritualities. Once you got past the Panama Red reefer stickers and peel and stick Jack Daniels Whiskey labels, it really wasn't that bad.

Ft. William Youth Hotel shots above
Just a creative door amongst the many neat architectural treats that are about this Hostil.

High ground before we drop into the Loch Ness

The countryside about here is rugged, much like parts of Albert and or maybe British Columbia, with plenty of logging on every hill side. In some places it was a clear cut fashon, and on the lesser slopes it then seemed to go to more selective cutting. All in all things just appeared to be in good health, when on a hike or look out as we are here from a sceneic overlook along the road side. Being able to signal and brake and get the heck out of the way quick enough on these roads is a learned art, not genetic.

Grove of trees along the upper end of Loch Ness.

The famed Loch Ness as we round a bay and head due north. Loch Ness is not only famed for having Nessie, you know that monster who shows up just about the time the tourism seems to be getting slow in this area.............yes that Nessie. Beyond that claim to fame we have here the deepest body of fresh water in the world, and it contains enough total water in it to fill every pond and resevoir in all the UK. It ranks as the second coldest lake in the northen hemisphere.............so ther is a little Loch Ness trivia for the day.

My Highland friend whom gladly donated a healthy hank of hair from his blonde locks, for my collection of what I seen that was neat in Scotland.The cattle that my boy Pine has fell in love with........I guess now I will have to do some horse-tradin with my friend Marty Elmore to see if I can come up with a calf.

Foxglove is everywhere

One of the many small cottages that dot the lanscape.

We seen many of these rock bridges along our travel, some with a single arch, and some with maybe 20. We are on what is known as a A road, which is very major compared to the B sized roads as you will see later. It seems that these rustic little farm houses are just everywhere, and you will seldom see any thing diferent about these parts. Plety of rock built bridges that are used to cross most rivers, the total tonnage limitation of this sort of road is 7.5 tons.

The ruins of what used to be Urquart Castle, and at one time home to Robert the Bruce. The history of this castle is quite unique and makes for interesting reading if you love history as I do. It was under constant attack by the Clan McDonald from the west, it had long been a Jacobite Garrison post that was one of the first to fall to the hands of a ruthless attack by Willaim (Braveheart) Wallace. Afer that sacking and burning by Wallace he moved on, and that same Castle would later become a place of refuge for Robert the Bruce. It would again be sacked but this time by the English. SO in total it has been burned and rebuilt some 4 times............the last time around it was a project rebuild by the crew from "This Real-old House"............

The upper end of Loch Ness where the forest gives way to Glens as we then head north towards Inverness, where we all done a little shopping. Pine bought a Sporran, thats the great hairy pouch/bag worn by the Scots about thier waist and hanging directly on front. Then we looked around for a Scian Dubh, which is the small knife worn stuffed inot the socks of a Scot when he is wearing a kilt. BUt all we could find a terrible copies made someplace but here. These folks in the UK have a real problem with Knives and Guns, not sure what the whole Kilt dress has in store in the near future................it won't be long and we will be down to clubs to do harm to one another. Ahh well, I am just a tourist right, I will quit my whingin and get on with it

A view of Inverness from the window of our Hostel. It was looking real bad for our Aberdeen Hostil stay which we had booked back in October of last year. When we pulled in they had a fully booked sign out, and a whole bus load of Italian backbackers had just arrived.............complete with dread-locks,body piercings and Tattoos not to mention that smell of a heavily laboured back packer. BUt by the miracles of my wifes Prayers, she finally got to the counter and the manager heaved a sigh of relief and told her that he had been reluctantly holding onto our rooms and waiting for us to show. Thankyou Jesus we have a bed tonite.

Walking the streets of Inverness, for no good reason but too look around. After which we went to a small theater performance. It was mostly Bag Pipes and singing, with little dancing of traditional dances so all in all we got a real good cross-section of the music and dance of this Highland culture

Our own personnel pipe concerto, by Bag Pipe repairman Ian Ferguson. This was a real fun stop, and Ian really got inot having an Audience. We finally had to just reach down and unplug him so we ould move on to having our supper.
Supper was well, shall I say a real new expierince for our driend Darren. We flipped a coin to decide, I lost and I picked. And by unanimous choice it was southern Indian Cusine tonight, southern is the HOT end of the food styles. Darren was a semi-brave lad who did not quite make the "GOAT" category of eating, but did make the Seagull level. To make the GOAT level you eat without trace of discomfort or dislike. In the complicated SEAGULL strata of eaters, there are the tell tales signs, each item is bit ONCE, and then with the eyes rolled back and the eaters neck straitened out all food is swallowed as quickly as possible. But you have to understand Darren goes thru the same motions to get white bread down his gullet as well. In all the meal was a fine one, I never heard nor listened to one complaint.

Fitting I thought, that I should have the bed which matched my profession, but got its name from the peak of a local mountain. We walked back to the room and had a cup of tea along with the last of the NEW FAVOURITE COOKIE that are called Gypsy Creams in Ireland and Hobnob Creamies in Scotland. I am beat, so I head to bed about as soon as the tea hits the bottom.

Good Night and God Bless

Posted by Jeremiah Watt at 6:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

We start the day at the Cheesemongers and had a great selection, that was unbelievabely fresh.

The silent wings of life sized Spitfires barnstorm the halls of Kelingrove.

Our night in Glasgow, and getting the lay of the city worked out just right and saved us several wrong turns etc for the next day. Parking is a difficult thing around most of these cities, but to date we have managed not to get our car CLAMPED as they call it over here.

Just the most typical style of building construction that you will see in Glasgow.

We are up and leaving fair early, you can’t really get the same head start that you may be used to in USA, mainly because many of the businesses do not open till 9am, and all Museums are 10am to open.

First stop is the Kelingrove Museum, which was a great stop being mostly a natural history collection. The collection is fairly extensive in paleotological as well as modern specimens, since JW loves a nice skull, he managed to get a fill of that sort of thing. But hidden within the walls of this institution was an exhibit of arms.

The amphitheater within the Kelingrove Museum

They had an interesting suit of armour from Kiribati, said to be the most war like tribesmen in the world. Made entirely of “found” things of a natural make.

Just one of many of the finer Knights Helmets on display.

The swords are made of sticks lashed together, then bound with a lash holding tiny shark teeth together and the teeth face out on 4 different directions. The warriors armour is made of woven banana leaves, and make up a considerably durable leg and arm protection. The helmet worn was the most interesting; it looked every bit like the knights helmets that we have all grown up seeing.

A fine Rapier, made in Toledo Spain 1785 with gold inlay, for a French Lieutenent.

But these helmets are made using the spiny puffer fish, and those menacing thorns are pointing in every direction from the entire face of the wearer………….very cool display.

Also one of many very ornate jobs of wire wrapping sword handles in this collection of cutting edge weapons.

The front "porch" to the Hunterian Museum

Then we sat in the Hunter receiving Hall, and listened to the Pipe Organ which was built in 1724. The Hall, is a typical European Hall, having expansive marble floors and colonnades which rise to the roof line of the room some 20 feet above.

This is one of the high lights of the trip so far, this rectangle of gold Cloisonne wire work is appx 1.125 long by .750 wide. It is but one of many that make up an necklace, bracelet and earrings witha cross brooch................this was a WOW piece. Handmade in 1845 by some artist in what is now Burma.

The roof is a deeply segmented series of painted panels, the roofs gracefully arched shape is meant to aid in the room’s acoustics. The entire pipe organ is made of Mahogany brought over from Iowa……………..okay, I am just kidding about Iowa. The wood is South American.

The oldest carved leather Targe to have survived, the carving was done in 1597 in central England..............see Tandy Kit #435

The fellow played a total of 5 tunes, non by the Beetles nor Alice Cooper, so I didn’t recognize too many. Each of the tunes selected was to introduce all of us to the various styles of Pipe Organ music composed down thru the ages.

Ahhhh, yes the handcarved Ivory bow, of which I have now seen many. But none quite as exquisite as this one. Done in India, back in 1865. It is approx 12 wide, 8.5 wide and stands about 4.5 tall. This piece had a ton of intricate detail, very cool.

Off we go, and I mean at a fast make ya sweat walk. Time is of the essence as we still have the drive north to Ft. William ahead of us. We head for the, Hunterian Museum
Now this is a place I could easily spend a couple of days in, and I think the same goes for most of my crew. This is a very impressive collection of stuff, but I found myself to have only visited two rooms and it was time to hit the road.

Listening to those wonderful Pipe Organs belting out a Rolling Stones tune..........

What I did manage to see was the collection of world tribal art, just spectacular. From carved ivory items to carved wooden Maori canoe paddles. Most all of it dates to before 1875. Ever get here you have to visit.

We are looking back south at this point as we cross that Highland divide between Loch Ayr and drop over to Loch Fernie. There are parts of it remind me of Alberta, and others of maybe Montana. All of that is put behind me when I pass all the rock field row, and quaint rock cottages with the sheep and Highland cattle.

We are loaded up, and make our way to the outer edge of Glasgow and hit the narrow roads towards Ft. William. Now I had been doing just fine with the driving to this point, but it all went to Hades in a hand basket when we hit the B and the R roads. Poochy Maggie, are these babies narrow. I can tell you that come around one of these corners with a rock wall to you left and a logging truck barreling down the road at you………..it will be cause for your sphincter to tighten.

My new friend Rordie and all his Border Collies..........usually works sheep, but this day found him VOLUNTEERING to hand sweep a field that ewes has been out on, so that they could play a cricket match on the weekend.................it didn't seem like such a big deal to him. He is only 67

Did I mention logging…………………..hey you folks in USA, these Scotsmen log every place I have been so far, and I mean everywhere, even in front of the city parks and on the Balmoral Estates. And I hate to say it, but these forests just look healthy……….especially if you should compare it to something like our very dismal Dixie National Forests in Utah outside of Cedar City.

Approaching a headland on the upper Loch Fernie, rainy, foggy and quite gorgeous.

The hills rise very quickly and it was sort of rainy, foggy making the hills sort of like ghosts in the distance. The hills are so abundant with running water; small streamlets with tiny water falls dot the road side scenery, amidst stands of Pine and Spruce along with plenty of deciduous trees down near the Loch’s edge. I notice a man with a bunch of Border Collie dogs working at something out in a field, so I stop to visit.

The Highland breed of cattle are the favoured, the only other thing we seen where Holstiens and a few Angus. The Blone Highlands are the more common.

He is a professional dog man, having been hired to judge many trials over in USA. He has also competed and won against the likes of Jack Knox. He has competed in the Scottish Nationals several times. We had a great but all to short visit about good dogs and good friends, very nice guy. He was actually busy getting a cricket field ready, by sweeping the sheep manure off for the weekend Cricket matches.

Another one of those great Castles that can be seen but not easily reached............unless you travel by boat.

Next stop was a castle that sat out amidst the waters of a Loch and was only approachable by boat. This was a Pict built Castle dating from approx 1280………..that is to say before the Door Bell was invented. Then up thru the hills and over the pass to the next Lock and the waiting city of Ft. William. We did manage to see the signs to another small Castle and found it closed but still able to be photographed, so we did.

Just a little something we considered renting, but kids found the back seat a bit cramped........

Our Hostel in Ft William was sort of an eclectic mix of back backer sweat and incense, New Age and Buddhist, toking and meditation……………hey maan, we be fit rhat in mann!!!! We moved our scant trappings in and then made our way downtown to walk the town and find a Bar/Pub to eat at.

Walking the streets of Ft.William searching for a good Pub so we could eat and Mom could drink................

A HIghland roast, tatties, Yorkshire pudding ( that cup looking thingy)...........real fine fare.

The food in these Pubs is just great at least as far as we have found thus far. We picked the oldest looking Pub we could, and sat in on the creaky second floor. I had the Haggis, and I done it with the intention of getting that meal over with as all I have ever heard was how horrible the stuff is. I am now convinced that either I got lucky, or most folks have never even ate it and simply tell the story and extend the disgust. I simply loved it, it was served in a traditional manner, steamed then lightly, fried along with mashed tatties and NEEPS (turnips). Over top of this was poured a rich brown gravy made of an onion base. Superb Folks!!! Mom had a great Pork Roast, tatties and gravy and a Yorkshire Pudding. For desert we had Sticky Pudding in Custard, and a Profiterole filled with clotted cream and chocolate sauce over top. Very good but we all loved the sticky pudding & Custard.

Our first time for Haggis, which is located to the bottom of the picture here.

Its time for bed, so we make the walk back to the Hostel, it is now 11:15pm
Good Night and God Bless

Posted by Jeremiah Watt at 1:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Really Kim, you need to get this young lad out of the house more often………..but more on that later.
Sniffle……..sniffle……..sniffle…………sniffle……enucht……..phewy……..

The day started with a morning rousing of the crew, get them showered up and ready to face the day ahead. It was a day of deadlines and time lines, as we had to get back to Belfast, on a bus, and then a cab so we could make our connections to a Stena-Line Ferry across the Irish Sea to Stranraer Scotland. So up and att’em boys and girls so we can breakfast afore noon. Now without doubt we have a serious case of genetic tracing going on within this action, because young Darren vaults out of bed. But young Pine emerges from his nights cocoon more like his Dad or Sid the sloth in the Ice-Age movies.
Sniffle………sniffle…………..snffle………….sniffle………..phew/phew/phew

Finally the crew is assembled and we can make our way to the breakfast area. We are early amongst the patrons here this day, and the cook has not arrived as of yet, but soon we are told. We make a browse around the lite food table, with the cereals and yogurts , fruits and juices. We try a few different things, with the Twix Biscuits which are some what like a large block of horse feed that you put milk or cream on???? Without much of a delay, we are told the cook has arrived and we can now place our order. None of us are hungry enough to make our way into a full Ulster Fry, but we all order a little something to tide us over till later in the day.

I decide to try the Kippers, I am not much of a fish lover and this choice causes some raised eyebrows from my wife…………….and she inturn reminds me of how hairy my legs are. With all that said, they turned out to be phenomenal folks, with a little Soda bread fried in bacon fat and two eggs runny…………it was a feast to the last bite.

Sniffle……..sniffle……….sniffle……….sniffle……………sniffle………….acht/phewy

Mucous projectiles fly thru the cockpit of our Saab highway express vehicle, seems that both Darren and Nevada have come down with something………….something that leaves them with enough danged snot to chink a log cabin, or use as a flat sealant on a Mac truck.

Its time to hit the main roads with a passion for the speed which so far has lain dormant, secreted away from the stick shift opportunities of life. I am driving a lawn-mower disguised as a car. We are boiling down the high speed lane of the M6 I think it was, headed south to Belfast. The roads are twisty without being excessively tight, the lanes wide enough to allow a little more relaxed driving stance.

Sniffle………sniffle………..sniffle………sniffle………..acht/phewy/schtoopt…… Now at this time we are out of Tissues to blow the nose with, Darren was raised to never foul his sleeves, so the poor kid is minus approx. 30 good inches of fair game place to leave the stuff deposited. Being farm raised I never leave home with out a little toilet paper rolled up in my hind pocket…………for things you can take care of with your shirt sleeve. Being a nice guy and a good host I hand over enough paper to last a farmer one good bought of diarrhea……………or enough paper for Sheryl Crow and Rosie for maybe a good year. Darren, takes the whole hank and just wads in half and takes one feeble blow and calls it done………….tossing it to the trash before I can even give my speech about the poor kids not having any, or maybe we all need to live thru the depression once again…………….but its to late he is oblivious to any form of conservation, the scholastic version of conservation only applies to whales and redwoods.

Sniffle……………sniffle……………….sniffle,Darren I told you that you should have blown that honker and got it done with…………sniffle………….thorry mith’ter Watt

During this run to Belfast, we discuss the methods of getting to the docks and aboard our Ferry. And in it all, we decide that it may be best to hail a cab right at the airport rather than take a bus to City Center and then a cab. SO without much ado, that is what we done. Funny thing how cabbies work, since this time around we are on the Protestant side of that line of demarcation across the city of Belfast which divides Orangemen from IRA.

One verbalized line was exactly the same on both sides to the word, and it went like this all you have to do is change the religion of choice………” I was born Catholic, never been inside the Church mind ya, don’t trust the Church either, but I will die a Catholic and no Protestant Bastard will tell me otherwise” While on the ride I tried to keep the conversation subject on that of Cars, mostly the Antique Mini’s, I have fell in love with these very cool little chunks of iron. They have some real souped up versions here that not only look sporty but tear up small chunks of pavement with the power they have. British mini muscle cars

Sniffle………….sniffle………….sniffle………..sniffle……………….

Then we got onto the very classy Morgan,s which I could sure find myself riding around in, stopping at Pub’s, and Castles………….my wifes blonde hair blowing in the wind as we toured. I day dreamed that every once in a while as we passed thru the Belfast streets, some cobbled and some pave d, and all lined with the two story red brick row house type structures. Huge piles of debris are scattered around as we drive, some piles as high as 20vplus feet. These says the Cabbie, will be lit and burned as huge bon-fires to celebrate the Orange Mans March coming up soon. NO matter what we talked about, the littlest hints of anger and animosity snuck into the conversation. And all of it is the exact opposite to what the Cabbie on the Roman Catholic side had to say.

Sniffle…………..sniffle………shhhhhh Darren, and you to Nevada…………plug that thing with yer fingers for a while. We are here, the shipyards are right over that way says the Cabby, and have a good trip he says as he closes the door and is off. The huge Stena Line tri hull is waiting for us to board as soon as she is cleaned and all the cars parked on her decks so we can commence. We have a bit of tie to wait, so we partake of some Earl Grey Tea, whata great brnad of Tea that is, and somehow having it amidst the drizzle and cloud of the Irish coast just makes it taste all that much better. Should I buy some tissue blurts out Darren………………..we all look in total awe at such a statement. The answer came from Mrs.Watt, that he was welcome to look at the tiny store but in all likelihood they would not have any. Why don’t you just go to the mens room and get some free toilet paper she suggested. Oh dear says Darren………..isn’t that disgusting. Well I says, that depends on what stage of “used” you get the toilet paper now doesn’t it. As long as it is still in the roll form, its like all the tissue you ever used from a nice box. We begin a gain with normal high tea chatter…………sniffle…………..sniffle………Darren, go get some toilet paper.

Darren disappears into the Mens room, and very quickly comes back out, shaking his head and confirming that indeed there was no paper left out sitting on the vanity cupboard with a sign that reads……….”Hey you, ya you, just in case you have run out of nice soft tissue, here is a soft roll of Charmin to hold you over till you can buy some tiisue”…………….well duh says Nevada. Your going to have to go into a stall and unroll some . Blank, total deer in the head lights look on the face of a very bright youth. With great amounts of encouragement we finally convince young Darren to head to the mens room once again…………and off he goes………….we amble back into relaxed high tea chatter.

The arrival of Darren punctuates our chatter, but his countenance is a somewhat perplexed and worried one…………..did you manage to get some paper Darren, I ask him. Yeth mist’ter Watt. Did you roll some and put it in your pocket asked Nevada who by the way was doing fine with the same cold but had the wisdom of wearing a lime green long sleeved tee. NO said Darren, sitting with us now rather sheepishly opening his ample back pack and revealing the contents, of which the most noticeable item inside was the largest full roll of industrial replace once a month toilet paper……………..my dear god, that thing had to be 10 inches in diameter and weigh 30 pounds. Darren says Pine, ya can’t take the whole roll what about the next poor bloke who strolls into the same stall for his “constitutional”…………whats he going to do, better yet how would you feel if it were you in the sa……………… Too late, here come’s a fellow wringing his hands vigorously with paper towel and a disgusted look on his face Boy howdy, did we ever get a laugh at Darren on that one, the day a good kid went bad and stole all the toilet paper in Belfast.

We had very few sniffles to deal with on the ride over to Stanraer Scotland, heavy leaden clouds are the order of the day, choppy dull grey seas roll up at low tide on sandy shoals that form the flattish coast of Scotland. We make our way off the Ferry and right onto the train that runs into Glasgow…………..now listen up here cause the Lords already at work and as isusual with us humans, we don’t even know it or sense it. We are oblivious to his movements. The bed pan flat of the coast of Scotland does not seem to last very long, and the train rises into some low hills, and the country seems to be a little more rugged and greener if that can be possible, maybe not, but definatly rugged.

The ride to Glasgow is a short one, maybe an hour and a half, not to eventful, talked, slept and talked some more till the train rumbled into THE Paisley district and ourstop to get a cab to the Airport and our rental car. It takes a while at the Airport, since it is very busy and the security folks as well as police are just about to commence a pretend hostage and security breach scenario.

I finally get my replacement car, since the one I had booked did not get returned and as such they switched cars on me. They upgraded me to a Saab 93 Euro Vagon, silver gray colore, with full leather interior and a Blapunkt sound system so we can bump our Techno and Bag Pipe tunes in style…………the kids have there hats on sideways and their pant ssitting low……………I got my kilt on backwards, and pulled way up………..yea, we be groovin brother.

Map in hand, kids loaded and all the suitcases loaded and we are tormenting the Scottish drivers of Glasgow. Quite a city in all, sure enough there are some areas that don’t feel to safe, and some areas that just look a little haggard, not Merle, just haggard. Its already sorta late, like 6:30 and we are just rolling up to the place at which we should find a “Hostile”, and we stop to ask the obligatory directions, only to find out that the place we are looking for has burned down. However, the fellow whom we are asking is also a Hostel owner, and can put us up in his establishment, if we care to follow him in his car. We do so and happily, as getting a room in a Hostel during the peak of the season is tough, even worse with five people in the group. Now as it all turns out, this fellow is Canadian and from Alberta, he used to be a Tri-Line truck driver……….and we ended up with a just fine room and all to our selves. We ate at the Coppers next door and headed out to drive Glasgow and walk a little to see some sights and get a little oriented at the same time.

All in all it was a great day, we all learned a little with the battle between two beliefs who defend a belief that they know nothing of at least in the spiritual sense, we learned that conservation or at least the application of it may be more important with toilet paper than spotted owls, and we learn that even before we see a storm brewing on the horizons God has put in place a plan for those that will Pray, hence we end up with a room at a Hostel after all…………….and we could have asked any one of some 500,000 people for directions, but found that just right one to ask.

I am hearing quite a few complaints about the pictures in which I am hidden………to tough is the hue and cry……….so I will do better.

Good Night and God Bless

Posted by Jeremiah Watt at 4:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

BLOG DAY4 Carrickarede and gulls

Our day at Lillian’s begins with what many in this area would refer to as an Ulster Fry, or what we would call “one heck of a breakfast”. It consists of a first round of something lite such as ceral, yogurt and fresh fruit, orange juice from Spain.

Then we move onto a plate containing Sausage, the most wonderful bacon this side of heaven, fried Soda bread, fried Potatoe Bread, fried Tomatoes, fried Mushrooms, and any style of egg you should want………………why not fried I ask??????? Great choice says Lillian, very Ulster of you. I can tell you that the Potatoe bread and Soda bread are just great. And as I said the Bacon is just fabulous. Our youth ate everything on the plate and actually came back for more. So you see Kim, tomatoes do fit in a child’s throat.

Mom and Nevada had a good 6-7 mile run, while I went for a walk out to the moorland head and took pictures of the coast. You cannot believe the size of the Conies around here……………..sorry, I forgot. A conies is a rabbit. These things look like a Shetland pony, and one would feed two familys. Believe me, I know my rabbits, my brother-in-law and I used to own over 500 hundred of these little morsels. We sold ours rabbits for meat, and if we would have had this size of Rabbit we could have been driving a Mercedes.

Church we could find as we headed north. Packed up and headed out for the drive further north, we stopped at the first church we could find that appeared open. The first Church just happened to be a Roman Catholic. We had a short message about the importance of being a part of Gods calling inot the works of the Kingdom message.

We made our way to Carrickarede, which is a famous fishing and quarry village along the Antrim Coastline. What sets Carrickarede apart is the unique coastline and how it steered the spawning Salmon during that time of the year, through a very narrow rock causeway in which the Salmon would be tightly squeezed and easier to catch. The local fisherman built a swinging rope bridge over the Atlantic by some 85 feet, to a tiny rock Island . This bridge allowed for the hanging of a curtain type net by the fisherman to catch a larger haul of fish.

The coast here is made of huge outcroppings of Limestone and Basalt mixed. The limestone lends to the coastal water color that is a unique light blue, very clear and quite pretty. The Basalt sections had huge caverns worked inwards by the sea swells, many of these caves have worked inwards by some 60 feet.. A good long walk to the site, along a rugged and rough coastline that was set above the sea b y some 70-100 feet. We made our way back to the parking lot and had a cup of tea at the Larrybane Tea Room.

We made our way further north to what is indeed a most unusual geological formation known around the world, as the Giants Causeway. It is an extruded form of molten Lava, pushed up thru the earths surface at a slow rate and over a long period of time. To some extent the lave is pushed up to a height of 400 feet.

The most commonly shown portion of this site is say 60 feet tall, and maybe some 300 feet in width, but higher columns of this same formation are very visible along the seas coastline here. The unique hexagonal vertical columns are approximately 24” in diameter, and seated tightly together rising like towers together towards the sky.

Each column is broken off into narrow sections, of maybe 10-12 inches in width, much like bands around the column.

Still with many more miles to drive, what a glorious drive along the Antrim coastline. Sunny, bright blue skies gift wrapped in huge white puffy marshmallow like clouds. The emerald green hillsides are now more frequently spotted with the freshly sheered sheep of the region, Cheviots and Suffolk’s. We motor on to the town of Bushmills, famous for having the OLDEST Distiller of fine Whiskey in the entire cotton pickin world…………YES, even longer than Jack in Tennesee.

This distiller began before 1608, but was granted the first distiller license dating to that date of 1608. It was walking tour, and we had a chance to see first hand how the whole process of turning malted Barley and water into a fine amber distillant known around the world. We ended the tour in the tasting room, and had full shots all around the table………….Nevada was kind of full so Darren volunteered to finish hers for her…………….nice guy, he sure loves to sing, Kim!!.

We had considered calling it a day, but Pine reminded us that there was one other huge old castle not far foo. This is the remains of a castle called Dunnseverty, and dates to 926. A huge, imposing rock structure located out on a rocky promontory that shoots out into the Irish Sea, sitting some 150 feet over the ocean below. It had a retractable rope bridge, of maybe 3 feet width. Once this bridge was drawn up, an attacker would be left with at least 60 feet of climbing up step rock facades.

This is a very picturesque Castle ruin, with the brilliant blue sea as a backdrop, and the sweeping Irish Coastline as a buffer to each side of this medieval construct. Under the imposing structure lay a sea swell. A sea swell is a liner hole that forms under an island promontory and thru which flows the Sea at high tide. It makes a great roaring noise, spraying water for many yards around with each surge of the oncoming waves. The rocky footings of this mount are covered in an unassailable mixture of sea ooze and green kelp or moss…….not exactly an Oceanographer here.

It was time we moved on to our Hostel for the night, my kids are wiped out and Nevada fell asleep on the ride back the Hostel. Back to the room by 8pm, and have a little time to work on the blog while the kids play a few hands of cards, and Mom reads. BY 10pm, its time to close up shop and get ready for the next days adventure as we head for Scotland tomorrow.

Good night and God bless

Posted by Jeremiah Watt at 2:02 AM |<