Mini-Stonehenge

Started our day with breakfast at the B&B. We asked our host how far away the stone circle at Castlerigg was, and he said maybe a 15-20 minute walk. After checking out and loading up the car, we started out with our directions (and no map). Bob asked another guy for directions after we had been walking for about 10 minutes. He didn't like the directions, and we all marveled that he doesn't hesitate to ask directions, but doesn't like to follow the directions he's been given. He says he likes to get several sets, and corroborate the different stories. Anyway, the second guy we asked seemed amazed to think we would walk that distance (he said it was about 5 miles: "It's quite fah.") It took us about 45 minutes to get there, but it was a gorgeous walk, full of old houses, rolling hills, and sheep. The circle was at the top of a hill. It's amazing to think that this stone cicle has been here for about 4,000 years.

Finally got back in the car and headed out about 11:30 for Scotland. First stop: Hadrian's wall, per Bob's request, so he could get a rock from the wall to take home. Hadrian's wall was built by Roman soldiers to defend the northern border of their territory, and divided England from Scotland. It was built in 130 B.C., and ran all the way across the country, about 78 miles. There are huge gaps of it completely missing now, but several small sections still exist. We found a section of it, and Bob got a couple of small rocks.

Stopped for lunch in Longtown, and pressed onward--we had a ferry to catch to Dunoon. We made it to the ferry dock in Gourock just before the end of the World Series match between Germany and Argentina, and Paul found a TV in the waiting room. We had a bit of time to wait for the ferry, but he still didn't get to see the end (overtime).

Dunoon is the town that my family lived in when I was 8 and 9, and Dad was stationed at Holy Loch, Scotland. I've always wanted to go back, and this was the perfect opportunity. JoDee and I had done a bit of research beforehand, trying to find the B&B that we lived in until housing was available, finding a map to locate the house we lived in and the school we attended, etc. As soon as we got off the ferry, I recognized Castle House Museum as a landmark. We drove to our B&B, and I had this ridiculous hope that it would turn out to be the same B&B we had stayed at (it wasn't). Our hostess, however, gave us the name of someone to talk to at the Tourist Center, who would be able to help us find the B&B, even if it had probably been turned into a private residence. Enough of the trip down memory lane for today: we'll finish that up tomorrow. We have a round of golf to play!

We drove out to Innellan Golf Course (it's been around since 1891) to play a quick 9 holes. It was 7:30pm, and the midgies were out in full force, but the sun was shining, and the scenery was incredilbe--the golf course overlooks the Firth of Clyde. I'm sure my dad played here. We had a pretty good round--I had one of the better rounds I've ever had, and we had a really great time. JoDee kept saying, "We're playing golf in SCOTLAND!"

Finished off with a late-night dinner at a great little Indian restaurant before heading back to the B&B.