If you are reading this on the morning of the 22nd, we will be flying over the Atlantic on our way back home... Godspeed!
One Day and counting! One Day! And this journey will be over. What an incredible ride. Honestly, I don't know what to say. (Just kidding). We have visited 6 countries, 6 major cities, and 100's of small villages and towns, maneuvering in and out of airports, lugging bags on and off trains and taxis, many in countries where body language is your best means of communication. We have seen the Sien and the Thames Rivers, the Mediterranean Sea and the North Sea. We have flown over the Atlantic Ocean, Turkey, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and we have driven hundreds of miles of highways in Greece and the UK. Not to mention the many narrow winding roads I'd like to forget. I feel like a computer that has been charged for too many hours or days. I'm on overload. Any new relic or corn field from this point forward, will just cause a short circuit.
On the 19th, we arrived at St. Andrews, Scotland, after a long drive from Stafford in the UK, through the hills and valleys of farmland and countryside, with miles and miles of green. Just beginning to think that nothing could get any prettier, we drove into Scotland, where the plush landscaping has dew dripping from the trees and plants. Another land of breathtaking scenery. The farmland is fenced with trees and divided into giant squares of different shades of green. Some square are dark green, some light green and some a hay colored gold. It is like looking at a jigsaw puzzle.
We were originally supposed to stay at our 3rd bed and breakfast, somewhere between here and there. However, what is inadvertently left out of any description, when going online to book, is that driving experience in the UK should be a prerequisite to arriving at the "unique" 300 year old farmhouse located 10 miles in the middle of nowhere, down a narrow road that is barely able to fit two cars. And that would be if they were actually available in a location somewhat near the direction in which you were traveling. The first UK experience of our B&B was arriving at the Offley Farm Grove about 8:30 in the evening. FL had been driving about 4 hours. After a shaky start, he settled in to his left brain doing what the right brain was accustomed to. But all in all, we were feeling pretty comfortable. Leaving the (M1), our equivalent to I-25, for the M4359, our equivalent to Rural Route 1, we soon realized that this wasn't what we signed the insurance form for. The narrow road was 1.5 car widths wide, basically following a path of what one would imagine a runaway tractor would make. And the sides of the road were lined with 10 to 12 foot dense shrubs -- no mistakes here. Invariably, on the sharpest turns, another car would just be coming around the corner. The second night was more of the same. Only this night, the roads were narrower and the crops higher. There were no lights on the roads and no cars. When we arrived at the small farm house, the couple that greeted us seemed nice enough. But seriously, I expected Kathy Bates as the character from the movie Misery to appear in our room, and lock us away in an old shed with sharp farming tools hanging from hooks nearby, bound and gagged. Convinced that we were not going to make it through another night in one of these "charming" B&B's, and as uncharacteristic as it is for me, I knew I had to take the bull by the horns. We did not book the 3rd night of the B&B, we did not visit another hay field overpopulated with black and white cows and hundreds of sheep, down a rural pathway to God knows where.... We booked a second night at the McDonald Rusack Hotel, the site of the British Open 2010, and the first golf course in the world. Driving to the front door of this 100 year old hotel, a bell man arrived to park the car and take our luggage to the room... breakfast was included. Now this is the type of B& B I had in mind. When we arrived, the day after the British Open ended, the giant scoreboard was still standing, displaying the names of the winners. From our room in the old well appointed mansion, we could see the greens that have cushioned the cleats of the most famous golfers in the world, covering the grounds below. Brass plates named each room in honor of a winner of the British Open. We stayed in the Rusack Room. Jonathan was in the John Daly Room. Scottish tartan wools covered the beds, furniture and curtains with golf history decorating the walls. Needless to say, I made the right decision. Fl had now died and was experiencing golf heaven.
The following day, we toured the remains of St. Andrew Cathedral, which at one time was the largest building in Scotland. Set at the tip of the coastline, this magnificent facade, spoke once again of war and religious strife, as so many other remains have. It had been desecrated by the new reform church of Scotland. In spite of their actions, they left a landmark that may have been even more expressive as a ruin. After some great photo opportunities, Jonathan and I continued through the town center observing the sight and smells -- we learned to avoid walking near the cheese stores. Not only did the weather hold up for us, but the golfers experienced an unusual day of no rain. And by golfers, I mean FL. Unfortunately he was not able to play the "old course" at St. Andrews -- the dream of any golfer worth his weight in clubs. But, he did get on "the new course" built in 1897. A memory of a lifetime. This would be a bucket list moment.
Waking early on Wednesday to the excitement of our last 24 hours, we ate a light breakfast, loaded up the car, took pictures at the famous Bridge at St. Andrews, and with a light drizzle running off the car, we drove away. Our final stop -- Edinburgh!
By the way, I am now confirming that B&B's from this point on in my life, must include: a reception desk; a bell man; hot and cold running water coming out of one faucet; proper flushing toilets that don't need to be pumped like a well spicket; and they must be located on a busy street in a busy city with street lights! Oh yes, and breakfast included. Tomorrow we leave. I can't believe my next blog will be from home! Please keep us in your prayers for a safe return. God Bless.
On the 19th, we arrived at St. Andrews, Scotland, after a long drive from Stafford in the UK, through the hills and valleys of farmland and countryside, with miles and miles of green. Just beginning to think that nothing could get any prettier, we drove into Scotland, where the plush landscaping has dew dripping from the trees and plants. Another land of breathtaking scenery. The farmland is fenced with trees and divided into giant squares of different shades of green. Some square are dark green, some light green and some a hay colored gold. It is like looking at a jigsaw puzzle.
We were originally supposed to stay at our 3rd bed and breakfast, somewhere between here and there. However, what is inadvertently left out of any description, when going online to book, is that driving experience in the UK should be a prerequisite to arriving at the "unique" 300 year old farmhouse located 10 miles in the middle of nowhere, down a narrow road that is barely able to fit two cars. And that would be if they were actually available in a location somewhat near the direction in which you were traveling. The first UK experience of our B&B was arriving at the Offley Farm Grove about 8:30 in the evening. FL had been driving about 4 hours. After a shaky start, he settled in to his left brain doing what the right brain was accustomed to. But all in all, we were feeling pretty comfortable. Leaving the (M1), our equivalent to I-25, for the M4359, our equivalent to Rural Route 1, we soon realized that this wasn't what we signed the insurance form for. The narrow road was 1.5 car widths wide, basically following a path of what one would imagine a runaway tractor would make. And the sides of the road were lined with 10 to 12 foot dense shrubs -- no mistakes here. Invariably, on the sharpest turns, another car would just be coming around the corner. The second night was more of the same. Only this night, the roads were narrower and the crops higher. There were no lights on the roads and no cars. When we arrived at the small farm house, the couple that greeted us seemed nice enough. But seriously, I expected Kathy Bates as the character from the movie Misery to appear in our room, and lock us away in an old shed with sharp farming tools hanging from hooks nearby, bound and gagged. Convinced that we were not going to make it through another night in one of these "charming" B&B's, and as uncharacteristic as it is for me, I knew I had to take the bull by the horns. We did not book the 3rd night of the B&B, we did not visit another hay field overpopulated with black and white cows and hundreds of sheep, down a rural pathway to God knows where.... We booked a second night at the McDonald Rusack Hotel, the site of the British Open 2010, and the first golf course in the world. Driving to the front door of this 100 year old hotel, a bell man arrived to park the car and take our luggage to the room... breakfast was included. Now this is the type of B& B I had in mind. When we arrived, the day after the British Open ended, the giant scoreboard was still standing, displaying the names of the winners. From our room in the old well appointed mansion, we could see the greens that have cushioned the cleats of the most famous golfers in the world, covering the grounds below. Brass plates named each room in honor of a winner of the British Open. We stayed in the Rusack Room. Jonathan was in the John Daly Room. Scottish tartan wools covered the beds, furniture and curtains with golf history decorating the walls. Needless to say, I made the right decision. Fl had now died and was experiencing golf heaven.
The following day, we toured the remains of St. Andrew Cathedral, which at one time was the largest building in Scotland. Set at the tip of the coastline, this magnificent facade, spoke once again of war and religious strife, as so many other remains have. It had been desecrated by the new reform church of Scotland. In spite of their actions, they left a landmark that may have been even more expressive as a ruin. After some great photo opportunities, Jonathan and I continued through the town center observing the sight and smells -- we learned to avoid walking near the cheese stores. Not only did the weather hold up for us, but the golfers experienced an unusual day of no rain. And by golfers, I mean FL. Unfortunately he was not able to play the "old course" at St. Andrews -- the dream of any golfer worth his weight in clubs. But, he did get on "the new course" built in 1897. A memory of a lifetime. This would be a bucket list moment.
Waking early on Wednesday to the excitement of our last 24 hours, we ate a light breakfast, loaded up the car, took pictures at the famous Bridge at St. Andrews, and with a light drizzle running off the car, we drove away. Our final stop -- Edinburgh!
By the way, I am now confirming that B&B's from this point on in my life, must include: a reception desk; a bell man; hot and cold running water coming out of one faucet; proper flushing toilets that don't need to be pumped like a well spicket; and they must be located on a busy street in a busy city with street lights! Oh yes, and breakfast included. Tomorrow we leave. I can't believe my next blog will be from home! Please keep us in your prayers for a safe return. God Bless.
Welcome Home! We're all going to miss reading your wonderful blogs, but look forward to your new articles in the Kandili! We love you all and missed you so very much. Thank you for taking us along on your wonderful journey!
ReplyDeleteLove, Karen
Marsha - Happy Birthday!
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