So we stayed in a really nice dorm room but the bed was all springs I think and both Jacob and I woke with sore backs but that didn't stop us.  Actually the bed wasn't old or ratty just not as soft as we are used to.  We got ready and headed out.  We went to the William Wallace monument however we didn't go up the 256 step to the top of the tower.  Had to save my strength for other things like getting back down the steep and treacherous pathways to the start point.  My legs were jelly by the time I got down.  The details on the tower were pretty incredible though.  I have no idea how they carve all that in the stone without it crumbling away.

Next we hightailed it over to the Battle of Bannockburn Centre where we watched a 3D presentation on the different fighting styles, weapons, etc.  Then we participated in the war between the English (my team) and the Scots (Jacob's team).  This was challenging as each leader of a group of men made their own decisions on where to go and what to do.  Jacob managed to take out two squads of English while running away from another.  I managed to have the best long bow archers on either side.  Yay!  Essentially the English decimated the Scots and would have won the battle if one of leaders had went on to attack versus just advancing forward.  Oh well, Jacob won this round.

We went for a quick bite from there and noticed our time was running out.  We drove like mad men and made it to Doune Castle with less than 30 seconds to spare literally, as we were speed walking up the path, they were starting to close the doors.  This of course meant that we had to do double time in viewing the castle.  This castle was used in a Monty Python movie, was used in the pilot of Game of Thrones and is used in the making of Outlander.  Love that show!  I am so glad we made it to that last one.  It was awesome to see and has survived very well.





Doune Castle

Doune Castle



Doune Castle Well
 



Doune Castle
Rear Dining Area for Musicians



David Stirling
Founder of The Special
Air Service Regiment 1941

Now for the bad news....... we didn't make it out of Stirling.  Jacob decided he didn't want to sleep in the car this night so we booked a room at a farm house.  Nice room, clean, smells like laundry soap.  Only draw back is that because of the thick walls the WIFI is spotty at best and I just spent a half hour outside with a blankey looking up rooms for tomorrow.  No luck!  Guess we are sleeping in the car.  And now my feet are cold.

So Jacob is snoring again and I am nodding off as usual while trying to type and research.  Nothing new there right...!



William Wallace Monument

Well another day has flown by and I feel we have barely got anywhere. We picked up the rental car at noon. Great service by a bloke named Kyle. Made the process really easy considering the last reviews I read indicated two hour waits and rude staff. We took the bus to the budget office and wheeled our suitcases down the street like nutty tourists. I have to say though that there seem to be quite a few people wheeling suitcases around town so I really didn't feel too bad. So we are off on our driving adventure....and what an adventure it is! Driving on the wrong side of the road, shifting with the left hand, and having no idea where you are heading let alone what all the road lines, signs, and indicators are is enough to cause a brain meltdown. Jacob and I put on about 25 extra miles today when we missed turn offs and took wrong exits on roundabouts. Holy Crap! They sure love those roundabouts here. Every couple of miles in town there is a stinking roundabout. I believe we finally decided which direction we are going to drive, provided we take the right road.

 We got to Stirling today...okay don't laugh... stopped at the info Centre and picked up more info books than I know what to do with and some maps. Then decided to stay the night. We are in a dorm room at the local University, nice rooms here, clean, ample room for clothes, modern and a private wc with shower. Nice change from the last couple days where it was shared with three other rooms. We are headed up to Inverness through Aviemore. We will visit Culloden (I'm sure I spelt that wrong but will check later) along the way. Then we plan to head to the Isle of Skye. So far Jacob and I haven't killed each other however it has been damn close sometimes. Ok not that close but that boy needs to learn to meditate!

Robert The Bruce

Stirling Castle

We went for dinner at The Abbey pub last night. Was really good. I had haggis stuffed chicken, tatties and veggies which was really very delicious and I certainly would have had again.. Jacob had a bacon cheese burger. Went there for breakfast this morning and had a very tasty omelette and Jacob had French toast. We split our meals and got to enjoy both. From break we headed down to the Royal Mile. We headed up to the castle and roamed about there for a few hours. Boy a lot of up hill there. Had to use Jacob for support and I think I was the only one around that I could see that was sweating bucket and using my pamphlet as a fan. Of course with me this only happens from the head up so I have little swimming pools under my eyes and a brand new wet look hair do. Yikes! Headed back down the other side of the mile but it was getting late, I was tired and Jacob wanted to go to a certain toyshop before they closed so we headed back. Came back to the guest house for a rest before heading out again. Both of us fell asleep and didn't wake up Intel after 9:30. By the time we got down to the pub it was full, smallish like pub you know. We wondered down the street looking for somewhere else but all the pubs seemed to be full and the only things we saw open other than that was a papa johns. After going back down the strew we found a seat at another pub, ordered a drink and asked about food. They stopped serving at 10 and it was now 10:45. Well guess where we ate..... Papa Johns.... but you know the pizza was actually really good. It was take out only so we ate it while we walked back to the guest house. Different than at home. Things close here early and you are just plain out of luck.

Haggis Stuffed Chicken

Edinburgh Castle in the background

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle (Jacob, where's your hat?)

It is Monday evening and Jacob and I arrive at the airport well ahead of time to insure that there is no chance that we miss our flight. We are finally heading to the UK. We are excited but also overwhelmed about going somewhere that is so different yet the same. Yippee, made it through security and now we wait, and wait, and wait, and wait some more. The time for boarding comes and goes and finally they make an announcement that there is a delay due to a mechanical issue. Well, you know, this is Whitehorse and they do not keep any spare planes or parts here. They do not even have a certified Air Canada mechanic here. Lucky for us there just happened to have one, an Air Canada mechanic, flying to Vancouver. So a few hours later, approximately 2, they fixed whatever was wrong and we were on our way. Now we were happy about that but....... we missed our connecting flight and we were stuck in Vancouver for the night. Ok, not much you can do and they comped room after telling us it wouldn't be... thank goodness. So we get up the next am after 3.5 hours of sleep and head to the airport. Now we have to fly to Toronto but avoid having to fly into Heathrow before flying to Edinburgh. All is good right??? Not! Guess what, sitting in Toronto, boarding time comes and goes.... announcement is made..... mechanical issues....WTF, you have got to be kidding! Oh and, no extra planes and they can't seem to fixed the hydraulic issue on ours. Well, we wait long enough that there is now an incoming plane that they can nab. Again, we are over 2 hours behind getting on the flight, but at least we got here right. Now we have missed a whole day of our trip and due to all the changes we spent what was left of our day Wednesday getting some dinner and sleeping. Two days of our trip over and we have only been to the pub once... lol.

Jacob looking oh so impressed about all the delays!

So Jacob and I are doing a mother son once in a lifetime trip to the UK. Started off with Jacob going with his school MAD group for one last rip, then morphed into my joining him, then into him possibly staying in the UK to work for a year, then into my staying a week later to visit Ireland with him, then into us leaving a week earlier to visit Scotland. So here we are.

Errinlee and Jacob'so UK trip