Day 12 Golfing at Carnoustie and St. Andrews

We were unsure of how long it would take to get to Carnoustie from Edinburgh, so we woke early and headed out with many hours to spare before the scheduled tee time.  As we arrived in Carnoustie, Shawn and my dad perked up when they saw the course.  Me?  I perked up when I greeted the North Sea at a beautifully graceful low tide.  But my beach combing was placed on hold.  Shawn and my dad needed golf balls and with a strong chilly/misty wind...Shawn needed a sweater or some type of windbreaker.  So, I dropped them off at a golf shop and masterfully was able to maneuver the beastly van in a tiny private parking lot in order to turn around rather than drive under a bridge that I didn't think we could clear.  Next stop, into the town for a sweater and some more nimble driving techniques.  Amazingly, Shawn was able to find a fine wool sweater!  My dad said, "Let's drive around for a bit, perhaps find some lunch."  To that I replied, "I'm done driving."  Back to the golf course parking lot and the parting of ways:  Shawn and my dad were off to golf, the kids, my mom, and I were off to THE BEACH!!!

Summer and Nicholas kicked off their shoes and enjoyed the nearly a twenty foot difference between high and low tide.

The water was quite cold, but the tidal pools were irresistible.

After the kids had their fill of the beach, we went on to check out the playground.  And what an amazing find!  The kids played  for ages, but my mom and I were getting hungry and were hoping for lunch.  We managed to peel the kids off with the promise of food. 

Look at Summer's laugh!  The sight of Nicholas falling off of the rope swing WAS funny, but I'm sure that as the older sister...his falling was poetic justice.

Even Grandma couldn't resist!

Off to find some lunch.  I drove us down the main drag of town...and then kept going until I was out of the town.  (Aha!  I had the kids captive and they were at my mercy.)  Nicholas, ever the adventurer, was told, "Go stand in that field so I can take a picture of you."  My mom, ever the worrier, voiced her concern, "What if there are snakes?  You shouldn't do that.  Don't!"

When Nicholas got back in the car he said, "See Grandma.  I'm OK."

Onward captives!  We drove on for a few more miles, through fields and down skinny one lane roads, until I decided that it was time to turn around and actually find something to eat.  I chose to turn down a small road to follow the signs to a fruit stand.  Oh, and what a find it was!

NOT a tourist attraction!  A real working farm with a stand for the locals.  Gigantic meringues, the most amazing berries, biscuits, jam... 

The kids enjoyed feeding snacks to the farm dog, who was recovering from having had its tail run over just the day before.  (Apparently, it doesn't know to have a fear of cars.)

After an oh so nutritious lunch of three different flavors of meringues and three bins of fresh berries, we headed back to the golf course/playground/beach.  I went back to the beach while my mom watched the kids play. 

 

We "managed" to burn off about five hours in total.  I think we all had a great time in Carnoustie. I had a huge pocket full of sea glass from the beach.  The kids had a great and lawless romp on the beach and through the playground equipment.  My mom presided over our safety.  Shawn and my dad both shot in the 90s at "Car-nasty", considered by many to be one of the toughest courses in the world!  But the day still wasn't over. 

 

We were off to St. Andrews...

The view of the Royal and Ancient from the steps of our hotel.

Without a tee time booked in advance, there was still a chance... of a possibly...maybe...if all the stars align...of actually being able to "walk-on" to play the Old Course.  My dad decided that since he had already played the R&A, and was tired from walking Carnoustie that morning, he would not try for the "walk on".  Shawn, on the other hand, excitedly chose to give it a shot.

After dinner, drinks, and free wifi, he set his alarm for 3:00 am to get in line (for the 6:00 am opening) and the very slight chance of walking on.  By the time he was able to actually get himself up and get into the queue, it was about 4:00 and there were twelve people ahead of him.  Now, wait: TWO MORE HOURS.  (Luckily, all of the rest of us slept through all of these shenanigans.)  Miracle of all miracles, Shawn was able to get a tee time of sorts.  He was told, "Show up at 10:45...not 10:40, but 10:45."  TA DA!!!! 

No pressure!  This is just THEE most famous golf course in all the world and there are masses of people waiting to watch you tee off.  Oh, and don't worry about not having any sleep last night.  ;)

So, off the rest of us went to take a bus tour.

View of the Royal and Ancient from the bus.

We hopped off at...

St. Andrews Cathedral

My dad and Nicholas taking a rest in the ruins.

I never get tired of exploring ruins and abandoned things.

Summer reenacting the opening scene of The Hunger Games.

Nicholas with "Oliver".* 

Nicholas with "Oliver" again.

*"Oliver" is an otter that we got as a gift for a dear friend who LOOOOVES otters.  Apparently, the UK has loads of otters. 

 

The grave of Tom Morris.

The kids and I went on down to the shore line while my folks went on to see St. Andrews Castle.

St. Andrews Castle

And then, it began to rain.  It drizzled as we walked back to our hotel.  And then, the rain fell in sheets!  Oh, poor Shawn.  His game... 

 

We sought refuge in my folks' room that had a view of the 18th green.  I texted Shawn and he was still playing!  We bolted out of the room and literally RAN to see him come up 18.

Whew!  Made it!

The caddy invited Nicholas to walk the rest of the hole with Shawn!

From Shawn's Facebook:  A golfers dream. Par on Cartgate. Par on corner of the Dyke. Bogey on the road hole. And a birdie on Tom Morris. I wouldn't trade 5 hole in ones for it. And getting to share it with my wife and kids goes beyond my capacity to describe. Teeing off at 1 with all those people, walking that course, and finishing that way is real life magic stuff. I'm humbled. — with Jennifer Melnick-Wolf at Old Course at St Andrews.

 

Summer and Nicholas recreating the picture of Cindy and me standing in the very same spot in 1981.

A little more exploring before bed time...

My sea glass haul so far.

 

Sandy Sensation

http://local.mumsnet.com/dundee-angus/parks-playgrounds/109887-carnoustie-sandy-sensation

 

Carnoustie Golf Links

http://www.carnoustiegolflinks.co.uk/

 

St. Andrews Cathedral

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Andrew%27s_Cathedral,_St_Andrews

 

East Scryne Fruit Stand

https://www.facebook.com/EastScryneFruit

 

Best Western St. Andrews
http://www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotels/scores-hotel-st-andrews-83405/hotel-info/default.aspx

St. Andrews Golf
http://www.standrews.com/

Day 11 Edinburgh

Still thinking of MY sheep and that poor ewe that I saved...

It was time to cross the border and make our way up to Scotland.

When we arrived in Edinburgh and found our hotel, we were dumbfounded... There wasn't any possibility of pulling the car over at all!!! So, I just thought I would zip "around the block" while making an action plan.   The hotel was on Princes Street which is THEE street!  

When I came back around I confirmed there really was no pull off area to load/unload, which meant the literal "hopping" out of the car so as not to anger the locals, trolley trains, city buses, bus tours, taxi cabs, etc.  So, out the door with Mom and Shawn and off I went to circle "around the block" for the third time. Easier said than done. 

Down Princes Street. Mind the trolley tracks!  Dodge scaffolding and construction crews. (Oh. An Apple store is coming.)  Turn left onto another main drag. Curve around between a hotel and something old and probably famous. Make mental note of parking garages on left and right. Drive a bit more. Wait for traffic light. (Can I turn left from a left on red?  Better not.)  Onward!  More diversions.  Keep driving until another left turn. And then for the really tricky part...  Left onto a one way street loaded with city buses and tour buses. Wait for the traffic light because now it's a right turn onto a two way road that also has more trolley cars and no median.  Another light!  (Leave way for trolley to zoom by.) Hold breath.  Cross two sets of trolley tracks. Head down one lane road engulfed in scaffolding and working construction.  Whoops!  Look out for bold pedestrians who refuse to recognize that the sidewalk is closed AND mind the Road Works man who was literally dragging the barricades and squeezing in the driving space. Ignore honking horns. Wait for light. Turn left again. Dodge more construction and scaffolding. Look at building being demonilshed on the left. Prepare to turn left again.  FINALLY, back on Princes Street!  Find Mom and Shawn. Ignore ticked off drivers. Press hazard light button as if it was a force field to protect us from the very real danger of being rear ended. Whew. Made it. (I bet the hotel has some hidden parking lot down an alley some where.  Shawn will know where to go.  Be back in a sec!) 

Then, a fire drill of sorts!  My dad lept out of the car. They all yanked the luggage out of the back. Slammed the trunk. Shawn climbed in to fill me in on the parking scoop. Off we go again. (Trip #3)  

 

Whoops. Missed the turn off for the parking lot on the left and can't get over for the lot on the right either. Seriously?!?  Around the "block" again. (Now,  trip #4) Grrrr! Repeat hellacious process. 

Ok. This time. Pull into parking lot/garage...  Clearance: 6'3"   No!  We BARELY fit in the 6'8" garage in Bath. Inhale. Exhale. Reverse. Merge back into traffic, knowing the lot on the right is now going to be the only other option. Too bad I can't get across to have a go at that. "Around the block" we go again. (SERIOUSLY?!? Trip #5)

Adjust meself. Keep calm and carry on. Start speaking in Scottish accent. And begin "running" the red/yellow combo light. (What in the hell is the purpose of that light anyway?)  Once 'round the block again to the parking lot on the right. Come on, lads.  Clearance: 5 ft!  WTF?!?  And there's not enough room for me to even back up and turn around!  Right then. Carry on.  Down the curvy one lane -yet two way- road in hopes of finding some place to park. Nope. But, we did find some gents who might know where to park this beast.  Their suggestion:  "Drive out to airport. Park. Take a train back into the city."  Ha!  Cute idea but no. 

Let's try on the other side of Princes Street.  Perhaps there would be a garage near the Waverly subway station?   Good idea. No. Wrong!  After about AN HOUR trying to get back to the hotel...  (Does that mean I'll have to go "around the block" again?!)  We finally decided to try for a four hour parking somewhere on the street. 

Seriously I went "around the block" a few more times and then settled on letting Shawn and the kids out of the car at the hotel. That way they could relay the hullabaloo to my folks.  I was to drive around AGAIN with the intent on finding a parking spot. Ha!  Fat chance.  So, I camped out. Activated my force field hazard lights and settled in for how ever long it was going to take for a spot to become available. No matter what...I wasn't going around the block ever again!

Miracle of miracles!  A woman pulled out!  I squeezed the gigantic van into a tiny spot (figuring the other drivers would just have to work with the mere inches I left them).  Then I grabbed up everything left in the car and RACED to the hotel, not even paying the parking meter. My dad and Shawn were standing by the door but I couldn't even talk to them because after a million hours of trying to navigate my way through Edinburgh I had to go to the bathroom in the worst way!

Well, it turned out that I had somehow managed to get one of the most unique parking spots in the whole city. According to one of the parking cops, this spot was unenforceable and free and unlimited!!!  Hallelujah!!!!  So, time for a drink, a snack, and to get ready to take a walk around the Princes Street Gardens.

Nicholas was so thrilled to actually BE Spiderman!

In preparation for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo Festival.  (NOT skin tattoo.)

Dinner of Haggis, neeps, and tatties.

The next day we took every hop on hop off bus tour the city had to offer.  (Ain't NOOO way I'd give up that parking spot!)  And "alighted" at the Edinburgh Castle.

A view from the top of the castle, looking out to the Forth of Firth.

Nicholas waiting for the 1:00 gun salute.  (Not this cannon though.)

Prisoners of War Exhibit

Another view from the top and the Forth of Firth.

 

The cannons really were interesting and the view from the lookout was amazing!

 

Nicholas doing his best to be on guard.  (Note the photo bombing sister.)

Unable to be serious on command!  Especially since Nicholas had just been fussed at for trying to photo bomb Summer's picture. 

Back on the bus, Gus.  Summer let me "fix" her hair.  I swear I have to trick this kid into letting me fix her hair.  And I only got this rare picture of it because she put her head down in my lap when we were on the bus.

We were looking for a pharmacy for some much needed stuff and came across an oasis for the kids...  American Candy! And a WALL of PopTarts!

"Pop Art of the Top Part of a Pop Tart"

Edinburgh has lots of beggars...this guy must make a fortune!

Next stop:  Golfing

Old Waverly Hotel
http://www.oldwaverley.co.uk/

Day 10 Hullerbank Farm

After our lovely breakfast we packed up to wind our way through and out of The Lake District. The roads through this area are quite narrow and at times do not have any shoulder at all AND coaches and lorries whip around like Mini Coopers. Shawn is afraid of heights...so, it was decided that I should drive this section. My dad was the navigator. Shawn, Grandma, and the kids sat in back. And off we went!

At a large car park, we got out and had a grand time frollicking about like mountain goats. The kids and my dad raced up the hill and delighted in making echoes and throwing rocks. There was a well worn path, dotted with all sorts of evidence of wildlife:  tufts of wool on branches and rocks, blobs of poo and pellet shaped poo. 

Running around also gave everyone a chance to burn off some energy. I think I did a good job of driving. I only clipped the over hanging weeds a few times...knowing there was a stone wall underneath the soft greens made me a bit leery too! But I white knuckled it at 10 and 2, tapping my finger tips every so often to regain curculation of blood when my hands started to tingle. 

Ta da!  Summer relishing being able to look down upon all of her royal subjects. 

And then...Nicholas came. 

Even 77 year old Grandpa was like a kid again. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unfortunately a warning light came on in the van and rather than go way off the grid, we chose a more "main" road in case of catastrophe. (In Enlgand there are "A" and "B" roads. "A" is a main road, although it may be barely paved and one lane at times.)

Since I was in charge of the driving and we were getting peckish, I turned off on a one lane drive way/road that lead to a grand old manor house that advertised "Tea".  

This was someone's actual home, somewhat converted into a B&B/Tea Room!  So, we had proper tea over looking the river. 

Loads of posh and slightly over the top decorations. 

Sitting room. 

As I was taking pictures of things a woman with windswept hair and a basket of laundry stopped me and said, "Make sure you get a picture of the staircase and stand here. I call this the symphony of circles."  (My photo was blurry. The one below is not it.)

We went on snooping about. 

And then at the end of our meal had to settle up the bill. The worker needed to go into the owner's office and that was when I realized the windswept wash woman was the owner of the manor house!  She was an American from Boston but had been living here in this house with her husband for 20+ years.  Um...wow!

After getting back on the road, getting lost a half dozen or so times, I asked a youngish boy if he knew where the Hullerbank Farm House was. He looked at me like I had fifteen heads and grunted something to the effect of, "I fink it's down therah."  Thanks. That was of no help. 

On a one lane road, walled in by stone and hedges, to get around an on coming car one of you has to back up to a wide spot to squeeze by. So, when that happened, I motioned to the driver to roll down her window and asked her if she knew where Hullerbank Farm House was. She offered to escort us!!!  We never would have found that spot without her help!  Ah! Home!  MY SSSHHHEEEEPPPP!!!!!

OMG this is so cute!!!

Cobweb

Another cobweb

The kids got settled in their room and luxuriated in having their own telly. My folks and the kids had twin bedded room with ensuite facilities and a basin in the room. Shawn and I had the double bed room with the toilet and tub/shower down the hall. 

The view out of our bedroom window. This is the driveway with the dog's barn and Derrick's "wee cottage" attached. (Derrick is the son of the farm owners, Shelia and Brian.)

The farm house where we were staying was built in 1635. But Shelia said there had been a farm on this spot since 1212. 

Derrick and MY sheep. These sheep were penned up to get a spray on "tan". On Monday they were to go up for sale and needed a little "base".

The "fat" ewe on the far left (if I have this right) is called Fluffy. She was also to be sold because she was "gettin' too fat and soon be on her back".  

This handsome fella is Silas. He's an old guy of about eight. They have two male sheep:  Silas and Fred. 

I think this is Silas on the left and Fred on the right. Silas and I had a love affair. He wouldn't come for my mom or the kids making kissy sounds or the promise of good petting. But Silas liked me brogue. "Come on, Silas!  Come 'ere!"  And presto. One old sheep ready for petting. 

The sheep dog. There's actually two. One named Tom and the other might have been called Jem. They lived in the barn. 

We stayed here for two nights. Every morning I got up early and went for a walk to check on MY sheep. Across the road was another sheep farm. He had white faced sheep and also a few brown and polka dotted ones too. 

So cute with the pink ears. This little one looks exactly like an Easter lamb. 

One of MY sheep. 

This is the "old fat ewe" (I think).

A deer!!!

Wait. Lemme take a selfie. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

During our day here we went out to explore Hadrian's Wall. Summer and me standing in front of a mural of "our empire".

That tin can on my head was heavy!!!

I much prefer the Conquistador look. 

Our first stop along the route was at a priory. Amazing to see just the bits that remain mixed in with stuff still in use today. 

6'3" just clears the doorway. 

My human flock. 

A door to no where. There's no ceiling and almost no walls. 

Excellent spider web. 

A window above an uncared for tomb.

Here lies James Dacre Esq.

Who died July the 16th 1716

In the 30th year of his age

Being the last mail heir

Of the Dacre

Of Land Cost

At first when I read this I felt so sad. This is or was an area called Lanercost. This untended tomb exposed to the elements and quite shabby....in the ruined church...and HE is the end of the line...no heir. =(  I read the stone several times. I stood there almost exactly 198 years to the day!!!  And I spied a typo. Oh my!  Now I'm even more sad. This poor fellow has to be in the ruins of his family's once great estate, no one tends to his grave, there are no walls, no ceiling and to top all that off...rest for eternity under the wrong spelling of the word male. Oh dear. I was truly truly sad for so many reasons. 

Shawn and Nicholas in the dungeon. 

And then on to Hadrian's Wall!

We were all amazed by the fact that Hadrian's Wall now functions as an everyday fence to keep flocks penned in. And people just walk through the field. 

The tiny pink dot on the wall is Summer. 

Grandpa at 78. He was so excited that you could still walk on the wall!  We all walked around a lot and I know that made him happy to see us doing something that he remembered so fondly from 1981 when he was 45. (Now I'm 44.)

This lovely cow needed a visit. She was so kind and let me scratch her head and rub her neck. I wanted to just sit down with her. 

But wait...lemme take a selfie. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Our last morning at the farm and I looked after my flock. 

Yep. All fine here. 

Looks good. 

Ok. 

But wait. Do sheep sleep on their backs?  This poor thing was having a dream/nightmare and kicking her legs a bit. Hum. Interesting. 

When I returned to the farm and spoke with the owners, I asked if sheep sleep on their backs. It turns out they do not!!!  That poor ewe was stuck!  Brian phoned the man who owned those sheep to tell him that one needed to be righted. He and Shelia went on to explain that a sheep will die in a few hours from falling over. (Which explained why they needed to sell the "fat ewe" from their farm.)

Yeah me!  I saved the life of a sheep!