Let the Games Begin!

06-04-2022

Breakfast at eight and I finally had time and space for my yoga!  My poor body hasn't forgiven me for skipping those days at the hostel!






Anthony takes our orders and brings everything hot and fresh to our table. The guest house is dog friendly and there are two big babies currently in residence, in addition to the resident pooch. We enjoy our breakfasts and puppy time and head out for the Lock Lomond Highland Games. Thank goodness for our GPS lady, whom we've named Gwyneth.  She takes us 98% of the way flawlessly.  The last bit, not so much.  Even the printed signs are wrong and the horse-mounted police lady is only slightly more helpful.  At least she knew the games were happening!



We finally give up on the park and ride and drive right to the games.  We find some street parking and arrive later than we hap planned but we're still early for the official start time!  When we show our passes we are given wrist bands for both our admission and VIP status!  Marilyn had tried to order VIP passes two years ago;  but there was a lot of backing and forthing due to COVID and she eventually gave up and got general admission.  Sure glad someone decided we were VIPs because we got to sit much closer to the action and there was free wine and water and fruit and cocktails and sandwiches!!

First we get to watch a lot of the dance competition and that's a real treat, complete with a live piper!





A pipe band marches onto the field for the starting ceremonies and the games begin with the amateur "heavies" competition. The kilted Scotsmen toss stones and hammers and whatever you call the chain with a metal ball at the end, and, of course, the caber!  There are also races of various lengths.  We meet an interesting couple from North Carolina and everyone trades stories and bios before we finally decide to head out.





















We ask Gwyneth to take us to see the Falkirk Wheel.  This is an engineering marvel that was created to replace a whole series of locks between the Union Canal and the Forth and Clyde Canal.  Instead of five days, the transfer now only takes five minutes.  The wheel only turns once every thirty minutes and we manage to catch it twice.











Our last "sight" of the day is The Kelpies.  They are metal equine sculptures that stand one hundred feet high and were modeled on two Clydesdale, Baron and Duke. They are an homage to the sturdy working horses of Scotland, although the name, Kelpies, refers to mythological shape-shifters who often appeared as horses.







Time to drive home and get dinner. Richard suggests a Greek restaurant, Cafe Aina.  Ginger and I walk to it and Richard drives Connie and Marilyn.  We arrive just after them and enjoy a lovely Greek dinner of souvlakis and a large Greek salad that we all share. I get the halloumi souvlaki!! Yum.






Then it's around the corner for our last visit to Mandi at The Curly Coo.  She remembered that we wanted to do a beer tasting tonight! Marilyn, Ginger, and I select one we like (I've got Dark Island from the Orkney Brewery) but Connie sticks with her new favorite scotch, or should I just say whisky? We have some laughs with Mandy and then it's time to head back up the hill for home.  Thank goodness it isn't a very big hill!





Comments

  1. NatJune 5, 2022 at 9:51 AM

    Two things, is the GPS Scottish? And how's Marilyn handling the driving on tbe left side of the road?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mama dragonJune 5, 2022 at 2:53 PM

      I think Gwyneth is British; but very pleasant. And Marilyn is doing great! But she'd had practice in Ireland and a couple of other places! And the automatic is quite hel;pful, she doesn't have to shift!

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