Day 3 - Thursday 5/28/15 – Edinburg to Houseteads Hadrian’s
Wall
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| Melrose Abbey |
Wow, what a day!!! If all of our days are like today, my journal will
fill a book. We were up at 7, down to breakfast at 7:15, packed and down
to wait for the taxi we had ordered last night. We decided we didn't want
to drag our suitcases to the bus stop, so we took a cab there. The bus
came about 15 minutes after we arrived, and off we went to the airport.
It was a sunny day to start with but quite windy - 22 mph. At the airport we went first to the Visit Scotland tourist office to book a room for tomorrow night in Stirling. That took a bit of time since her printer didn't work at first. We got a room at a B&B that I had already looked at.
Then we hiked to the rental car place and got our VW Golf and got situated. Bill got the GPS set up and figured out where everything was. We got away about 10:30 and made it to Rosslyn Chapel (only 7 miles away) with only one missed turn. It really did help that we had looked at Google maps street view since one needed to know what lanes to be in.
Rosslyn Chapel was impressive. We could only take photos outside. We hadn't been there 15 minutes when it started to pour down rain. It only lasted 15 minutes, so we made it around the outside before starting to explore inside.
Inside was extremely beautiful with loads of carved sandstone pillars and ornamentation. We made it down into the crypt (re Da Vinci Files). A guide started to give a presentation, but it was mostly about the history of the church and family. So we left and went in to the little cafe to have a quick lunch before heading off.
I had lentil soup and hovan loaf. I had to ask what hovan loaf was - just a small roll like a Parker House roll. Bill had cream cheese and salmon on a bagel. Then it was off to Melrose Abbey.
Parking was a challenge there, since we had to find a spot in town. We found a lot with a free spot, got parked and headed to the Abbey. It is mostly a hollow shell, but it is oh so beautiful. There weren't many people there when we were, so it was nice to wander around. We did climb the 72 circular enclosed steps up to the tower where there was an outdoor stand. The view from there was beautiful, and I got a great photo of a pig playing the bagpipes which is up on the top of the Abbey. Of course it started to rain again, so down we went.
We wandered around the beautiful grounds (rain stopped quickly) and found the spot where Robert the Bruce's heart is buried. What a lovely spot to spend some time.
We managed to get ourselves on the road to Hadrian's Wall and Hadrian's Lodge where we are staying the night. Five miles from Melrose Abbey, the low tire light came on. Our hearts dropped. We quickly found a BP gas station which luckily was attached to a VW sales and service center. They took the car and discovered we had a nail in the back right tire. Unfortunately it was on the side of the tire, so we had to purchase a new tire which they had! Bad luck/good luck!!! It was less than $100 and they took the credit card.
Bill says we were supposed to call the rental car folks and have them tell us where to take it, but screw it....we wanted to be on our way!! The whole thing took less than an hour, so we didn't lose too much time.
The rains came and went the whole way to Hadrian's Lodge, but the scenery was incredibly beautiful. I got a few photos when it wasn't raining. I even got one of a llama farm. There were lots of black face sheep which I will have to get photos later in the trip. At the border between Scotland and England there is a pull off with a huge rock that says Scotland on one side and England on the other. Bill took my photo on both sides.
So with all of our piddling around we didn't get to Hadrian's Lodge until 6. It stays light until 9:45, so that is not a problem. The Lodge is a rather large, purpose built 10 room guest house. There is a large lounge/bar, game room, and a dining room. Jim and Victoria are our hosts. Luckily they serve dinner (for a fee) since there is truly nowhere to eat within miles. We chatted with Jim for a while after he brought us coffee.
When I went out to the car to get my guide book, I saw the most gorgeous bird out in the grass. I had my camera with me, so I took a few photos. Then he came closer and closer, so I snapped more photos. I took them inside where Jim told me that this was Freddie the pheasant who showed up a few months ago with several different hens. He hangs around and even eats bird seed from Jim's hand. This was the first pheasant I have seen in the wild. What a treat!!
Dinner was at 7:30. There were 5 other people in a group that also ate with us. They kept to themselves. I had a baked mushroom risotto which was really good - Bill said it was the best risotto he has had. It came with mashed potatoes and a bowl of beautiful broccoli, carrots, and swedes (like a turnip/parsnip). Bill had a chicken cordon bleu with fries and the same veggies. Of course the portions are huge, and I could not finish mine. We shared a sticky toffee pudding with ice cream. This was a bit different than we have had before - more date flavor - but still quite good.
Bill went out for a drive after dinner to see one of the Hadrian's Wall's other sites. We didn't make it to Housestead's Roman Fort today so we shall do that tomorrow even though it doesn't open until 10. We will be driving back up to Stirling Scotland tomorrow with just the Fort and a quick stop at Lockerbie.
It is cold tonight - low 40s and still windy.
It was a sunny day to start with but quite windy - 22 mph. At the airport we went first to the Visit Scotland tourist office to book a room for tomorrow night in Stirling. That took a bit of time since her printer didn't work at first. We got a room at a B&B that I had already looked at.
Then we hiked to the rental car place and got our VW Golf and got situated. Bill got the GPS set up and figured out where everything was. We got away about 10:30 and made it to Rosslyn Chapel (only 7 miles away) with only one missed turn. It really did help that we had looked at Google maps street view since one needed to know what lanes to be in.
Rosslyn Chapel was impressive. We could only take photos outside. We hadn't been there 15 minutes when it started to pour down rain. It only lasted 15 minutes, so we made it around the outside before starting to explore inside.
Inside was extremely beautiful with loads of carved sandstone pillars and ornamentation. We made it down into the crypt (re Da Vinci Files). A guide started to give a presentation, but it was mostly about the history of the church and family. So we left and went in to the little cafe to have a quick lunch before heading off.
I had lentil soup and hovan loaf. I had to ask what hovan loaf was - just a small roll like a Parker House roll. Bill had cream cheese and salmon on a bagel. Then it was off to Melrose Abbey.
Parking was a challenge there, since we had to find a spot in town. We found a lot with a free spot, got parked and headed to the Abbey. It is mostly a hollow shell, but it is oh so beautiful. There weren't many people there when we were, so it was nice to wander around. We did climb the 72 circular enclosed steps up to the tower where there was an outdoor stand. The view from there was beautiful, and I got a great photo of a pig playing the bagpipes which is up on the top of the Abbey. Of course it started to rain again, so down we went.
We wandered around the beautiful grounds (rain stopped quickly) and found the spot where Robert the Bruce's heart is buried. What a lovely spot to spend some time.
We managed to get ourselves on the road to Hadrian's Wall and Hadrian's Lodge where we are staying the night. Five miles from Melrose Abbey, the low tire light came on. Our hearts dropped. We quickly found a BP gas station which luckily was attached to a VW sales and service center. They took the car and discovered we had a nail in the back right tire. Unfortunately it was on the side of the tire, so we had to purchase a new tire which they had! Bad luck/good luck!!! It was less than $100 and they took the credit card.
Bill says we were supposed to call the rental car folks and have them tell us where to take it, but screw it....we wanted to be on our way!! The whole thing took less than an hour, so we didn't lose too much time.
The rains came and went the whole way to Hadrian's Lodge, but the scenery was incredibly beautiful. I got a few photos when it wasn't raining. I even got one of a llama farm. There were lots of black face sheep which I will have to get photos later in the trip. At the border between Scotland and England there is a pull off with a huge rock that says Scotland on one side and England on the other. Bill took my photo on both sides.
So with all of our piddling around we didn't get to Hadrian's Lodge until 6. It stays light until 9:45, so that is not a problem. The Lodge is a rather large, purpose built 10 room guest house. There is a large lounge/bar, game room, and a dining room. Jim and Victoria are our hosts. Luckily they serve dinner (for a fee) since there is truly nowhere to eat within miles. We chatted with Jim for a while after he brought us coffee.
When I went out to the car to get my guide book, I saw the most gorgeous bird out in the grass. I had my camera with me, so I took a few photos. Then he came closer and closer, so I snapped more photos. I took them inside where Jim told me that this was Freddie the pheasant who showed up a few months ago with several different hens. He hangs around and even eats bird seed from Jim's hand. This was the first pheasant I have seen in the wild. What a treat!!
Dinner was at 7:30. There were 5 other people in a group that also ate with us. They kept to themselves. I had a baked mushroom risotto which was really good - Bill said it was the best risotto he has had. It came with mashed potatoes and a bowl of beautiful broccoli, carrots, and swedes (like a turnip/parsnip). Bill had a chicken cordon bleu with fries and the same veggies. Of course the portions are huge, and I could not finish mine. We shared a sticky toffee pudding with ice cream. This was a bit different than we have had before - more date flavor - but still quite good.
Bill went out for a drive after dinner to see one of the Hadrian's Wall's other sites. We didn't make it to Housestead's Roman Fort today so we shall do that tomorrow even though it doesn't open until 10. We will be driving back up to Stirling Scotland tomorrow with just the Fort and a quick stop at Lockerbie.
It is cold tonight - low 40s and still windy.
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