Greeted by a Piper

Casa Grande, AZ

Our last travel day took us traveling north where we saw Bassenthwaite Lake, the only lake in the expensive Lake District and Penrith where the last battle on English soil was fought.  We also discovered the stone circles and henges.

Anita had told us that the weather near Hadrian's Wall was usually the worst in Great Britain but once again the weather gods were with us.  

Hadrian's Wall was the Roman border with the barbaric country of Picts to the north.  We saw Birdoswald Fort and then travelled back and forth between Roman Britain and Scotland.

Our bus stopped along the narrow road and backed into a clearing.  Anita wanted to celebrate our arriving in Scotland.

Well there's a reason I didn't get the group photo of everyone as we entered Scotland.  Anita had a bottle of Scotch to toast our journey.  She also had Iron Bru for a non-alcoholic drink.  She told us Iron Bru outsells Coke.





The next stop was Gretna Green, the home of the run-away marriages.  If anyone is a fan of Downton Abbey, you'd love this place.  There was a wedding just finishing up when we arrived.  

I was told that, Wellsburg, WV served as the Gretna Green for the Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland areas  at one time in it's history and had taxis that would pick up couples who wanted a quick wedding and take them to individuals who were licensed to perform marriages for a fee.


What a fun and happy place this was.  Bagpipes were playing everywhere.  

After our stop in Gretna Green we travelled to Moffat.  It was Sunday and we had a traditional Sunday lunch in a hotel.  There was roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, and veggies.  We were both stuffed but somehow managed to "lick the plate clean" when our bread and butter pudding and custard was served for dessert.

I do believe a few people took a nap on the bus after that meal.  Edinburgh was our next stop and the Hilton Edinburgh Carlton was our last hotel of the tour.  It is located in  central  Edinburgh on the Royal Mile.  

After we arrived, Anita led a walking tour of the area.  Needless to say everyone went on the tour.  Anita led us for a walk along South Bridge, Chambers Street, George VI Bridge and onto the Royal Mile.  We decided to return to the hotel and just veg the rest of the evening as there was a lot on the schedule for the following day.  We must have been tired as there was a Wetherspoon's pub nearby. It served as our "come down" location.

Turtle Safely.......