Saturday, September 13, 2008

Up at 6:30 a.m. Had a nice hot shower. A nice bathroom with a built in hair dryer and a towel warming rack. Nice breakfast of bacon, egg, sausage, tomato, toast and tea. On the road by 9:00 a.m. Posted some cards at Killin Post Office. Retraced the road back the way we came, turning south on A85 into Glen Ogle. Turned left down to Kingshouse. Followed signs for Rob Roy’s grave. Passed Auchtertyre where my great great great grandfather, Hugh McGregor, was born in 1802. Travelled the length of Loch Voil on a narrow road. Inverlochlarig at the end of this road was a house of Rob Roy’s. Across the loch, is Monachryle Turroch, where Topsy Cockburn’s (Mum’s friend) family were before Beach. Came back again and stopped in at Balquhidder Churchyard where Rob Roy McGregor, wife and sons are buried. Took pictures and explored a bit. Beautiful waterfall behind the cemetery.
Left there and followed A84 down to Strathyre where Hugh McGregor’s 2 eldest sons, John and James, were born in the early 1830s. Robert was born at Rusgachan and then the family moved to Argyll. Had lunch at Riverside Inn in Callander. Drove to Doune, went across A8320 to A9, then north towards Inverness. Bypassed Perth and continued on, getting off at Balinluig. Jane Fletcher, wife of Dad’s second cousin, Dan Fletcher, (Alisdair’s son), works at Moto Grill Restaurant there, as does their daughter, Morvern. Dad stopped in but Jane had just left for the day. Just past the restaurant, on the right, is a road marked ‘Tullimet and Dacapon’ – took that for less than 2 miles and arrived at large farm on left, white farm house, several outbuildings, which is Jane and Dan’s place. Further along this same road is a newer place called ‘Milton Cottage’ where Donald McMillan (widower of Jessie Fletcher, Alisdair’s daughter) lives. Had a great visit with all the extended Fletchers, then dinner at the Moto Grill. Then visited at Donald’s house, where I finally met his daughter, Christine, who has been a pen pal for some 27 years without ever meeting until now! Her boys, Cameron and Calum, were there, as well as her husband, Stuart Steven, and a nephew, Jack, son of her sister, Sheena. Visited until 10:00 p.m. Back to Dan and Jane’s for the night. Bed by midnight.