Got up today still feeling really weird. I think I've officially had enough holiday now! Just wanted to go home to my own home, Ron and the kids now. Also, this part of Scotland is not mine - might as well be a foreign country. As Valerie Dunbar's song says, it's "Always Argyll."
Eileen made us a fabulous breakfast - sausage, bacon, egg, toast, potato scone, juice and tea! Got on the road about 10:00 a.m. Back down to Kincardine Bridge. Back towards Stirling on motorway, then off at Exit 10. Took a B road over to the A road just west of Stirling. Took a left toward Stirling, but got off at a road marked 'Camusbarron and Touch Business Centre'. Followed this up and around, through the village of Camusbarron, and out in the countryside came upon a road where an old military tank range used to be. There are still signs there referring to munitions testing. A gate there, up to Shiel Brae Farm, where Dad lived as a boy until 1936, was padlocked. Nearby was a parked police car and we could see several 4x4 SUVs running over the trails. We asked a policeman about the locked gate but he knew nothing of it or Sheil Brae beyond it. Next we went to nearby Berry Hill Farm to inquire but found nobody at home. Undeterred, Dad decided to try Murray Hall Farm. It used to belong to McLarens and my grandfather had worked as a shepherd for Lawrence McLaren years ago. Happily, turned out that James McLaren, grand nephew of Lawrence, is now the farmer and they still own Sheil Brae today. First, he offered info. only but then said he would go up and unlock the gate for us. After doing that, McLaren decided he would take us up the road with his 4x4 truck (as the road is nearly impassable) but we would have to hike down as he had farm work to attend to. But once up there, he must have become fascinated with Dad's stories about Shiel Brae because he stayed around and then drove us back down to our car again! We exchanged info. He said he would like to see old pics that Dad has of Shiel Brae. Five years ago, the house was up but the roof was off. Today, the house is 2/3 tumbled down. I asked how old it might be and I was told 300-400 years old!
After leaving Sheil Brae, we went into St. Ninians for gas. Got lost a couple of times - those roundabouts are murder! Back at Eileen's at 2:00 p.m. Checked e-mail. Eileen made us tea and currant scones. She is getting a roast beef dinner ready. Awaiting the arrival of her sister, my cousin, Mairi, whom I vaguely remember from my early childhood in Scotland.
Had a great time with Mairi and her husband Frank Nelson. They live in Godalming, England. Very friendly people. Had a big roast beef dinner. Later on, chatted with Ian and Margaret online. Bed about 11:30 p.m.
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