To Graham

[RockyR]

We took a "middle of the road" type thought process to the vacation. We hadn't gone anywhere for more than 2 days (and having 2 days off was a huge thing) in a LONG time, so while we had a lot we wanted to see, we wanted to RELAX. Too many people try to do EVERYTHING on vacation and it ends up being work trying to SEE stuff...

We spent the first day arriving and getting to our diggs in Aberfoyle (Forrest Hills Resort). Monday and Tuesday we went to Glasgow for the Trade show. Literally HUNDREDS of Scottish vendors with BEAUTIFUL products.

Wed, Thurs, Fri, we drove to 3 different areas... Calendar and a mini tour of the Trossachs on Wed. Appin (Castle Stalker... Kelly's family comes from there) and Oban and mini Highland tour on Thurs. Friday was Castle Stirling and a little pub on the way home.

Sat and Sun we drove to Edinburra and checked into a B & B. We hit the Castle and the royal mile as well as Princes Street, George St and Rose Ave (alley between Princes and George with LOTS of pubs).

Monday we flew home.

It was a fun and history filled vacation with a little work (trade show) involved, but we didn't try to CRAM everything in.

Next time we go, we'll hit the Highlands and possibly one of the isles.

PS... Driving on the wrong side of the car/road was a little weird. And the fact that OUTSIDE of a city, the roads are LITTLE (a bit more than 2 car widths wide) and the people FLY down them (talking MINIMUM 70 miles per hour as the norm)

[cessna152towser]

Interesting thread for a Scot to read - to see ourselves as others see us. Yes, apart from weddings, my tartan kilts were only normally worn for playing bagpipes and for Scottish Country Dancing and since I gave up both activities a few years back now rarely get an airing; as you say they suggest "tourist" if worn as everyday wear. Fortunately fashion trends have set me free to wear the black kilt which I've been wearing today while sitting as District Court assessor - can present a businesslike Scottish image to the public without looking like a tourist. The speed limit on these little roads is 60mph for cars, 50mph for light vans and buses and 40mph for lorries and I have spent most of today in court dealing with speeding offences. Four speeding offences within three years leads to a six month driving ban yet still the law is often flouted. The thing which amazed me when I was in Canada was how slowly the cars move compared to Scotland - seems that Canadian drivers have a much higher regard for speed limits and I wonder whether this is down to a better safety culture in Canada, or not enough enforcement cameras in Scotland.

[Colin]

The thing which amazed me when I was in Canada was how slowly the cars move compared to Scotland - seems that Canadian drivers have a much higher regard for speed limits and I wonder whether this is down to a better safety culture in Canada, or not enough enforcement cameras in Scotland.

You weren't in Vancouver than were you. The general rule here is 10/kmph over the limit won't get you a ticket, but it seems rare to find people going that slow anymore. We had hidden cameras for awhile, but got rid of them a few years ago.

[bubba]

Enforcement cameras are great if the primary concern is raising revenue but if the aim is really compliance nothing works better than a visible police presence.

[cessna152towser]

No, changed 'planes at Vancouver Airport but didn't visit downtown Vancouver. Spent three and a half weeks on Vancouver Island in 1987 and was impressed with high standard of driving in Victoria and on the open road.

[Colin]

No, changed 'planes at Vancouver Airport but didn't visit downtown Vancouver. Spent three and a half weeks on Vancouver Island in 1987 and was impressed with high standard of driving in Victoria and on the open road.

That explains it, the pace on Vancouver Island is definitely more relaxed than on the mainland. Of course the senior population in on the Island is quite high. I would love to live in Victoria.

[Casey]

Here in Ontario they start ticketing at 20km/h over the speed limit. And, on the 417 between Ottawa and Montreal you sometimes feel slow even at 120km/h.

We will be going to France this summer. The limit on the Autoroute is 130km/h. In the past, at 160km/h, we have been passed like we were standing still.

Ah, the culture of motoring.

Casey

[bjcustard]

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PS... Driving on the wrong side of the car/road was a little weird. And the fact that OUTSIDE of a city, the roads are LITTLE (a bit more than 2 car widths wide) and the people FLY down them (talking MINIMUM 70 miles per hour as the norm)

I drove when I was in Scotland last May. I, too, was amazed at the driving characteristics over there. I have driven in some of the bigger cities in the US, but I was aghast at how fast the Scots (or tourists) drive.

I recall quite clearly... I was driving in the Highlands... curvy two lane mountain road... raining... low visibility... and, while doing 70mph, getting flashed to pass by a BUS!

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[Mike1]

Rocky, I was just up in the Callander area, about a month ago. Absolutely beautiful, isn't it? I took part in a commemoration to mark the death of Robert 'Rob Roy' MacGregor. We took a bus from just east of Stirling up through Doune, Callander and Strathyre, to Kingshouse. We then marched from Kingshouse to Balquhidder. It was so quiet and peaceful, with incredible scenery.

I don't know about you, but I think a guy could get real used to living in that area.

This was taken at the Balquhidder Parish Church -

[RockyR]

Callendar WAS nice... funny thing...

If you watched the BBC while you were over there, you may have seen a show called "Bad Lads Army" (they put 15 to 18 years old bad kids in Boot Camp). I saw a re-run of the first episode where a kid quits on the first day.

While looking for coffee in Calendar, we went into a pastry / coffee shop. I kind of stared at the kid behind the counter for a minute then finally asked, "Did you ever see a show called Bad Lads?" His friend chimed in IMMEDIATELY and said "YEAH, he was ON IT and got kicked off the first day, the pisser!" Needless to say, the kid was very embarrassed for the rest of our time in the coffee shop.

As for the frost/snow... I was surprised how THICK the frost on the grass was. Kelly and I got in a mini argument about it. She thought it was snow and I said it was thick frost.