We were up early in Balmaha in time for a quiet walk on Loch Lomond when we found ourselves amongst the Highland Fling: a 53 mile trail race which takes place along the lower section of the West Highland Way footpath. It starts in Milngavie, on the outskirts of Glasgow, then heads out into the countryside. We wove back and forth on the path just at the same time there were legions of runners going by. Again, as in Edinburgh the previous weekend, we could not cross the usual thoroughfares. But it was colorful and we could dodge the packs of runners in order to get down to the bonnie banks of Lochlomond beaches.
The Tom Weir statue went up December 2014, 100 years after Tom's birth. Tom was a well known hiker and best known for his TV show Weir's Way. He was an activist for protection of Scottish environment and received the first John Muir Award for Lifetime Achievement. The red wool hat was his trademark. He was either a very short man or some contents settled in transporting him to Loch Lomond.
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| Tom Weir (statue) and JT, the hikers |
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| Loch Lomond from Balmaha |
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| The Balmaha Kiltwalk Ale ; proceeds go to local charity |
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| snapchat from Kelcy in Orono |
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| Wallace Monument pic by singletrackworld.com |
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| view of Stirling from Wallace Monument |
On our way back to Edinburgh, we stopped again in Stirling as we had missed the Wallace Monument and the Bannockburn Visitor Center.
William Wallace was the 13th century hero (Braveheart) who led the Scots in the First war of Scottish independence from England. His tower was surrounded by spring daffodils and lots of tour buses stopped to let kids out to hike up to the top. There's a "Keeper's Room" at the bottom of the tower for anyone not up for the 246 step climb and want to wait out their fellow travelers. Judd and I made it to the top where the views were quite nice in all directions. As per usual, we had tea in their cafe and shopped in their gift store. We got cute thistle with birthstone earring for Malindi and me and dashing fake kilt beach towels for Kelcy and Ryley.
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| Just some of the 246 steps....narrower at the top |
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| "my phallic tower is higher than your phallic tower" |
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| Robert the Bruce |
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| Judd dons the full mail (30 lbs) and cuts finger off museum docent |
It was once again lovely weather to walk outside. We kidded with the ticket clerk that it never rains in Scotland. She laughed at us. We wandered the Bannockburn memorials and statue of Robert the Bruce while awaiting our time slot in the interactive war room. Little boys were battling their dad's with their newly purchased swords and shields and reminded us of the days when Kelcy and Ryley did the same.
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| Medieval Kelcy & Ryley, only barefoot kids in San Diego in February 2002 |
The Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Center is pretty new and state of the art. There were 3-D movies, places where you could take on the characters from noble to foot soldier or maid for position on either side of the battle. In the war room a facilitator assigns visitors to teams (RPG=role playing game) Scottish or British and allows teams, by group consensus or fiat, to place armies in certain areas on the game board.You needed to learn whether the schiltron (1000-2000 foot soldiers with big heavy spears) were better against calvary, and who could defeat archers, etc. You had to put your King where he could be protected because losing your king was a game stopper. Electronically, with mood lighting and with sound, you watched the battle unfold. Judd's team (Brits ) changed history and won the game!
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| Judd back home, modeling Kelcy's beach towel kilt |
We were up early in Balmaha in time for a quiet walk on Loch Lomond when we found ourselves amongst the Highland Fling: a 53 mile trail race which takes place along the lower section of the West Highland Way footpath. It starts in Milngavie, on the outskirts of Glasgow, then heads out into the countryside. We wove back and forth on the path just at the same time there were legions of runners going by. Again, as in Edinburgh the previous weekend, we could not cross the usual thoroughfares. But it was colorful and we could dodge the packs of runners in order to get down to the bonnie banks of Lochlomond beaches. 
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