Its Wednesday and today we depart Austin for Heathrow (via Houston). Our children's entire anxiety about the trip is relieved when we discover that Yes! Our overnight Continental flight has TV monitors in the back of each seat. ( I can barely restrain my desire to thump their heads.) We arrive in London around 9:30 am Thursday morning without incident. Jet lagged and mildly confused, we take the less scenic underground route to Holborn (passing through many of the poshest tube stops - Hyde Park, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, etc.) At Holborn, we transfer to Liverpool Street Station in order to catch the train north to the small historic town of Harwich. We plan to stay in Harwich and catch the Friday overnight Stena ferry to Hoek van Holland, The Netherlands. When we check into our ... read more

After our narrow gauge train ride with views of the Sound of Mull and a brief respite in the Torosay Castle gardens near Craignure (pop. 200) we headed south to Bunessan (pop. 150) and our B&B (Ardtun House). The drive is only about 31 miles in distance but you might be surprised how much time it takes to travel on single track roads, even in such a remote area. Oncoming local cars, pop up sheeps, cow herds and the occasional but very large tour bus can slow you down quite a bit. I had to control myself not to dart from "passing area" to "passing area" -- technically, the ones on the right side of the lane are for the oncoming cars. Our pictures will not do justice to the absolute stunning beauty or scale of ... read more

Our plan was to overnight in Oban, take the car ferry to the Isle of Mull, and in two 1/2 days drive south and take short boat trips to Iona and Staffa, and then drive north to Tobermory and see everything else on Mull. Ambitious yes! Driving a manual shift, on the motorway, while seated in the passenger side of the car, heading in the opposite direction from 'usual' was going to be a challenge, but Michael had a full stomach and was wearing his motion bands so we headed out of Edinburgh after Dave's class on Wednesday (8th) - approximately a 3 hour drive. Thirty-five minutes into our drive and having left the highway, Michael and I required sustenance and fortification, so we stopped in the little village of Doune for some light refreshment. After ... read more

Here are some sights around Edinburgh...... read more

Today, Dave and I walked to Haymarket Rail Station, while Jack and Michael figured out the bus route there. We all took the train to Leuchars and then the short bus ride to St. Andrew's city center. Had a yummy lunch at an outdoor cafe and then split up. Maria walked the streets and looked at the shops; found the cathedral and castle ruins. The men went to the Himalayas course which is a natural grass, hilly, challenging option at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (for those who have not been born into wealth). We met up and had a pint at The Jiggers, a pub beside the Old Course. Along the way, we saw a Longhorn flag in (Texas Ex & Club Member) Neal Somebody's flat window and yelled "Hook 'Em! We moved on ... read more