9 :16 AM

I had a great night, the bed was so comfortable. I even treated myself to the 10 o’clock news on the BBC. This morning was a little strange what with being the only guest and so getting exclusive treatment at breakfast. (At Yvonne’s breakfast is ‘self-serve’. It really was like digging through the pantry and fridge at home!) Somehow, it was different from going to a restaurant. The owners, Sheila and Arnold, are very friendly and helpful, but at the same time very discreet.

I’m probably not going to make it to Ayr. No buses run there from here on Sundays. I’ll try the train station later. I just don’t want to ‘waste’ all of tomorrow on the road. I’m seriously considering another night here (an excellent base for exploring Galloway) and going on a ‘field trip’ tomorrow. Monday, I could be in Ayr by lunch, enjoy the afternoon there and get to Glasgow (or somewhere near) by the evening. I’ll see once I’ve been to the train station.

3:42 pm

I’ve had a wonderful day! It began with a glimpse of the Burns statue under (or near!) which I wrote the first entry of the day. After, I went to the Burns house, the Mausoleum, the Old Bridge House Museum, and lastly, the Robert Burns Centre. Then, I went to a pub for lunch (they have cheap and excellent food) where I enjoyed a delicious vegetable lasagna washed down with what else but a half pint of Guinness?!

I then spent all of (at most) 45 minutes in Carrutherstown! There’s NOTHING there! I couldn’t even find a church or graveyard! I did enjoy a pleasant stroll through Lowland countryside.

All the museums were free, but I did have an almost £23 splurge: I bought three Wallace books! I couldn’t help it, I mean I had Reese, Gray, and Fisher’s books right there and I’ve been seeing them for the past month, ignoring them (to the best of my ability, resulting in much ‘anguish’!). I figure that with exchange rates and shipping and handling, I most likely saved some money.

I’m not going to Ayr. To do so on a Sunday, I’d have to go by Glasgow. That would be a waste of time. I figure I’ll get on a bus/train out of here early(ish) tomorrow and head northwest, trying to hit Ayr, but maybe Lanark. What’s frustrating is that one bus company won’t say what another one does and the trains won’t say anything dealing with buses so it’s almost impossible to coordinate! I figure, travel tomorrow and get somewhere near the airport so I can have a full day Monday. Good luck!

8:02

You know what? Why don’t I just go back to Glasgow? There are museums I didn’t get a chance to see and I like the city!

8:41

I’ve made my decision!!! I’m taking the ‘first’ train to Glasgow tomorrow and enjoying an afternoon at the transport museum. Early Monday, I’ll head out to (New) Lanark for the day and return to Glasgow. I’m a little disappointed at missing Ayr, but everyone I’ve met who’s been there (including locals) say that unless you worship Burns, if you’re going to Ayr for Wallacey sentimental reasons, you’d better keep your ‘medieval ideal’ of the city. Anyhoo, it’ll be for my next trip!