September 9 - Day 22

Woke to a cool gray morning.  Can’t complain after weeks of weather perfection in this northerly land surrounded by the sea.  It’s Chuck’s golf morning with John Revill.  He can’t wait to get out on the course so he’s like a kid on the first day of school.  We counted up the number of Scottish courses he has played and we think he’s at about a dozen, some links, some not.  He is outfitted in McLean’s kindly lent sports coat and his golf shoes.  It is a miracle that they fit well enough to be seen in public.  The joke is that McLean as left handed wears lefty golf shoes so Chuck will find his feet going in the opposite direction.  Pat making sure the suitcases can hold our clothes and finds.  Luckily we will be on the train and handling our own bags so not quite the same as packing for the airplane.  Found a few things in the charity shops, a favorite place to snoop for treasures and benefit the charity at the same time. Kathleen stops off for a coffee with McLean and Marion and then we drive to the new Transportation Museum on the Clyde River near the city center.  The museum has every sort of transportation vehicle found in the Glasgow area over a couple centuries.  The actual museum design is noteworthy on its own.  Hard to describe the space, but spacious, lively and full of neat stuff.  Attached on the dock is the Glen Lee a wooden sailing cargo ship from early 1900.  It has an impressive history and now can be seen in its entirety.  Great views up and down the Clyde River, showing the new entertainment venues, science museum and new BBC Scotland studios.  There is a free ferry running from Glasgow side to the Govan side. We see mention of the Govan Parrish church and the Govan stones.  After some searching we find the church and a very big surprise.  The church itself is late 1800’s but there have been at least 5 prior churches on the site since medieval times when Strathclyde was a Kingdom.  Found in the cemetery and displayed in the church are the Govan stones, thought to predate medieval times.  Many Celtic designs are on the huge burial stones and a hand hewn stone sarcophagus with same designs is said to contain the relics of Constantine around 500 AD.  There are huge rounded stones called hog rocks because they are shaped with the back of hogs, with intricate hewn designs, said to be burial markers for Viking chiefs.  We had to go to Orkney’s to see what is here in Glasgow!  It is still a bit confusing, didn’t think the Vikings came down this far.  The church has some design elements of interest but the stones are the main feature.  A surprise to long time Glaswegians, so a real find. The cemetery is in need of maintenance, this is a place that will become more refined and well known.  But we saw it in rough state.  A Glasgow U student greets us and she is from Boston!  Drive by Pollack House and Gardens and Burrell Museum.  Reminded of this beautiful oasis of open green fields and parklands right in the middle of Glasgow.  Meet Chuck and John at Cathcart Castle Golf Club for dinner.  We used to be members here. They golfed at Western Gailes but meeting here for dinner.  Revill’s treated the Ferguson’s and us to a nice dinner and friendly chat.  Thanking them for the lovely meal and a great day out.  Taking time for an evening chat with Marion and McLean.  Just learned about Crabbie’s Green Ginger wine made in Edinburgh; often mixed with whisky. Alas, tomorrow we train to London.  It’s hard to say good-by but we must move on.  We are grateful for these friendships and how they have enriched our lives.  Nighty Night.