Scotland - Day 3
Day three began with a trip into Duns to sign papers with the registrar at the local government center. It was a simple process and the registrar didn't seem too very concerned about getting the details correct. Fortunately, our planner was there to talk her through the steps.
Shortly, thereafter, we joined everyone at Duns Castle and checked into our room. The Master Suite was big. Real big. 20 foot ceilings. A large four-poster bed with a red canopy. Fireplace. A seating area in a nook overlooking the estate and sheep fields. A large walk-in closet with a view over the backyard nature preserve of the Duns estate. And, a big bathroom with a rib vaulted ceiling.
Shortly, therethereafter, my dad and I were driving into Edinburgh to pick up our monkey suits. A few hours later, we were walking down the street toward the city center looking for a place to grab a bite to eat. We passed the Caledonian Brew House and walked in to another to look at the menu before I checked my watch. We were running out of time. We didn't have enough time for a sit down lunch and left the pub. I had been on the phone numerous times throughout the morning trying to reach two of my guests who had arranged with me to pick them up in Edinburgh that morning. No luck. I assumed their cell phone didn't work in Europe. Back at the dress shop, the proprietor let me do a quick web search of hostels in town. Instead of finding a few, I found about three dozen listings for local hostels. I copied numbers for a few of the most likely and set about calling each one hoping to find my friends. Again, no such luck. We had to get back to Duns. Of course, after getting a quick bite to eat. Damn. We started driving back.
We were about 14 miles outside of Edinburgh on the A1 when my cell rang. Sure enough. I heard the lovely voice of Katy, Wayne's better half. They were at the train station in Edinburgh. Turns out they had stayed at a hostel only a couple blocks from where we were. No matter. They had taken the initiative to purchase train tickets to Berwick Upon Tweed, which was 12 miles from Duns. Their High speed train was scheduled to the leave at 4 pm arrive in Berwick at 4:45pm. My dad and I decided to drive straight to Berwick to pick them up. We would arrive shortly before they would and still be able to get back to Duns by my 5pm deadline. An hour later, Wayne and Katy were exiting the train station all smiles. The posse had arrived. Plan B worked like a charm. I drove Speedracer style back to Duns, arriving to an upset fiance (because I hadn't called), and a short respite before meeting everyone downstairs to have a drink and take a bus to the Wheatsheaf for dinner.
I was pleased to find all of our guests had made it to Scotland and Duns. I was also pleased to see the looks of awe on their faces as they looked around the castle.
Our bus transport arrived on schedule and we piled on to take the short trip to the restaurant. We were heading back to the Wheatsheaf for dinner, the B&B we had checked out of that morning. The Wheatsheaf in Swinton is a fabulous establishment and caters mostly to sport fly fisherman and UK travelers. It is the most highly rated restaurant with rooms in the Borders.
I had chosen a menu with three basic meals. Our choices were chicken, beef, and salmon. I decided to skip the duck, venison, and lamb to appease the less adventurous eaters in the group. Dinner was fantastic. Desert divine.
At 10pm, the bus arrived and returned 17* tipsy Americans to the castle for an early night. The bus hire turned out to be an excellent decision.
*(my brother and cousin had left earlier with their families - Owen and Zoey, the kids, had reached the limits of their patience).
