Breakfast at the Drovers

We met up with Jean and Caren and Ian for breakfast at the Drovers Inn and checked out the decor in more details before we said our goodbyes as Caren and Ian were on their way to Glasgow before heading off to Japan. We checked out and loaded our bags in Jean's car and began our own drive down to Glasgow.

Loch Lomond

The weather turned rainy as we made our way along Loch Lomond so thoughts of making long stops went by the wayside. We found a nice viewpoint after a break in the weather with a beautiful rainbow over the Loch. Jean drove us further south to Firkin Point where it was raining again and we wondered what was the firkin point in stopping but the weather cleared and we were able to get some good views of the Loch.

The Falkirk Wheel

Jean drove us to the Falkirk Wheel, the world's only operating rotating boat lift on the Forth and Clyde Canal. The wheel raises boats 79 feet. Prior to its opening in 2002, the two canals were connected by a series of 11 locks and 3500 tons of water were used per run, which took most of the day. The Wheel was designed not only to be functional but also as a showpiece, drawing inspiration from a Celtic axe, a ship's propeller and the ribcage of a whale.

The Kelpies

We drove further south to view The Kelpies, a pair of steel horse heads between Falkirk and Grangemouth. The statues were dedicated in 2014 from structural steel with stainless steel cladding inspired by Clydesdale draught horses. The kelpie is a mythical shape-shifting spirit inhabiting lochs in Scottish folklore. They are is usually described as a grey or white horse-like creature, able to adopt human form. Robert Burns referred to them in his "Address to the Devil" in 1786. The Loch Ness Monster is believed to be a kelpie.

Dinner and Glasgow Cathedral

We said our goodbyes to Jean outside our hotel in Glasgow and then set off for dinner, settling on The Piper Whisky Bar, which was a great choice. They had an excellent selection of beers and whisky and J. R. had nachos with Irn-Bru brisket, which were very good. We set off after that towards Glasgow Cathedral as the rain started falling again. The Cathedral is the oldest building in Glasgow and the oldest cathedral in Scotland, originally dedicated in 1136 with the present building dating to 1197, albeit massively rebuilt in the 13th century.

St Mungo Museum

Jean had recommended the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, and since it was next door to the Cathedral, we decided to check it out. It is supposedly the only public museum in the world dedicated to religious life and art. The museum was interesting with explanations of various religions and showing similarities and differences between them.

Mural Trail

On our way back to the hotel, we passed several of the murals that make up the Glasgow Mural Trail, a series of public art pieces started in 2008 to revitalize tired and vacant buildings in depressed areas of the city.

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