Day 10 - Ceann-uidhe
So it has finally arrived – my last full day in Scotland with my old and new friends. Time here seems to run differently than elsewhere. It does not feel as if I left home two and a half weeks ago. By the end of this day, we will have put in more than 800 miles in our luxury coach.
On this final day, Alex planned only a brief jaunt from the hotel. Our first stop would be the home and cottage of Robbie Burns near the coast in Ayr. His cottage is under renovation as part of the Homecoming Scotland 2009 celebration planned in conjunction with Burns’ 250th birthday. Of the three major holidays observed by Scots, New Years, St. Andrews Day and Burns Night, the celebration of Burns, in honor of his birthday, is probably the most notable. Perhaps one of the reasons I find such an affinity with the Scottish people is that their most renowned national figure is well known for his philandering and imbibing. My kind of hero, my kind of country! Somehow, it seems fitting that Robbie Burns be here at the end of my journey since his work so influenced the beginning.
The last stop on the tour was the Brig O’ Doon (bridge over the river Doon). Built in the 18th century, it was Burns’ setting for the final verse of “Tam O’ Shanter” in which he crosses on horseback while being chased by the witch, Nannie. It is also often considered to be the location of the book (and play) “Brigadoon” by Alan Jay Lerner.
Afterward, we returned to Glasgow for our final evening together. This proved to be anything but somber with toasts offered to our group, our most excellent coachman, Barry Austin, and to Alex. Alex shared a bottle of Atholl Brose, a liqueur made up of oatmeal brose (raw oats mixed with milk), honey and whisky and provided an oratory on being an Atholl. Legend has it that the Duke of Atholl defeated his enemies in the 1745 rebellion by filling their wells with the liqueur.
Before adjourning for the evening, we joined together for a chorus of “I’m Proud to be a Beatonite” which seemed to be much appreciated by Alex.In parting, I leave Scotland with one of my favorite Burns verses on my lips:
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.
And so we arrive at Ceann-uidhe - our journey’s end.
The Beatonite Venture of '08