York, England

On Sunday afternoon we drove from Dumfries to the City of York.  We tried several hotels before we found a place at the Hilton.  It was in a great location. 

Clifford's Tower - Directly across the Street from the Hilton

As soon as we arrived Bob, Nathan, Orson and Liam walked across the bridge to visit the "Slip Inn" where Hector Baines was born in May 1911.

Back View of the Slip Inn

Picture on the wall of the Slip Inn (about 1920)

River Ouse

We went out to Russells for a roast beef supper.  Bob remembered this restaurant from the last time we were in York with Jean and John Miller.

The next morning we were up early and off the see York Minister.  This was the castle that Granny Baines (Hector's mother) talked about.  Photos from inside.
 

Dumfries

We left Glasgow Sunday morning about 8:30 a.m.

Glasgow Skyline

We headed off to Dumfries and got there in time to attend Church.

After church we stopped for pizza and wandered around the town.

Burns Statue
Robbie Burns lived in Dumfries at one time.

World Pipe Band Championships Glasgow 2014

Bob and I checked out of our hotel and moved over to the dorms where the others were staying. Nathan picked up a rental van.

It was a poor day for a bagpipe competition.  It would rain for a while and then stop and the wind would blow.  The sun would come out for a few minutes and then the rain would start again.  It was the first day I felt cold in Glasgow.  The competition was at Glasgow Green and by evening parts of the lawn were turned to mud holes.

The 4a Bands competed from 11:00 a.m. to  1:00 p.m.  There were two groups and the top six from each group were chosen to compete in the finals.  The Ogden Pipe Band was in the top six of their group so had to compete again at 4:00 p.m., meaning we hung out in the cold for several hours. They ended up 10th.

Ready to Compete

Competition

Drummers

Pipers

After Competition with hardware from North Berwick and Perth Competitions

It was Nathan's birthday and no-one even said Happy Birthday.

Edinburgh

On Friday the Band went to Glasgow Green to practice for the big competition.  Bob had breakfast with Nathan, Orson and Liam and then Bob and I spent time at our hotel and shopped and went out for lunch.

We went over to the train station to catch the 4:30 train to Edinburgh.  There had been a problem somewhere with a train blocking the tracks and some of the trains were cancelled.  The first one to go out was the 4:30 to Edinburgh and it was crowded - some people having to stand all the way.  It was about fifteen minutes late in starting.  We did get to Edinburgh and walked over to the hotel where Tim and Lois Hironaka were staying.  We spend an enjoyable three hours with them and then caught the train back to Glasgow, arriving about ten p.m.

Street in Edinburgh

We had supper here

Waverly Train Station

Dunfermline

Thursday after band practice we all piled into the coach and went to the other side of Scotland to Dunfermline.

We visited Dunfermline Abbey and the church that was built on the ruins in 1818.  Robert the Bruce was buried at the Abbey and his remains were found wrapped in a gold cloth.  They reburied him in the new church below the pulpit. St. Margaret (Queen Margaret) was also buried there but her remains have not been found.

Grave of Robert the Bruce

Next we walked downtown and found a Subway where we had lunch.

From Subway we walked to the Andrew Carnegie Museum. The house where he was born is part of the museum.

The BBC had arranged for the band to be filmed as part of a documentary so we went by coach to Pittencrieff Park for the filming.  The park was originally Pittencrieff Estate and because of his humble origins Andrew Carnegie was not allowed in it in his youth.  After he accumulated riches he bought the estate and turned it into a public park.  It is huge and had several playgrounds as well as a Tea House, and Pittencrieff House Museum.  It was beautiful.

Band being Filmed

Man in Red Jacket is Star of the Documentary

Locomotive in the Park

The Band

Pittencrieff House Museum

We arrived back in Glasgow late in the evening.

Ceolry

Last evening we attended a concert called Ceolry featuring the Greater Glasgow Police Scotland Pipe Band.  It was quite spectacular especially the solo numbers.  There was also a female singer who sang Gaelic folk songs.

It took place in the Royal Glasgow Concert Hall.

on 

Our hotel is close to Buchanan Street.  Here is a photo of a statue of Mr. Buchanan with a pigeon on his head.

August 12 and 13

Yesterday was a quiet day.  While Nathan and the boys went off to Edinburgh, Bob and I relaxed.  We went out to supper at ASK Italian and it wasn't bad except for the dessert.

Today was another quiet day.  We did a bit of shopping and relaxed some more.

There are telephone booths everywhere and even internet booths.