Stranraer April 12th

Woke up and ate breakfast at the b&b. We have been eating a traditional Scottish breakfast typically. Bacon, poached egg, haggis, bacon, potato scones and roasted tomatoes. Very good breakfast! 

After breakfast we jumped in the car and headed down the peninsula of Scotland towards Port Logan, where great grandpa Cosh used to live. It was raining a lot this morning so we broke out the umbrellas and rain jackets. Because we were driving through very thick forest and towards the middle of no where basically I didn't have service so we were relying on the map Lori bought and her directions... Ya... She did good though a we made it to Port Logan after about an hour ish of driving. 

Oh my god is Port Logan absolutely beautiful! It's an extremely small town, literally only 2 streets. But they are right on the ocean, it has a lighthouse and a long rocky walk way that has the ocean on either sides of it. And there are huge rocks also just off to the side of the town. With yellow flowers blooming everywhere around the town. It's absolutely gorgeous. 

Then we went over to the house grandpa used to own, it's called "bridge house" because there is a bridge going out across the top of his house to the ground below. (Pictures below to explain better). 

After we got pictures in front of the house we hopped back in the car and continued on to Kirkmaiden cemetery. Also forgot to mention that from Port Logan if you look out on the ocean you can see Ireland! That's how close and how far down onto the coast Port Logan is. 

We got to Kirkmaiden and went in to look around and see the Cosh's that are buried there. We found 4 graves that belong to Cosh's but we found 1 that stood out than the rest. With the dates that match up and the names we think that it belongs to dad's great great grandma. The rest we aren't 100% sure about. 

We left Kirkmaiden and came across a smaller town and stopped at a little cafe for lunch. I know I'm surprised we didn't stop at a pub. That's a first. After lunch we asked the waitress if there was anything to see in the area and she recommend the lighthouse at the mull of Galloway, it's the farthest point in Scotland that you can go to, and we were only 20 minutes away. 

So we left for the lighthouse and were driving on very tiny streets again. I haven't really mentioned the streets here. The streets here don't have shoulders, and some roads only have 1 strip of road, so when someone comes from the other direction you have to slow right down and both pull as far over to the left as you can just to get by one another. With that being said I have posted pictures of the car we are driving because I haven't yet. Oh my word it looks like a clown car! 

We got up to the lighthouse and the area was very pretty, it's ocean as far out as you can see, with Ireland to the left just a ways. We went to the top of the lighthouse and looked out, very beautiful aswell. It's nice and warm up there and Lori said she wanted to work there because then she could lay in the sun all day like a cat. 

After the lighthouse we left and went back to Stranraer. Relaxed in the b&b for a bit then went out for some supper. Then back to the b&b to sleep and get ready for the next day because tomorrow we are off to Ireland! 

I also want to wish a happy belated 70th birthday to my uncle David Cosh! As well as a happy 70th birthday TODAY to my favourite Grandpa in the world - Cheers to you both! ❤️ 

Stranraer April 11th

Work up in Callander at the b&b, headed down for breakfast and then we checked out and left for Stranraer. Longer car ride today a few hours and we drove through Glasgow and lots of little Scottish towns. We were driving when we saw old castle ruins (castle that was destroyed during the war.) And we got out and walked around it for a little. 

Such a gorgeous castle! Just goes to show that you can be driving anywhere in Scotland and will for sure come across something beautiful! After the castle we got back on the road and continued our way down to the coast. We drove through a lot of rain today. But eventually the sun came out and it was another nice day. 

We came close to the coast finally and we stopped again to get out and take some pictures and look around. We found a small town on the coast and stopped for lunch and they had poutine on the menu! Oh my god I almost cried it was so good! It was also the first time I have had gravy since I have been gone because they don't have that here. 

Then away we went driving along the coast until we arrived in Stranraer. We checked into a b&b that we had looked up the previous night, and holy root they have a bath tub!! You best believe I'll be using that both nights we are here! Our view is so pretty as well! You look out and can see that the ocean is about only 100 yards away across a parking lot. The picture I have doesn't do it justice how close and nice it is! 

After checking in we left and walked down to a local pub and had a drink. There was a horse race going on and there were more than 20 locals in this little bar just glued to the screen. Cheering and going crazy. Something you don't see every day for sure back where I live. (Pictures below of the locals watching the horse races) 

After that we walked up to see an old church that is on a hill that overlooks the ocean. There is an old cemetery behind the church as well that over looks the ocean. 

Then we walked down a few more streets and went into another bar. You know we are in a small town when you walk into the pub and every single person stops talking and looks at us. So clearly these locals are thinking who the hell are you. 

The accent is so thick here, we went to 3 pubs tonight and all had a very thick accent that you had to really pay attention to and even then it's still a little tricky to make out. And when the locals talk amongst themselves it's like a foreign language. 

We went for supper and we all played a little pool at this bar. It's strange the balls are a lot smaller here and the table is smaller too. Different from the pool we have back home. 

Then went to the last pub of the night and it was a pretty good scene. We brought out cards and played in the bar. We met a few locals all very nice. I think we met the town drunk aswell, really nice guy and knows his music. Like I'm talking he put Rihanna and Katy perry on the juke box. This man is also in his 60's just FYI. 

Then back to the b&b to sleep for the next early morning and our drive down to port Logan where great grandpa Cosh use to live!