Goodbye Edinburgh. Hello Dumfries.

Our week in Edinburgh came to what seems like an abrupt end. We could easily have spent another week there. Nancy and girls didn't have time enough to see the National Gallery or the National Portrait Gallery. None of us got to see the Moderns, nor did we see the Museum of Childhood, or John Knox House, or Gladstones Land, and the list goes on. But we've left lots on the table for next time. Would love to see the Festival when here again.

A great country drive down the A701 brought us to Moffat at midday. Something like Comox, catering to the silver haired set, but quaint. Retail, cafes, bakeries, and a substantial sweets shop. Can you guess where we landed? It was an overnight destination for Nance and I on honeymoon 22 yrs ago, so nice to travel down memory lane for a bit.

Then on to Dumfries, birthplace of the Donald (our Donald, not the loudmouth, comb-over, Republican). The Cairndale Hotel and Leisure Club (fancy for hotel has a pool and gym) is our comfy old school hotel. Actual room keys. No plastic cards. 3 lb. brass balls (ball, really) for key fob so you don't run off. Excellent personal security device or child beater. Refreshing dip and sauna and steam, laughs and antics with my girlies and nice confabs with locals while doing it. We are quickly and easily identified as Canadian despite tourism here being decidedly more local than in Edinburgh. A lovely woman suggests a speedboat tour on the Thames whilst themes from James Bond are played on the stereo, an experience to which her son had apparently treated her grandchildren with much success. Sounds great to me. Indian food for sup at the Indian Palm. Delicious grub and friendly staff making us feel very welcome. Perfect day.

Tomorrow's plan is a few hours at Laggan Outdoor (http://www.lagganoutdoor.co.uk/) for zip lining, archery, trap shooting, and possibly downhill sledging. We are advised (thankfully) that the mountain ball suffered mortal injury today so we won't be challenging our gag reflexes at that. A little concerned with weather, though. Afternoon high there today (it's closer to the sea and has some elevation) was 5.5* C.