Storming the Castles

Lynch came down last night to join us after her Latin Link retreat, and we had a good night of fish 'n chips and goofing off.  I've pretty well lost my voice, and am coughing a bit, but I don't feel terrible.  Which is good, because today was busy!

We hit Castle Campbell down the road in Dollar first, because Lynch hadn't been there (Paige and I explored it last year when we moved her down to Alva).  It was great, except for the scaffolding.  I like that they care enough to take care and restore places, but I wish I didn't have to see it.  =) 

From there we went back to Doune Castle, where the three of us began our Historic Scotland trek with Lynch-- and didn't get to see much at all because HBO was filming a pilot there.  This year, we got to see it all, but we didn't get the folks in medieval dress lined up as we walked up to the entrance.  It was an interesting contrast, seeing what we didn't last year, and not seeing what we did in some ways.  We did particularly enjoy the kitchen, though-- it has the most ginormous oven I've ever seen, and it has two serving hatches!  The girls tested it out:

We also hurled insults from the battlements, a la Monty Python and the Holy Grail, in honour of this its set.  Paige has those photos, though.  Good times. 

We ended the day with one more abby for good measure-- Cambuskenneth.  King James III is buried there.  Kenny said, I'm not sure why he's so significant.  Whew.  I thought it was just my lack of Scottish historical knowledge. ;)  We couldn't get in to the abbey grounds, as they close from September to March (and even when they're open, you can't get in the abbey tower-- just the grounds), but we walked around the fence and took photos anyway.  It was lovely. 

Then we went home.  And played Harry Potter Cluedo.  And ate snacky foods.  And then took the car back and Lynch and I boarded our train back to Aberdeen.  And played theological hangman to pass the time. 

All in all, a good day.  And a great ten days or so with Paige.  Thanks, Paige !