We had croissants and strawberry jam with orange juice for breakfast. Before long we were just north of Ireland and then Scotland came into view. We arrived an hour and ten minutes late. It took a few minutes to get our bags and customs was a piece of cake. Then we walked to the rental car centre to get our car. That took another 45 minutes because Erin had to call her credit card company to verify that we were covered for accident and theft insurance and we were. We finally got our KIA and left the airport at about 11:00 am. We got on the highway find but then thought we took a wrong turn which turned out to be the right turn. We had turned around so we had to go back. That took a little time but we finally got on the right track. It was after that that we realized the car had satellite navigation. We turned it on and it took us right to St Andrew's Golf Course.

Erin took the first turn driving . On the way we went over the bridge on the Firth of Forth at Edinburgh. Then we headed east to St. Andrew''s. We parked in the car park near the Club House as it was free parking. As we were driving by the beach we noticed that the bleachers from the British Open were still up but a crew was taking down one of the bleachers at Hole One. The car park was right beside the Putt Putt golf course called the Himalayas. It didn't have any windmills, just small hillocks with tees and holes. Lots of people were playing. We had discovered that on Sundays the Old Course is closed for golf but open to the public for walking, so we walked the whole course, all 18 holes. That took us until 2:30 and Erin and I got 10,000 steps on the 14th green according to our fitbits. Larry's fitbit vibrated a little later. I was amazed at how hilly the course is and how many of the greens are very hilly. Most of the holes share a green with another hole to save room. That made for some very large greens. Did you know that there are 18 holes of golf because that is how many would fit at St . Andrew's which is the birthplace of golf? When we got to the 17th green we had our picture taken on the Swilken Bridge which predates the golf course.

Then we walked into the city and stopped at the shop called The 18th Green. Erin bought a golf umbrella in a green plaid. We stopped at another shop where she bought some balls from the Open. Then we started the Rick Steves walking tour which took us past the Aquarium, a gazebo where a band was playing, and the Martyrs memorial to Protestants who lost their lives during the Protestant Reformation in Scotland. By this time we were pretty hungry so we headed for a fish and chips take away place that Rick recommended. On the way we passed a church where there was a wedding or something and there was a bagpiper playing. When we got to the fish and chips place it had a different name, Cromars. We got a seat outside and had fish and chips with malted vinegar and salt and Ginger Beer to drink. It is like root beer but tastes of ginger . When we finished we headed back to the car as it was almost 5:00. Before leaving we went into the Club House to use the restroom. The paper towels to dry our hands had the logo of St. Andrew's on them and I almost took one to bring home with us. Then we went up onto the rooftop garden for one last view of the course.

While we were waiting in the line of cars to get out of St. Andrew's, I called the B & B to let them know we would not be there at 5:00 as we had originally thought. Our route to Inverness took us north through Dundee, across another large bridge over the Firth of Tay and then west to Perth where we crossed the Tay River. Unfortunately the bridge was down to a single lane in each direction which delayed us by about 20 minutes At Perth we headed north to Inverness. Erin was driving but getting tired so we stopped to change drivers. We played Chinese fire drill and all changed positions in the car Now I was "navigating."  The scenery started getting better and better, first pine covered hills then bare mountains and lochs . We stopped at one point to take pictures and stretch our legs as we were all getting a little travel weary.

We missed the turn for getting into the town centre at Inverness and our navigation system took us to a dead end.   It finally got us to Ardconnel B & B where we had to park in an hour long pay and display. Ardconnel is the street we are on and it is a row house with three stories. The owner was very helpful with getting our bags to the top floor, rooms 4 and 5. He also gave us a map of Inverness and told us where we could find a pub. So we got things settled and headed to The Castle View Pub just a block from Ardconnel. Larry and Erin had a pint of Belhaven's Best Ale and I had a lager shandy with Carlsburg lager.

Then we walked across the street to the Castle which is now law courts for the city and looked at the Ness River from up on the cliff. Then we went back to the B & B and went to bed.