DALRY, ANWOTH, THREVE CASTLE, HADRIANS WALL!

First we visited Dalry, Galloway, where Duncan's War all began. Standing before the Gordon aisle of the old kirk, I read the episode where Duncan and Jamie sneaked into the 'popish' kirk and saw George Henry light himself on fire with his incense. That was one of my favorite episodes to write (ideas from a high church service at York 10 years ago).

From there we (that is, Richard) drove to Anwoth, where Samuel Rutherford preached and from where he was taken and placed under house arrest in Aberdeen. Charles I wanted him silenced and held where no one would listen to him preach. It was during these years in Aberdeen that Rutherford began his incomparable letter writing ministry. I read from a letter he wrote to Earlston the young (connected to the Gordons of Earlston at Dalry kirk yard), and we sang from The Sands of Time are Sinking. Quick rain shower, but other than that, beautiful.

From there we lunched in Castle Douglas, steak and  ale pie, and then Threave Castle by boat, a fortress of the Black Douglas on an island in the River Dee. 1640 the castle was taken by Covenanters from supporters of Charles I who wanted to impose episcopacy on Scotland with Laud's Liturgy.

From there (me snoozing on the coach, kids recording the deed with their cameras) we made our way to Hadrian's Wall, dinner at quaint Saughy Rigg Farm, a 18th century Northumbrian farm turned B&B, and a night hike along the wall. The hearty returning to our rooms after 11:00.

Today: Vindolanda, St Nicholas Cathedral, Hexham Abbey, and more stomping on the Wall.