37 - Sunday, January 28, 1990 - North Shore News

=cots celebrate birthday
of the bicycle’s invention

DUMFRIES — The Scots have never been folk to boast of
their achievements, so many Canadians consider the Scots’
worldly contributions to be limited to haggis, whisky and

the kilt.

Yer the fact is that Scots in-
vented television, radar, chloro-
form, penicillin, the telephone,

tarmac, the postage stamp and the
mackintosh. One Scotsman found-
ed the Bank of England and
another the U.S. Navy. Most im-
portantly, they invented golt.

They were

also outstanding

shipbuilders, architects and art col-
lectors, and while you might expect
Scotland’s top tourist attraction to

be Edinburgh Castle or St. An-
drew’s golf links, it is in fact the
Burrell art collection, Iocated aptly
enough in Glasgow, this year’s
European City of Culture.

Now, having been catapulted
onto the world tourism stage, the
Scots have decided to host another
celebration this year — the 150th
anniversary of the invention of the
pedal-driven bicycle by Kirkpatrick
MacMillan.

An Internaticnai Festival of
Cycling is to be held May 26 to
June 3. It starts in Glasgow with a
rally of veteran cycling enthusiasts
and an international conference on

cycling history. The next day
wooden-wheeled cycles set out
from Glasgow for Drunlanrig

Castle, near Dumfries.

High bicycles (the correct name
for Penny Farthings) will race
from Dumfries to the castle, where
there will be dinners, displays, the

Special MED Cruise
on the yachtlike Golden Odyssey
June 7-20, 1990

ITALY, FRANCE & GREEK ISLANDS

from $2995 cdn. includes air.
Come inand see our video.

BOOK WITH US NOW

You Save $
You save time — travel this year
You avoid the summer rush

926-4344

196-100 Park Royal South, West Van.
(ground floor of office tower)

world championship high bicycle
trace, the official opening of the
Cycle Museum at the casde and a
pilgrimage to Courthill Smithy
where MacMillan buile the first
bicycle.

I made an advance foray last
year, taking the high road by Air
Canada into Prestwick (by far the
best gateway into Scotland), ren-

travel
talk

David Wishart

ting a car and motoring serencly
along uncrowded roads through
Ayr and the Burns country to
Dumfries. It takes less than two
hours to reach Drumlanrig, the
300-year-old home of the Duke of
Buccleuch and Queensberry.

The castle stands on the site of
strongholds of the duke’s Douglas
ancestors, the first being Sir James
Douglas (the Biack Douglas), a
supporter of Scotland's great king,
Robert Bruce.

When Bruce died in 1329 with
the unfulfilled wish of crusading in
the Holy Land, the Black Douglas
was entrusted with the bearing of
the royal heart on the next
crusade.

This warrior got as far as Snain,
where he died in battle with the
Moors. But as he fell, snortally
wounded, the Black Douglas hurl-
ed before him the silver casket
containing the heart with the ery
“Forward, brave heart.’

To this day the Douglas motto is
Forward, and the crest of a winged

Bruce's
all over
lead, iron,

heart surmounted by
crown is emblazoned
Drumlanrig in stone,
wood and leather.

The castle's treasures inchide
works by Leonardo da Vinci, Hol-
bein and Rembrandt and two out-
standing cabinets from Versailles.
Just as appealing are the beautiful
woodlands, as adventure
playground for children and craft
workshops producing jewelry,
leatherwork, pottery and textiles.

I had the good fortune to run
into Phil Lees, 31, a castle raitger,
who led me along quit country
lanes to Courthill Smithy. Just two
small wall plaques recognize
MacMillan’s achievement,

This is enchanting country, pas-
toral, unspoilt and rich in history.
Robert Burns farmed near here at
Ellisland Farm (where he wrote
Tom O'Shanter and Auld Lang
Syne), Covenanters were roiled
down Battle-Axe-Hill in spiked
barrels, Moniaive is the birthplace
in the little village of Penpoint.

Sanquhar has the oldest working
post office in Britain, Dumfries
has strong Burns connections and
there are golf courses everywhere
you look.

If you like the bard and good
food try the Burns Byre Restaurant
at Mount Oliphant Farm near Ayr
(phone 0292-43644). Burns lived
here in 1766 to 1777 and todas
you’ ll find traditional and modern
Scottish cooking in a delightful
setting.

For accommodation with char-
acter there's the Piersland Hotel at
Troon, the fine old seaside former
home of the Johnny Walker
whisky family. It’s just across the
street from Royal Troon golf links
and a pleasanm rike ride away from
Prestwick Airport.

kk &

For more information contact
the British Tourist Authority, suite
gna, 94 Cumberland Street,

Park Royal
presents
A Special Slide Show
on

x» Thur, Feb. 1, 1990
* 7:30 p.m.

Join us for coffee &
Gessert while you hear
about Woodward's special
escorted departure on
March 27, 1990.

Learn about Costa Rica's
natural beauty, great
weather and warm
hospitality. It is the newest
and hollest destination for
the 1990's!

Tickets: $3.00
Limited Seating

Call Today

rsve 922-6111

WOODWARD Fea

: DISNEYLAND — Dawn Princess and Conestoga Horel

B HAWAII — Sea Princess

i We've been there.

Scoiland

Join a on our journeys
iscovery.
Free slide Presentation at
Scottish Cultural Centre
8886 Hudson Street, Vanc.
Wednesday Jan 31st 7:30 pm
R.S.V.P (604) 980-3227

Fraser
Conds 9)

Toronto, Ont. MSR 3N3, tele-
Phone 416-961-8124, or call direct-
ly to the bieyele festival organizer,
John Pinkerton, at 0387-56434,

WHITE SALE
$100 PER PERSON DOUBLE
Includes: 2 nights Lodge Room accomm. and 1 dinner at
Araxi's. Indoor pool. group jacuzzi. Located on
Village Square.

CALL 669-0560

HELSIN

Finncharter flights \

from $1020

Vancouver

Return non-stop fights on
Finnair DC-10 widebody comfort.

Dep. Juiy 3 - return July 17 .
Dep. July 3 - return Aug 7 Children 2-11: $765.

Dep.July 17 - return Aug 7

A non-refundable deposit of $125.00 is required
ai time of booking. Balance is due 60 days
pricr to departure. Cancellation insurance

optional.

Kl

Call Firincharter Lid. 1-800-387-8688

VL PIP SPS LE Fe

4 ala
poser —— PIE be FF SSE SS her FES

Cdn. Transp. Tax not inci
Subject to Airtzansp. Committee approval.

, WAY

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May, 15 days ineluding Maui (car and cond
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