It is 10:15 PM in Dornoch, Scotland. The sun is just setting. The temperature is a cool 58 degrees. Today’s high was in the 70s with no rain for the first time since Lynnda and I arrived in Scotland last Saturday. This is a pleasure trip, of golf and sightseeing with our daughter, Dannielle, and her husband. They both play golf and have been to Scotland several times. Scotland was the birthplace of golf back in the 1500s. (The Pilgrims came to America in 1620) Dannielle asked last year if we wanted to come. After some thought we agreed. We have experienced the people, culture, and beautiful countryside. Dannielle lives in Maryland; we don’t get to see them often to spend quality time. At this point in our lives, Lynnda and I are fortunate to both be healthy and mobile. We may not get another opportunity.

Our trip is to the Highlands of Scotland, several hours north of Edinboro. We flew from Dulles Airport to London and from London to Inverness. An airport about the size and activity level of Charleston. There was no jet bridge in Inverness. We exited on stairs to the tarmac from the plane. It was cloudy about 60 degrees with light rain and a 20-mph wind. Dannielle rented a car since we are traveling to three different cities miles apart. Cars in Scotland have the steering wheel on the right where our passenger sits. They drive on the left side of the road opposite from the USA. Fortunately, Dannielle is driving.

Scotland, like other European countries, uses roundabouts (traffic circles) rather than stop lights at most major intersections. They find traffic circles are cheaper, keep traffic flowing, reduce emissions and lower fuel costs for drivers by ending idling at red lights. For my friends and others in the Charleston area who put out all the “No Roundabout signs,” West Virginians are as smart as Europeans. You can do this! It is different but not difficult. We traveled through many towns and rarely had to stop. It is better than sitting at red lights. The Scots even use them on their limited access 4-lane highways as exits. We slowed down to enter the traffic circle and went around to the other side to stay on the highway or exit from the traffic circle. I prefer the U.S. system of exits rather than slowing down from 70 mph to enter a roundabout at every exit. The system works for the Scots.

When people asked where we were from, I said, “The USA, West Virginia.” No reaction. When I added, “Country Roads.” I got a big smile and a nodding head. Most have no idea where in the USA West Virginia is. People everywhere seem to know and like “Country Roads” this is a fantastic opportunity to promote West Virginia. One question we heard a lot was, “Do you have many trees? We get to be ambassadors and tell our region’s story. When Shale Crescent USA revised our flipbooks this year, we added a page on quality of life in our region. Companies interested in expanding to the USA not familiar with our region need to know. SCUSA added photos of recreation showing our expansive forests

Last Saturday Dannielle and I did a Park Run 5K in Inverness, Scotland. They have it every Saturday at the city park. It was my first overseas race. “Park Run 5K” is international. Cities and towns all over the world have it weekly. Volunteers set up, manage the racecourse, and do the timing. There is no charge to participants. Charleston does their Park Run every Saturday at 8AM from Magic Island. I started running it this year.

The Scottish countryside in the Highlands is primarily forests, farm fields and pasture for cows and sheep. They do not have urban sprawl like the USA. In towns, no matter the size of the house the yard is small. Most homes and buildings are hundreds of years old made of stone or stucco. We spent two nights in an 800-year-old castle turned hotel in Dornich. Our room was in one of the towers. The cathedral across the street goes back to the 1200s.

The Scot’s are environmentally focused, out of necessity. Coke is served in aluminum cans or reusable glass bottles like we used to do in the USA when I was growing up. Glass and aluminum replace plastic in many products. Water and products like sports drinks are in aluminum or easy to recycle plastic bottles. Bags from retail stores are primarily strong paper. Many people use reusable bags. The Scots don’t have space for large landfills like in the USA. Recycling is important. I see common sense environmentalism in Scotland. In the USA anti-plastic groups have no idea how essential plastic is in our lives, like medical equipment and devices like the cartilage in Lynnda’s and many of our friends’ knee replacements allowing continued mobility and reducing pain. This product is manufactured in Ohio and creates jobs in our region.

People are friendly and helpful. They love Americans. We loved the food. They eat a lot of beef, fish, lamb, potatoes, fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet. Fish and chips are served in every town. We thought it was better than in the States. Maybe because the fish is fresher. We loved Mom and Pop restaurants where we stopped at random. Prices were reasonable.

We took a boat trip on Loch Ness (a lake) in search of the Loch Ness Monster.We didn’t see it. Does Nessie exist? A 22-mile-long lake over 700 feet deep with water impossible to see through below five feet deep could have anything in it. It was a fun trip.

The Scots are wonderful people. Like other countries we have visited, people are more alike than different. We can learn from each other. The golf was incredible. More next week. We missed being in the USA for July 4th. The Scots made us feel at home. I am glad we got out of our comfort zone.