Pre-trip work!

 May 8, 2025  The King's Park and A New Pope!

Happy Birthday to Grace, our sweet girl back home!  Today, we took a walk around King's Park Golf Course. King's Park is a large area that includes the golf course, open park land, some leased grazing space, the King's Knot, and a neighborhood built around the late 17th-early 18th century in which our Airbnb is located. Here is the history of King's Park: "The King’s Park is Scotland’s earliest recorded Royal Park, dating from the 12th century or before and amongst its early history is reported to have been laid out by Alexander the Third, Kings of Scots, as a hunting ground in 1257. The King’s Park with Stirling Castle as a backdrop, is now Scotland’s last former Royal Park still owned by the Crown. The Park still covers over 300 acres of open agricultural and recreational land on the west side of Stirling and with the Castle, is part of a landscape of major national importance."

A view of the golf course.

Where we are in relation to the castle.

The path ran along the edge of the golf course. 

We ran across some Gangsters on the path.

Broom plants are in full bloom.

Broom plant according to my PlantNet app.

Next, in true Morgan side quest fashion, we found an exercise playground for adults. All the machines had to be tried out.

Rod

Aaron and Casey

Clare

Clare and Paul

They make it look so easy!

A future in the Olympics?

Even ballerinas have to stay fit!

I think we have completed the circuit! 

Rod resting.

I don't know how it happened, but there was a dispute who could kick the highest. I replayed this video in slow motion, and it looked like they all kicked equally high to me. Sadly, one participant may have sustained an injury. 😕

We ended the day glued to the computer and then the t.v. to find out who was elected the new pope. What a surprise to get a man from Chicago!  

I love the light in this picture!

Prayers for Pope Leo XIV (who, btw, is named after my grandson, Leo! 💖)