There were plenty of empty seats on the bus so we each had one to ourselves. We were told to move in a clock-wise way to the seat in front or back of us each day, (depending on what side of the bus we were on) so everyone would have a chance to sit up front with the huge windows. Our first morning started out with a stop at BRIG O DOON BRIDGE & RIVER DOON in GALLOWAY. This was a lovely area with trees lining the river and the bridge in the distance with the BRIG O DOON HOUSE across the road. A couple of the trees had a "purplish hue" to them. Near here was also ROBERT'S BURNS CHURCH & FAMILY CEMETERY. This church called Auld Kirk was ruined with only the shell left standing.We then visited Robert Burns' Birthplace and Museum in ALLOWAY where he was born on 25 Jan. 1759. We viewed an audiovisual before going through the rooms which included the actual spot where he was born on a wooden bed that seemed to be a "cubbyhole". This could not have been comfortable. Outside were animal shaped bushes with one being a country horse replica. There were also some flowers that Suzi made Leanne and I get our pictures taken pretending to smell them.

We shopped at the MOFFAT WOOLEN MILL and were given times upon which to return. An older couple ended up getting left behind because they didn't return at the time Michael said to. I felt bad for them but he said that it wouldn't be fair to hold the tour up & then make us late for our next stop. I could see his point. They ended up getting a cab to our next town in Carlisle, England which ended up pretty expensive. Lesson learned: Never be late for the bus!

In true tourist fashion, we had to pay hommage to the other side of the family and visit Dumfries and Galloway.  We stopped for lunch in New Galloway after driving through Galloway Forest Park.  The owners of the restaurante where we ate were all a-tither to discover that we were named Galloway, but didn't seem to understand that it wasn't just a coincidence that we happened to have stopped in that particular town.  A very charming experience, indeed.