As the sun sets behind the sea at Turnberry every evening, Pipe Major Jimmy Wilson pipes away the day. To hear “Amazing Grace” played as the shadows reach across the fairways of Turnberry and the night sky creeps in behind them is alone worth the trip to Scotland. It was another magical moment in my life.

During the second world war, Turnberry golf course was partially converted into an airstrip. Aircrews trained in gunnery here and high above the golf course is a granite cross in the memory of those who perished in the war. I broke away from my golf game to make the climb to take this picture. My uncle, Sqadron Leader Patrick Cooper was a pilot in the Royal Airforce and was killed in 1943. I always feel the need to pay my respects to others who also made the final sacrifice, it seems the least we can do.

I am on a pilgrimage to Scotland, the home of golf. I will be here for a week. Here I stand ready to play the Open course at Carnoustie, infamous for Jean Van de Veld’s collapse when he blew a 3 stroke lead on the final hole in the 1999 Open. A typical Scottish morning mist lays across the opening tee on the left and the 18th Green on the right. I took this at 6 am before the first foursome had left for the day. The most famous golf course in the world is the “Old Course” at St. Andrews. This is hallowed ground to golfers and here I stand overlooking the 18th green at sunset as the shadows lengthen across the rolling fairways. Magical to a golfer. Incomprehensible reverence to those who don’t follow the game.

How could I NOT take a picture of this road sign in Scotland….three Barry’s mentioned and one standing alongside!!

This was taken in Northern Kenya, in the Loisoba Samburu plains. “Pocket” was our guide and the gun was a 410 calibre Elephant gun. The cartridges were as long as my index finger. We had it to scare of any really inquisitive large animlas as we walked through the bush. We did not need to fire it which was fortunate because the recoil would have knocked us back into last week. Pocket had his wife in his village bead the hat band, Frank and Gina, two close friends, on the safari, gave it to me as a gift. You will see it from now on as I travel around the world. Looks cool! Has a great story attached to it. What more could you want?

This is the El Morro fort in old San Juan in Puerto Rico. The outerwalls were over fourteen feet wide. They knew how to build things in the 1500’s. Construction of the fort began in 1539. The fort perches at the end of the island on its own island and has withstood everything man and nature has thrown at it for hundreds of years. This fellow has a great hat as well. His plaque read “Conqistador Leon de Ponce” . It looks like he has a clear idea of where he is going. He became the first Governor of Puerto Rico. He is thought to be the first European to have visited what is now called the United States as he first visited Florida in 1513. This Statue of Juan Ponce de León is in the Plaza San José in San Juan. The statue was made from English bronze cannons seized after the English attacked San Juan in 1792. I guess we got beat on that one….at least my ancestors did.

I was told this cemetary holds graves going back to the early 1500’s. Built in the shadow of the huge Murra fort overlooking the cliffs of old San Juan and bordered by the sea, it is the most intersting burial ground that I have ever come across. A unique final resting place.