Corinne CrawfordAt breakfast the next morning, which was fabulous and huge with black pudding, haggis, fried egg, sausage, potatoes and toast, the host, Leslie, let me know that the library was just across from the pub I was at the night before and was called Lindsay Institute. I recalled walking by it and seeing books in the window when I was on the way to the pub, but might not have pegged it for the library with the name Lindsay Institute over the door. I would come to find out the reason for the name during my visit with Elena. Although Elena did not have a lot of information about the Crawford name specifically, she was gracious enough to give me a little library tour explaining that the name Lindsay Institute came from the benefactor Charles Lindsay, who bequeathed in his will money to build a center for learning, community, wellness and philanthropy.
He wanted a space for the community to experience new ideas and develop knowledge and wellness. It still had some of the original woodwork and exterior but as time went on, it morphed into the public library although it still obviously was a place for the community to gather as there were two “meetings” going on just during my visit. Elena even took me to the archives room and showed me the original books and ledgers from the 18th century that detailed information about the town and its residents. There was a whole section on “Crawford”, although it was referring to the town about 30 minutes away and not the surname although undoubtedly, the two are connected.
I also found out that William Wallace spent time in the area and married a girl from Lanark. After that tidbit of info, I started noticing lots of references in names and motifs with “Wallace” being used a lot.
After the library, I went off for my hike to the neighboring village of New Lanark, which was a World Heritage site. I did not end up paying to actually go into any of the historic buildings but did walk through the area and saw the free exhibit in the visitor center.
I would not be able to tell you the route I took from Lanark to New Lanark and back again because for some reason the maps I had and my phone seemed to make no sense with directions and turnoffs so I did the best I could. My walk there and back ended up being 7 miles through scenic woods, farmer fields of sheep and cows and back roads and was absolutely wonderful. I started through the park in Lanark then followed the wooded trail down to the Clyde river and followed the trail along the river until it popped out near the New Lanark heritage site.
It then joined up with the river again at the Falls of Clyde and through a Nature Reserve, then followed some back roads until finally a trail between sheep pastures dumped you out at a residential road behind the large cemetery. Of course I took the opportunity to wander around the cemetery. A portion of the grounds held an abandoned chapel and supposedly had some medieval graves from the 1400’s but I did not see any of those. Perhaps they are no longer marked.
I had all seasons during my walk. There were times when a good steady rain fell soaking my pants through. Then a few times the gusts of wind picked up and other moments rays of beautiful sunshine warmed my face. I ended up removing and putting back on my layers multiple times.
I got back to my room and took a hot shower before knocking out a couple hours of work.
While I was working by myself in the coach house where I had my breakfast, there was some background music playing and sure enough, it did not take long for Joelene by Dolly Parton to come on. I would like to think it is my Dad checking in with me to let me know he is with me wherever I may be. After I finished up working, I headed back to the pub for dinner. Many restaurants are closed on Mondays so I didn’t have that much of a choice and figured I earned the Mac and cheese with bacon I ordered along with a pint. I made it back to my room and settled down to sleep early. I was checking out the next morning after breakfast and making my way to Gourock where I would be staying in a room in someone’s apartment overlooking the water. I was staying for 5 nights and had tickets to attend several days of the Cowal Highland Games in Dunoon across the water.
