Our flight deck managed to make up the time we lost while they looked for the baggage they needed to remove.  We landed even a few minutes earlier than scheduled.  So the 8 AM bus is still a possibility.   As we were in the back of the plane we were among the last to disembark.  We gathered our checked luggage and headed to the immigration area.  Two lines, one EU and one Non EU.  The Non EU was the longest (of course).  It did not take too long, we had a very friendly Immigration Officer, then we were off to find a cab to Buchanan Bus Station.  Stu enquired and was told that a cab would be about 40 GBP and the bus would be about 5 each.  The timing was the critical issue, so we asked at the bus.  We were told 7.50 GBP each and about 20 , minutes.  We had an hour so we decided the bus it is.  It is 7 AM on a Sunday morning, traffic in Glasgow is very light, the bus has only a few passengers so we make very good time to Buchanan Bus Station.  The ticket office does not open until 8, which is the departure time for the bus.  We don’t have tickets.  We are to ask the driver if he has room on the bus for us, if so, buy the tickets to Dundee from him and then buy the Dundee to St. Andrews left when we arrive there.  There are a number of people waiting.  When the bus arrives it is a two level one, so we feel fairly confident we will make it.  We wait while the other passengers board the bus.  The baggage guy hollers, “Any other bags”??  I approach him, he goes to grab my bag, but I explain that we aren’t sure there is room for us yet.  He tells me that it will be no problem, he’ll tell the driver.  So he takes our big bags and loads them in the cargo area and tells the driver he has done it.  He was right we can make it on.

Once we get into the  bus we find the configuration is that of tables and seats.  It reminds me a bit of the West Coast Express setup.  A lot fewer seats than we had expected.  We find a four person table with only one young woman, so we join her.  Not long into the journey and porter comes along with a tray.  He offers us packaged biscuits (cookies), which we decline.  The passengers around us accept and we are surprised to see that these are complimentary.  Not long after he also offers hot or cold beverages, also complimentary.   Even though our bodies think it is the evening when we don’t usually have coffee, we accept as our brains know it is morning.  Our journey takes about 90 minutes and we travel through some interesting country side.  Interesting farming methods that I hope we see again so that we can photograph them not from a rocking bus that is moving at 100 kph.  🙂

We arrive at the Dundee Bus Station, line up for the St. Andrews bus.  Not the fancy type bus we just got off, but a normal city bus that is very crowded.  This trip takes about 25 minutes.  We arrive about 10:45 am.  We find our way to our booked accommodation, about a 10 minute walk.  The rooms will not be available until 2 so we check our bags in the luggage room and head for the Old Course.

It is Sunday and the course is open to the public to walk.  A great opportunity for us.  This is the birthplace of golf.  The history here is amazing.  Truly a bucket list day for us.  The weather was great even if we did get a bit of rain.

Click on any of these photos to open the gallery to view them larger.  So many shots today.

Headed into the town for a bite to eat.  Lots to choose from.  We picked a pub nearby and ordered fish and chips and a couple of beers.   Plenty for us to share.

The fit bit says that even though we sat on our butts on the plane for over 10 hours, we managed to walk 23,033 steps and over 15 K today.  Woo hoo.  We are pooped!!  We have been awake for over 27 hours so we head back to get checked in and have a nap.

This is Agnes Blackadder Hall.  It is basically student residence.  This top image is the layout of the place.  It is literally a maze.  We turn so many corners, go through about about 8 fire doors before we reach our room.  It is in the spot on the left that has the blue glowing triangle.  The room is basic, but clean and has all we need.