Proposed 2021 trip to MacAllister cites in Scotland

MacAllister Males needed 

If 4 MacAllister males are willing to do DNA (it will be paid for)  The Oxford University offshoot called Oxford Ancestors will do a database search of our DNA   vs the Scotland National Database.


There are 5  cities where Mattie

 and Adaline MacAllister DNA originate from- so the DNA test will pinpont exactly. (Yes it has gotten this scientifically accurate) This may assist in the historical record  searches for more information on  Reese MacAllister ,Civil War era  and slave owner(s).

Margo and Suzanne are planning on a trip to the British Isles in 2021. Margo has 3 reasons to go-
 based on DNA over 25%   You probably have even more...

Margo  wants to explore  Aberdeen  Scotland  (DAD) to   Oban Argyll & Bute Scotland  (MOM) . National Cycling Road 7 connects both



                 MOM = MacAllister    XX                                           DAD  = XY

  Some Background: 

   MacAllister  genes  on the XX side

Margo has tested with Family Tree DNA. It has connected her to one  non black  Male  MacAllister in the United States. with a high percentage of shared DNA . More on how DNA centimorgans matches in another post...

But this result is not enough. Because a female was tested  the amount  Norton- MacAllister research  her mom or any female in the present reunion pool  does not carry the Y chromosome that would settle the DNA heritage question, but MacAllister males do, on both sides of the ocean

Through digital research from Scotland, she is locating MacAllisters.. The research shows that no body who  immigrated  North of the Mason Dixon had the intent  to enter the slave trade, but people who landed in the South as early as 1740 did. They tried to enslave Native Americans 1st, but they could not handle the hard work of large scale agriculture., and where removed out west long before Trail of Tears. It is an interesting coincidence that as Clans on one side of the Ocean were losing lands to the British, the opportunity to get rich in America by taking land from the indigenous tribes and then growing  cash crops that required unpaid labor (slaves)  was a solution.  Without getting political, Margo wants to see if  a Black Daughter of Scotland (thanks cousin JSJ) can reconcile history with History. It should make a good book.

  Some MYSTERY  (You can skip this : )

on the XY side (has nothing to do with Norton MacAllister)

       (1)  Guess who has the  largest reunion in the South - they  have newsletters
              on file at UNC

      (2)   Margo is not sure if she is related to the people who have the largest
              reunion in the South
              This reunion has a Delaware Branch but Not a Texas Branch
             (Texas city spelling  result of a  shortcut  =nickname - not named
              after any body...)

      (3) This family has  a  Mississippi Branch (Holly Springs)

             Delaware branch was historically involved in the landmark Civil Rights
             case of 1954    Brown vs Board of Education  et al 
                                                              
       (4) Link here: case  was joined into Brown vs Board of Education .

            Linda Brown  in white , with others in the Brown vs Board of Education
             et al  
             (the et al includes  the mystery woman in the black suit)
             (5) This mystery family has Scottish Roots also   
 
       
The main reason for traveling to the British Isles (Scotland   and Britain) is  the connections

Norton- MacAllister 

Both sides have fascinating stories The Norton's Roots are in England , and their branches include some Norman Invasion DNA.

 Our particular Branch has Viking DNA - which makes sense because Oxford Ancestors.com have a data base which has confirmed one of the founders of the Scoti  &  Picts and clan formation of these people  into the Country now called Scotland . This founder of Scotland was a Viking who gave up his roots and intermarried to keep the peace. His name is  Sommerled.

 The importance of verifying Sommerled's DNA is similar to knowing that Genghis Khan (Chinggis Khan ) DNA sequence centimorgans  show up in  approximately 10% of the Asian population. And there is probably 5 degrees of separation in populations instead of 6 from time to time. Which makes the population of Black people in America special.

Summary

 Margo loves to travel. So for her it  would be fun to bike from Aberdeen (DAD) to Oban (MOM)  and stay at relatively inexpensive (by US standards) bed and breakfast inns along the way,Why not meet up with the U.S. based  MacAllister /Norton travelers once they arrive???

The following is a trip proposal. 

Margo wants to merge her trip with yours.

This describes the last leg of Margo's trip before you fly in to Scotland.

.... scroll down and take a look at the map - it shows the road along Loch Ness-- merely a 34 mile bike ride with lots of  rest stops for hikers and bikers....

Is Margo Crazy???

This is actually the end of Margo's Trip because Scotland is very bike friendly and quite small.
 The  last leg before she sees you at the Glasgow airport is 34 miles. The National Road for Cycling is the basis for the trip.It is only @186 miles total. That works out to an average of 23.5 miles a day which is no work, even at 3000 feet. Margo is a Spinning TM instructor. She has done  the 120 mile route  from NYC  at 1 World Trade Center  to the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum (Rocky ) using the Washington Retreat  to  Valley Forge route - in 1 day.under 8 hours .  She has also biked in China.  Scotland is small ,, friendly to bikers and hikers  and  is not as car centric as America..

.                                      So you should meet her in Scotland

                           You  fly into Glasgow  airport from Atlanta

 (typical $ roundtrip August

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For a small airport 

 Glasgow (GLA) 

there are enough places to eat or a bit of shopping.

Toilets are immaculate

Transportation Options during our stay 
get a car  drive (1.5 hours  the most on any one day trip) 

 https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Glasgow-Airport-GLA/Oban

the Scottrain  is cheap and gorgeous we will be using this
to OBAN 
from the Airport , the  trip = @4 1/2 hours ++

@ 35-43$ train ticket 
STAYING OVERNIGHT

Corran House Guest House & Hostel  in  Oban, Argyll & Bute Scotland

The airport has one  familiar  chain hotel (Holiday Inn) 

However  for the most part Scotland is

 non chain and non corporate 

-That is why it is so charming 

You stay in a  rambling Mansion,
 sample scotches, visit a Castle and eat at a small pub in the first 1/2 of this trip...

The charming mansion/hotel   is Corran House Guest House & Hostel

 Very close to the Oban Distillery- click either  link )
I suggest taxis to and fro in Oban but it is small and very walkable.

          This is the home of single Malt whiskey -Free Samples

 Margo's plan is to be in Scotland for late summer 2021 -
 so this is how I plan to meet up with you.

 My  Bike Goal for day 8  
Corran House Guest House & Hostel-

but meet you at Glasgow Airport  on my day 9 and bring you here using the Scottrain ++ better than the buses to Oban (2 needed)

Scotland's Version of 4 stars means
it is like staying at your
 favorite cousins house

I can  take the train  to Glasgow airport from Oban on my day 9 to meet up with all those coming from the U.S.

Glasgow is a small airport but its connected to Glasgow city center with a Airport Bus #500  that runs every 1/2 hour and takes a 30 minute trip.

So I meet you when your flight lands in GLA Glasgow Airport 4:05--- pm  we will not be waiting on luggage being unloaded

CARRY ON ONLY 

if we miss the 5:35 train 
 we have  2  buses to take instead++

the last  Scottrain Direct to Oban is smooth 
and we can eat our take out on the train

the food choices around the train station range from Macdonalds to  Hoagies,  Indian, Chinese and Starbucks
Europe has  very good Asian/Indian food due to immigration

I help you grab /carryout dinner for the train ride to   Oban /Arygll and Bute region.at Queen Street Station /Glasgow (better than Airport food)   We arrive finally @9:38 pm and stay at Corran House Guest House & Hostel as a overnight trip. You should go to bed. Unless a pub is still open...**

Q :WHY SUCH TIGHT SCHEDULING?

A:  
not that many flights into here that are nonstop 
most of you will have one layover (Amsterdam) which makes it into Scotland late afternoon ONCE A DAY

 So when you land at 4:05 it will be safe to give ourselves  60 minutes for  connection @ Queens street in  Glasgow 
Scotrain leaving at 5:35PM to Oban (commuter schedule M-F only)
Airport connection runs 2x hour   
Smart Move is to 

1.  Get off Plane
2.  catch Airport Bus (30 minutes)
3. and get grub  to eat on train  Near the train station 

     
       We  Got A  Train To Catch --Then you can  relax

In the morning (my day 10 but your day 3) we explore Oban, go to their non touristy, famous distillery and have scotch, whiskey , and single malts. We can have group lunch and dinner in Oban   and the rest of the day 3 is yours .Head back to Glasgow Airport  day 3 (evening-- buses only)   and use Glasgow Airport  as a base.

Why?
because of this Hotel location 

Holiday Inn Express Hotel Glasgow Airport

   Best to fly into and leave from Glasgow
. Glasgow is such a large city and there is so much to do 
  Airport has easy parking for  day trips.
  24 hour airport bus into the city from the hotel.

Holiday Inn Express Hotel Glasgow Airport

                  TRANSPORTATION
  at Glasgow  airport  get a car  or two for 2-4 days  

 https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Glasgow-Airport-GLA/Oban

                     scroll to  your right to see entire map

The 5  MacAllister cities are close like spokes on a wheel You are spending 9 days in Scotland 

ACTUALLY  10 days ( put in one day due to Time Changes )

Let us review 

You fly from Atl Altanta @1030 pm  and sleep so you will not have jet lag

change in Amsterdam 

Arrive in Glasgow@   
4:05pm the next day

 as soon as you arrive I meet you 
NO LUGGAGE CLAIM -its all Carry On

60 minute window for Airport bus

take the Airport Bus to City Center
Grab some food take out in the area near the train 

 and catch  5:25 pm LAST TRAIN  to Oban 

in Argyll & Bute Scotland

           at city center we take train (Scotrain if we hustle)
  to stay in  an MacAllister area  Oban, in Argyll& Bute 
          our only overnight/next day trip  (near the sea)

Argyll & Bute district city of  Oban                    

Goal: @ 9:38 pm end of day 2 sleep here:

Corran House Guest House & Hostel 

                                                Day 3

 wake up and have brunch and do the Oban Single Malt/Whiskey/Scotch tour in town Between 10AM  & 4 PM

4 pm dinner 

• I will leave Oban with all of you and will remain with you for the rest of the trip

@5-6 pm take taxi/bus /train back to Glasgow  Airport
(no Scottrain on the way back- it runs at rush hour only) 

arrive at Airport @9:30 pm 

stay at Airport 

Holiday Inn Express Hotel Glasgow Airport

rent a car for the  next 2-4  days 
( easier to park in Airport Hotel area than Glasgow itself)

The rest of the trip are MacAllister towns 
we are exploring what the Scots call Clydeside (region) which is in and around Glasgow , a centrally positioned  major city
We are not in the Highlands
 so you do not have to go to the gym to get in shape...

Day 4  Explore Glasgow  (staying in airport hotel ) 

30 min shuttle to town------ no car needed 

Day    5   Dunbarton Castle  (  Scot train available or drive --day trip from Glasgow)
Lunch in Dunbarton
this is the oldest intact stronghold in Scotland
but the city itself is  modern so you could go shopping here just like you would at home 

Day 6   Explore Glasgow ( staying in airport hotel)

30 min shuttle to town------ no car needed 

OR

go see the farthest the Roman Empire ever went

 In the Scottish Countryside

The Antoinine wall

ScotRail and a quick bus See Next Map

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonine_Wall

this is exactly how the wall looks

 between Twecher and Croy ----where the bus goes

Roman walls and sunken earth moat run  thru the middle of town .

If this is not enough for you- consider the  Next  Moroccan Trip to the Port of Timbutku(Essouria) and the town of  Volubilis=(African Roman CItizens)Visit  where the Roman Army grew grain for their legions and is the deepest/furthest point Rome went (besides this wall in Scotland).
Volubilis is a well preserved city that is in hilly country...Antonine Wall, Scotland -Volubilis Morocco------
Then you can say you have been to the
______________________________________________________________________________
 Ends of The Known World...The Roman one ....

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so where is hither Croy???

Day 7  Renfrewshire (day trip from Glasgow)

  Day 8   Explore Glasgow (staying in airport hotel)

30 min shuttle to town -------no car needed 

OR
go play with some Clydesdale horses Yes you can Ride them!

and the 2 Buses take you directly there from the Airport shuttle  

Blackstone Farm

Cumnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. KA183JJ

Day 9   Lanark  (Cheese and  wool country)     
UNESCO World Heritage site  
In Lanark  was a mill  where Robert Owen (who invented the 8 hour day  instituted the policy at  a workers cooperative  called New Lanark. By 1817 he had formulated the goal of the eight-hour workday and coined the slogan: "Eight hours labour, Eight hours recreation, Eight hours rest."

    (day trip from Glasgow 
Also can be done by ScotRail 
but you want to do the country side here So a car is better )

Day 10   Glasgow(staying in airport hotel-)----fly back to Atlanta

Q: So  why rent a car for 2-4  days when a shuttle is available? 

A:  You will need both .
Glasgow is also  a MacAllister city - As a European city it is  quite small so walking and the 24 hour Airport Bus will be sufficient 

But you do not really have to take the car into Glasgow-
Why risk a fender bender just because you are trying to park?

You can take a car into Glasgow if you want but they have a decent bus system and the riverfront/city center is accessible by foot too.

If you have trouble walking for more than 1 hour- start getting in shape now. Weather tends to  cool and there is lots of cobblestone.

There will be more posts about  this trip   **

  Save your $$ for 2021---- The plane ticket is your biggest expense