This was meant to be a tale of the thoroughly tech savvy traveller showing how it's done. You know the sort of article i mean where the correspondent uses his smartphone to plan the route, book accommodation, select and book a restaurant all while hurtling down the motorway.
Well I have already mentioned the navigation blip in the previous post but when we had cleared Glasgow and were speeding down the M8 our thoughts turned to a bed for the night. It was after 4pm and we had been in the car most of the day (thank God for Car????? Castle) so we decided to check out the accommodation offered at the Services 20 miles south of Glasgow.
Turned off to discover there was only fuel and motorway food (to be avoided) so I consulted the phone. It came up with a long list of pubs and hotels nearby and the name Shieldhill Castle took my fancy. I phoned the number and discovered the castle originated in the 1100s and was indeed a hotel. It was expensive but I was curious to check it out and perhaps stay cheaper in nearby Biggar.
I was given some directions but again entrusted navigation to Nokia Maps.
All went well for the first 8 miles until we were directed off the main road onto a minor one which Tess was unable to confirm immediately. We wended our way along small roads through some very small villages with Tess questioning the wisdom of the route. It does have a very literal mind when it comes to the best route and had chosen one a crow might have flow.
we did eventually arrive at the Castle, not from the direction Reception expected but here nevertheless. My faith in the phone,however, is a little shaken.
Maps and common sense still have their place in the modern travller's suitcase.
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