Rock Scrambling and Misunderstood Transportation

Day 3 Walking, June 8
Rowardenna Hotel, Rowardenna to Ewich House, Crianlarich along the shore of Loch Lomond
14 official miles, but my Fitbit says it was 17 - felt like 20
41036 Steps, 9.5 hours

Loch Lomond

“Where the sun shines on Loch Lomond.  Where me and my true love spent many days.  On the banks of Loch Lomond. Too sad we parted in yon shady glen. On the steep sides of Ben Lomond. Where the broken heart knows no second spring. Resigned we must be while we’re parting. You’ll take the high road and I’ll take the low road.  And I’ll be in Scotland afore you. Where me and my true love will never meet again.   On the Bonny, Bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.”




Native Scottish Goats - saw 7 today very close to path. 

Good byes to Sue and Joe as they were staying on an extra day to climb Ben Logan and hugs and French kisses with our new French couple.  Might meet Sue and Joe on my way back south. 

Lynne and I set off together for the morning walk.  Nice ramble, some scrabbling, lots of chatter as we worked our way to Inversnaid, the halfway point, through woods and along the edge of Loch Lomond.  Towards the end of the morning Lynne left me to make her way faster.  Met her and Kristen outside the restaurant where all walkers gathered.  Going inside we were required to take packs and boots off   Ate packed lunch from last nights accommodation.  




Very touristy at lunch.  Pleasure boats out on loch.  A ‘Stag’ party was partying at an outdoor table near us.  A ‘Hen’ party appeared off one of the boats and the area became very Party like.  




Set off and immediately it became a Difficult route.  In the beginning never more than 30 feet above lake but it went constantly up and down and over roots and rocks and boulders.  EXHAUSTING!  Diligent watching of every step.  I walked alone as Lynne moved on ahead.  All afternoon leapfrogged with other walkers or they left me in their dust.  Later the last 3 miles cut inland and the path lead up and up and up.  Great views but the body was exhausted. 









Met a group of high school students early morning who at times were faster than us and other times they were sitting around exhausted.  Students were training for the Duke of Edinburgh award.  We asked about their academic year.  They go year around but get a week off in October, 2 weeks at Christmas and Easter, and 7-8 in the summer plus Bank Holidays 




Dragged body to the Drovers Inn where my arranged pickup was scheduled.  Waited 1.5 hours when the body switched from sweating to shivering.  Finally had someone call to find out what was wrong.  Apparently I was supposed to have called a local taxi and I had only contacted the B&B.  Now the ride is scheduled for 8:30 rescheduled for 9:00.  Ate fish and chips while waiting.  







That was my fault. Meanwhile all I want is to get cleaned up, get these boots off, feet elevated, talk with Gary and get some sleep 

Taxi driver arrived, funny little man chattering and apologizing.  All is well. He show me a short cut to take in the morning to connect with the WHW and I plan to sleep and relax a bit longer in the morning. 

My hosts are from Switzerland and always wanted to run a B&B in Scotland.  Poor WiFi connection, again 😬

“Fall down seven times and get up eight”. Japanese Proverb





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Farewell Highlands, Britain and all that History, Hello HOME

Image
Day 31/32, Sunday, July 7, Monday, July 8.  Glasgow - Amsterdam - Minneapolis - and finally Stevens Point.   Day when the sun never set.  Sort of like the British Empire, where the “sun never set” on all the lands they controlled at the height of their reign over the world.   Walked to the Buchanan Bus station.  Collected  from a Greggs Cafe a coffee and breakfast bun (not very good and don’t regret leaving British ‘bacon’ behind).  Rode the last bus ☹️.  Arrived at Glasgow Airport too early (typical of this person who is always on time).  Couldn’t go through security for two hours.  Hung about with more coffee, browsing abandoned magazines, and people watching.   Almost everyone had to have their photo taken with Oor Willie, who is a character from a popular comic strip. This one was in the airport.  Random girl posing.   People often sit on the upturned feet for the pictures.  On Buchanan Street there were a fe...
Read more

Historical Glasgow Continued

Image
Day 30 in Scotland, Friday, July 5. Point A Hotel, in the middle of City Center Glasgow.  Steps 27852.  Coffee from Costa and croissants from Sainsbury’s.   Pies.  Rode City Hop on Hop off bus to the Glasgow Cathedral.   Tomb of Saint Mungo under neath the Cathedral.   Provand’s Lordship. Glasgow’s oldest house.  Built in 1471 for the Bishop of the City.  Mary Queen ofnthe Scots stayed there, but as the tour guide on the bus said “she owned all of Scotland so she probably stayed everywhere.” What an idiot was going through the oldest house at the same pace as myself.  There were signs everywhere about not touching the furniture.  He says to his wife “well, I touched it” in a stupid singsong voice.  Then he made a comment about how “Antiques Roadshow would really like this old stuff”.  Embarrassing as I realized he was American.  Low ceiling.   Necropolis. “A memorial to the merchant patriarchs and contains the remains...
Read more

Typical Day in the Scottish Highlands

Image
Day 12 Walking, Monday, June 17, Bracarina House, Invermoriston to Fiddler’s at Oakdale, Drumnadrochit, 14 Official miles, but my route was shortened by taking a bus to Alltsigh that cut 5 miles off...but the feet did walk 9 miles in 5 long hours.  And 27417 Steps  Richard and Heather my hosts were very chipper in matching purple shirts and aprons this morning. It was Richard who suggested the bus alternative to help save the heel torture.   Breakfast was scrambled eggs with salmon on top.  Plus a hot homemade scone was hand delivered by Richard, which I was encouraged to take in a plastic bag for “elevens” (morning tea/coffee break).  Put 3 pats of British butter on it and also took 4 of the little wrapped cheeses.  Returned the house-loaned croc shoes to the drying room and collect my warm boots.  Depart.   The pack and I were having a ‘time-out’ from each other on opposite side of the path.  Enough is enough.   While waiting for the C...
Read more