West Highland Way Completed, and a Naughty Heel

Day 7 Walking, June 12

Edencoille, Kinlochleven to St Andrew’s Guest Housr, Fort William 

14 miles, 36071 Steps, 8 hours (6 of them painful)

Kinlochleven

Breakfast was served continental.  I had a huge bowl of fresh fruit with a minimal amount of muesli, cold hard boiled egg, salmon, American ham, cheese platter, there were various breads and scones on the table but none of that was had.

Chatted with seatmates. One couple was from Sussex, another a German couple, and two British Columbia friends walking together.

Here come a group of walkers. 

Felt great starting off. Collected a sandwich at the Co-Op and joined the line of WHW hikers heading out of town and up the mountain on the other side of Loch Leven. The line to hikers was similar but far different from those that are stuck on that ridge going up to Mount Everest.  Very busy though here in Scotland.  We could still step aside though and let the faster move on ahead.

Sunny day to start with but later clouds and cold wind. Began by wearing skort and a short sleeve top and later added sweater and rain jacket and rain pants. 

After about an hour of climbing the open high ridge walk was reached. Beautiful landscape and a wide rocky road to traverse. Small stream crossings all day. Some could be stepped across by carefully placing feet, others required a bit of a jump, some just walk carefully on exposed small rocks and pebbles.  

At some point in the first few miles something happened to the bottom of my right heel. Intense pain! Oh no. Hobbled on a bit and realize something was very wrong. Sat on a rock to remove socks and boots. Nothing to see.  Put ankle brace on and took ibuprofen. Not much help. There was no where to go but onward.  What a disappointment as I had been feeling so strong earlier and now – – – minor setback? Or big set back?   Eventually people passed and continued away for me. Lois proceeded but it was very slow going at each step was trouble.

Finally made it in to Fort William and found the finish location.  Had photos taken next to the statue of the man who sits on the bench where everyone gets their picture taken.

 Off to locate tonight’s B&B.  Saint Andrews house was built in 1880 as the rectory and choir school for Saint Andrews church located just down the hill.  The church was designed to be the Cathedral for the diocese of Argyle and the Isles.  There was a need for a choir school to provide singers. Both buildings were designed by the architect Alexander Ross.  But, then it was decided that the real cathedral would be in Oban instead of Fort William.  

St Andrew’s House

The granite for the house was floated down the Caledonian canal from a quarry near Inverness. An Englishmen who married a local woman provided most of the financing. He made his fortune in guano from South America.  When he died in 1907 there was no money left to continue with the school and it had to be sold as a private home.  (All that information I got out of the packet in my room). 

Didn’t know what to expect when the foot coverings were removed once in my room.  Black and blue?? So far there is nothing to see. Had foot elevated, and later went out to move about the town, look at the shops and see which trail mates from the past week are out and about, and how the heel feels.  

If necessary I can use transportation tomorrow to get to the next location and give the heel a break. Not happy about that at all, but if necessary, then it must be done. There is a lot more walking I plan to do. 

West Highland Way - Completed, in pain.  

“If all the difficulties were known at the outset of a long journey, most of us would never start I would at all.”  Dan Rathet