Glen Albyn Lodge Invergarry

... would have been better on a clear day... and I'm pretty sure I was driving away from it, so would have been better going the other way. Anyway... Climb numero deux was over at Loch Lomond, on the quieter east side. By the time I rocked up I fully expected it to be packed, but it wasn't at all, maybe 20 odd cars there, brilliant. I had lunch ...

... phones through to the AA and books a transporter to take me back to take me back to Nottingham (East Leake).

Tow truck 1, turns up at 11:50 to take me on the first leg of the journey home from Fort William to Stirling. This takes approx 3 hours and I get dropped at Stirling service station where I am supposed to be met by the next tow truck. It takes about an hour for the next truck to turn up. Which was arranged for 14:30

... will go out of their way to help a stranger.

Things that made me smile today:

The multitude of frogs and toads enjoying the wet ground
The two couples who gave me sponsorship at Inversnaid
Feral goats at Inversnaid - the book is not wrong about their smell!
All the lovely people I met at the youth hostel
The drying room - it was extremely hot and all my kit is now properly dry!

... from the American and Canadian embassies in South-East of England. He very kindly shares his bottle of wine with me and we have a lovely supper. He's off to join his wife in the US until January when he gets back and I'm very envious that he will be in glorious sunshine soon!

What makes me smile today:

The thought that whatever the weather I have a bag of warm, dry clothes
Hugh's generous sponsorship and sharing of red wine. Thank you Hugh!

... on this road, and infact noone ever seems to walk on this road, so I looked like a bit of a muppet walking up the road to take these pictures. Luckily things like that don't really bother me, and so I proceeded to take multiple pictures of cows ...

... that I'm taking it face on. I'm frustrated that everyone I meet coming the other way looks almost dry! Still, my waterproofs and boots are doing an excellent job and underneath I'm not really wet. The moor seems bleak in this weather but on a clear day there are obviously stunning views to be had.

Heading down to Inverornan, the clouds suddenly roll away and the sun comes out. I take my chances and stop for a quick snack, revelling in the chance ...

... t too low so there are still plenty of great views to be had. For the first six or so miles I see no-one and then the onslaught of walkers who've made an early start from Kinlochleven begin. I meet Julia, a lovely Northern Irish lady, who's only got a few miles to go and further on several more walkers who are finding the last stage heavy weather and are asking how much further!

Coming out of Kinlochleven I meet a local man, who must be in his ...

It was a day of rest today. It rained all day long and it was actually a welcomed respite. We have been going every day since we arrived nearly 2 weeks ago. We did attempt to go into Aberfoyle to the local market, however, the roads had a different idea. When we arrived at the edge of town, the road was flooded and we could not go any further. We simply turned around and came back.

... for constructions. Without their help, we would have been hopelessly lost.

Honestly, the drive up in the highlands was absolutely gorgeous and at the same time incredibly nerve-wracking. The roads are incredibly narrow giving cars on each side of the two-lane highway very little space to pass. There is also no shoulder on the outside of the road. So, for those of us who have never driven on the left side of the road, it was a harrowing experience to say the least ...

... really has nothing much else around it, but is quite a pretty area and check in. Hardly anywhere is there (they are probably all frolicking around Romania) and we get a room to ourselves, in fact I think it was probably a floor to ourselves. They hand us a little brochure about the resident ghosts and I, a self confessed wouss, start to worry. We explore the Castle a little and then decide to go into town for dinner. We stopped in a little pub and ate and ...