The Wide Mouthed Frog Oban

... trip to the Kaori forests and Cape Regina, before thinking about heading south to continue exploring!

My rucksack's not as heavy as I thought, which is always good! And, I've very recently sold my car, which of course will bring a massive boost to my traveling budget, although it is wired not seeing it in the car park!


So, just counting down the days now! I'll keep you posted:)

Leonie
xxx

... The Nevis ranges comprises of three peaks - and apparently more people die trying to climb Ben Nevis than on the roads of Scotland due to poor preparation and the rapidly changing weather. Where we stopped is a monument to those who have died protecting the country, and as we were taking photos a platoon of army boys came jogging past. Evidently the ranges is a popular training ground - they have to run up to 10 miles with 30 pound backpacks on their backs!

Next we ...

This is the first day that I have set an alarm. Big day today, off to climb the highest mountain in the Scotland (and the UK), Ben Nevis at 4406 feet. Up at 6:30 so that I can get showered and get to
breakfast for 7:00.

We set off at 8:30 and head towards the visitors centre, the climb from here is a little bit of an easier start than from the YHA (and the bridge was closed for repair). The weather ...

... hostel.

On the way I meet Hugh, a retired librarian, who has been doing the LEJOG route in stages over several years. He's abandoned ideas of wild camping tonight and decided to join me at Crianlarich. We stock up at Crianlarich's village shop and I get overexcited at the sight of vegetables! I was getting the impression that vegetables were illegal in Scotland - apart from "tatties" of course!

Hugh is a very experienced walk leader who leads ...

I've made it to Fort William, checked into the SYHA Glen Nevis and decided to go for a walk in to town to get some dinner. Little did I know that it was 3.5 miles each way in the pouring rain to Morrisons.

Gone to far to turn around and I am wet now.

... dry out a little! Heading over the hill towards Bridge of Orchy I turn around and am rewarded with stunning views of Loch Tulla and the hills behind it.

By Bridge of Orchy I'm pretty tired but there are a still a few miles to go. It's 3pm but I pop into the hotel bar, grab a sandwich to fuel me to Tyndrum and meet three walkers heading the other way who'd had the same idea. They're wild camping and at least one of them isn't looking forward to a ...

... brake on the manual hire car consisted of a small button on the dashboard - and the car snuffed out very easily . We were lucky not to roll into one of the cars which insist on following so closely on slopes. Others were patient, if not confused, at our attempts to move off a round-about where it seemed we were going to stay - as we tried to work out the co-ordination of gears, the dashboard ...

... or Sunday, when Paul and Melanie Bowden would join us in Skye for a week. We were back on the boat, re-watered and victualled and ready for the off by 15:00. We had a super sail in, guess what, F 4-5 NW winds up the Sound of Mull and back into Loch Aline for the night. At anchor, out of the wind, it's flat calm and lovely. However, it is chilly and we do have the heater on to compensate - and we're how close to the longest day ?????

... for the ever brave Miss D and her sensitive stomach. The trip there was thankfully smooth across what is described as one of the most turbulent straits in the world. Oban is the only town. It has about 350 permanent residents. It's like a small Maine coastal town with no traffic. Leave your car behind on this journey. Everyone really slows down when they get off the boat. Seeing as how our packs were already packed we immediately hit the trail on the Rakiura track ...

... a colissium. The atmosphere was really electric...I mean, besides being almost completely pitch dark, the wind did strange things. The noises were louder than they should be. It would be completely still and silent then all of a sudden out of nowhere a gust of wind would create a symphony of leaves rustling and grass humming. Enchanting and mysterious would be the only words that would explain it properly. It was a memorable night with memorable people.