Milngavie - Drymen
Trip Start
May 18, 2002
1
2
9
Trip End
May 26, 2002
Drymen,
United Kingdom
Sunday, May 19, 2002
Got up around 7:30. Showered and packed and down to orange juice, cereal and a fry up - the joys of a full English breakfast. Then a little while later all ready to go and waiting in the hallway while Ronan had a fond farewell with his long lost aunt or cousin. (Not sure which, but they have compared baby photos and discovered that he does look like her father or uncle... (actually they decided that they weren't really any relation but had to discuss that in depth too, along with the something about the long lost tribe of Daly's living somewhere in Australia)).
Eventually, all outside, in the sun!!!
Walked along the road to the center of Milngavie where the WHW officially begins. My bag is already too heavy! Picked up film and cash on the way. (Good idea of Scottish John (Donachie) to wait and see what the weather is like before got carried away buying loads of film. As he said "if the weathers bad it won't be of much use" - rained yesterday and the forecast now is not that great!). Jon stopped to phone his mum and say that we'd found Francois. Also ideal photo opportunity against the obelisk that marks the start, with the red telephone box in the background to add authenticity!
And we're off at approximately 10:30am. The sun was shining as we walked through this park and up a hill. Stopped by a river as Eli saw signs for a castle (and what with being an American tourist abroad) wanted to go and see it. Is up another hill and doesn't say how far, so she left her pack and went to look. Then Ronan followed and they vanished. Jon and Francois dropped their packs and headed off too, abandoning me and Sinead, so we went down to the river to look at worms.
Sinead discovered a big fat worm in the water and then ran off (as she doesn't like them). Didn't think that it looked like it a very successful swimmer, so rescued it, but left it near enough so it would have an opportunity to go back in if it really wanted to. Quite a busy area with several people walking dogs, the last one of which lost its stick in the water - very sad.
Jon and Francois returned. They hadn't been able to find Eli or Ronan, or even the castle! Sat around for a bit (ages), then decided to hide their bags. Behind the tree was going to be too obvious, so decided on further down the track. Thought we were being incredibly clever, when Eli and Ronan suddenly appeared from the other direction having seen exactly what we were doing. Mind you Ronan having said that he couldn't be fooled, then believed us when we said his bag was hidden behind the original tree. And this despite the fact he was standing about 5cm away from it at the side of the path. So spent a few minutes watching him search until he noticed it, now in the middle of the path!
Set off again. Scenery not too great as left Milngavie as started walking along behind people's back gardens and a sewage works! Lots of split metal stiles that push back on springs. Interesting at first but then got a bit monotonous. A bit muddy underfoot and the sun looks a little dodgy now, but something to look forward to as noticed last night on the map that we pass by a distillery today!
Not too many people about on the trail, so got a bit of a shock when we climbed these steps over a wall (bit tricky and the boys cheated and went off to the side through a gate) and there was this group of fifteen or so older hikers having a picnic. All very friendly and told us that its not too far to the distillery. Walked around this really green hill that just poked its way up out of the field. Then it started to rain so out with the waterproofs. Eli has a poncho that she put over her and her pack (a bit of a 'Hunchback of Notre Dame' effect but a good idea - although she said later it had concentrated the water at the top of her trousers).
All starting to feel a bit damp (well I was) by the time we reached a sign to Glengoyne distillery. Had a short discussion on the best way to get to it, and decided to continue along the track as there would be a short cut. After a
brief panic about missing the next sign saw it and crossed over a field between sheep and cowpats and reached the distillery. Ali, the comfort of four walls and a roof (and taking the pack off). Lots of whisky products, including collapsible sporran drinking cups - very impressive. No time to go on the tour so had a little whisky tasting in the shop (very nice of them). Lovely and smooth (10 years old). Bought a small bottle of blended for tonight as not going to be near any pubs (or don't think so).
Really chucking it down now, so fortunate that mere minutes later reached the Beech Tree Inn and lunch stop. Francois tried haggis and mushroom thing, which he said was ok, but I stuck to nice safe soup and sandwich. And beer.
Good to stop, but then had to set off again, and its still raining (and this is supposed to be the best time of year to hike here). Nice to walk along talking to different people about stuff. Bit on the roads and went through a nice little village then up a hill. Had to have a few checks of the map, and stops for photo as has stopped raining, but we're nearly there. Obviously it then had to decide to start raining again, so by the time we reached the B&B farmhouse we were all wet again. Legs are aching a bit.
Anyway arrived at the farmhouse and the boys are staying in the 'shed' in the yard and us girls in the farmhouse. Had to leave packs etc downstairs as so wet. Lovely room. Had bath and changed, then downstairs into this brilliant sunroom/conservatory with an old wooden table and area with comfy chairs. Sun is now streaming in through the window. Horses in the fields behind and with sun it is all very idyllic and calm.
Gorgeous meal of soup and fresh made rolls, vegetarian pasta for Sinead and Ronan and pork and fresh vegetables for the rest of us, then fruit and yoghurt/cream for desert. Coffee in the lounge area. All so nice. (And remember Spikback the dinosaur).
Talked for a while. Ronan reading from some politically correct book that he found - and we all now have to be called 'pertrons' (instead of persons since that is sexist). Then decided to play Jenga, which was very very interesting with all the different styles of play. The order around the table was Ronan, Sinead, Jon, me, Eli and Francois. Started out ok, but got more interesting as the tower got higher. Francois tried to coax the pieces out with a stroking motion and a "petite petite petite" refrain. Seemed to work most of the time, although did collapse once on his turn. I (blowing my own trumpet) made it all seem so effortless, just a little push and the piece was out. Francois said must be from a Jenga planet. Mind you, also said that about Jon, but obviously a different one as every time it was his turn the stack would wobble and have to be held upright (in a possibly illegal manner) as he attacked it from all sides. Overall the victory went to the girls - Sinead and Francois down once, and then there was two-times Clark! Drank the whisky, which seemed to help. A very good night.
Bedroom is freezing, so Eli popped down to ask if they could put the heat on (recovering from her previous "Selfish" position). Can't remember if it ever came on, but was lovely and snug in bed so soon fell asleep.
