Kinlochleven - Fort William
Trip Start
May 18, 2002
1
7
9
Trip End
May 26, 2002
Kinlochleven,
United Kingdom
Friday, May 24, 2002
Ali, the joys of Scottish weather and the benefits of a skylight so that we can hear, and see, the rain pouring down, hard. A grey wet day. Didn't want to get up, but did. Sinead in a lot of pain today. My toe hurts too. Boots are still wet - they said the drying room was totally full, and damp and musty, so no chance for stuff to really dry.
Breakfast in a cafe in town. Egg and bacon sandwich. Eli is desperate for fruit, which seemed to surprise the staff, but they eventually managed to find an apple for her. (Eli is very concerned about her arteries after all the stodge of full English breakfasts for a week).
Back to the hostel to pick up bags etc. Rain a little less, now a light drizzle. Headed off round the back. Sinead not feeling too happy and not able to walk very fast. Thinking of not coming with us so must be bad. Walking along street by houses. Realised that Jon has taken us in a bit of a loop as now walking along with the hostel parallel to us over the river, and then back onto the road near last nights pub (but as Jon said at least we're following the trail)! At this point Sinead decided she really couldn't do it, so sadly went back to the hostel to catch a bus with Ronan to Fort William. Stood around deciding which way path went, whilst Francois had a bit of a shelter from a sudden shower in a phone box.
Steep climb up narrow track through trees, and is hot, so removed layers again. Long walk along another military road with hills on both sides. Lots of people about today. Very few sheep though. Thought there would be more. Walked on for quite a way past some derelict old stone buildings. Sheep...
Very bare, and got colder as the day went on. Drizzling again. Eventually came into pine type woodland, so stopped for lunch under some trees (Francois going right in and taking proper cover). Could have been a mistake as millions of midges suddenly descended on us. Slightly irritating bloke walking by told us that sitting under trees when wet was a bad idea as be bound to attract insects - thanks.
More of a well used path over some downs, where had to do an emergency sock change as can feel feet swooshing around inside boots. Then woodland trails again. Kept overtaking and being overtaken by same two blokes (father and son?).
Another long walk down to Glen Nevis, thankfully not as long as the one down to Kinlochleven, and surprised/relieved to find out that this is where we are staying tonight, not Fort William (which is another few miles away).
Reached the hostel, and Alan has arrived from Ireland so waved as we arrived. Had a final photo to show we've made it alive. Sinead and Ronan there too, so we're all together again.
Grumpy old man in charge of the hostel, making the booking in harder than it should be. We're all staying for a different number of days so he's getting all confused. Ronan made it worse as he cancelled one of his nights by phone the other day, but they cancelled a night belonging to one of the others instead and the old guy can't seem to get his mind around this. Anyway, eventually managed to get it all sorted out, so up to room for shower and change.
Alan is the best. Has got tea and biscuits all set up in the dining room. Although not quite the best as he got non-chocolate Hobnobs, which he also seems surprised about! But he has a cold, so..... Says he went and climbed Ben Nevis today, and there was snow on the top - and people in shorts.
Washing. Only one machine, so have to hover a bit to make sure get to use it next. Chatted to the guy using the tumble dryer who has done the WHW a couple of times. Says this it's been far wetter than normal for the time of year, so we definitely haven't had total luck with the weather. His favourite part is the long hike over the moors, which he says is wonderful in the sun. Shame we had soggy weather, but then also added to the atmosphere. Think my favourite part might have been around Loch Lomond.
Out for a meal in Glen Nevis. Not a lot of choice of places, but found somewhere with room for all of us, all by ourselves out the back... Lasagne. Very impressed with Francois's passport. Is full of stamps from loads of different countries. Telling us stories about travelling with Jon!
Stopped off in another pub on the way back to the hostel. Have a huge blister on my left little toe - about the same size as the toe - ow. Had some gorse beer and whisky to make me feel better. Bit of a strange taste, but not bad.
So it's almost all over. At least the hiking is.
[Ok, this is where I stopped with my notes in Scotland so can't remember all that much of the last days....]
