So it's another 15 miles. Inversnaid to Crianlarich.
I had been itching to get back out. The hangover from the last leg was that I was buoyed up by getting to my destination, having no blisters and feeling great the day after. By golly, I was getting rather good at this walking malarky.
This day was a special day. It was mum's birthday (21 again you know) and the closest thing to a stag night that the groom to be was going to get.
We had also made a little amendment to the walk. The "official" route takes you along the top right hand side of Loch Lomond, a route that is widely known to be rough, wild and tricky. Given that at least half of our group (who shall remain nameless) are not overly keen on cliff edges and slippery slopes to rocks we thought we'd take the slightly less official, if slightly longer, route on the left hand side of the loch.
This meant that we had to cross the loch from Inversnaid to the far bank- we needed a boat. So, we turned up nice and early to beat the rush for the boat across the loch (seriously, there is a rush for this 54 seat boat). Nothing like a trip across a misty loch first thing to set you up for the day. Lovely.
It's not so scenic along this side of the loch- you are walking on the side of a main road. Not a huge amount of fun. In fact, a little scary. Drivers refuse to give any sort of space to walkers and after one or two close calls we emplyed our own measure of how close cars were to us. Kris attached a stick to his back that was shorter than the length of his arm. If the car was two close it would hit this stick. Bear in mind that before they got to Kris they passed three people and two of those were wearing bright, bright clothing and it was a clear day.
Over 30 vehicles met Sticky McStickerson. Next time you drive down a road and there are hikers or walkers, slow down or adjust your road position. Give them room. And to the driver of the BMW, it is not big and it is not clever to try and overtake when the vehicle you are overtaking is forced to swerve towards walkers. In fact it is almost certainly dangerous driving.
Anyway, anyway back to the walk. We met up with the official path in Inverarnan, just past the Drover's Inn. Pretty, pretty building. Bizarre interior. We were not quite sure where we met back up with the Way but the staff in the Drovers were so helpful. I think I'll have to think of an excuse to go back and enjoy the hospitality properly. This was the end of the walking along the road and back to the proper "Way" but first time for a WHWWB.
A "West Highland Way Wham Bar" just what you need to get you up the much delayed first hill of the day. Strangely, for years my mum has been saying that it is always best to start out with a hill. We absolutely did not think she was right until we hit that hill after seven miles of flattish road. Oh my, that hurt. Ah, so that's what pain feels like, how quickly we forget.
This was a rather undulating part of the walk, which was more enjoyable than the road and with lots more to look at. The views were beautiful, even if my pictures don't show it because it remained misty and drizzly most of the day. Lots of little pretty things. daffodils, hills, bridges, rocks, pretty trees, cows and streams and waterfalls.
I loved that to get along the path we had to pass this beautiful cow right next to the way marker. Mum wasn't nearly as impressed as I was though.
It was all going so well. It was drizzly on and off most of the day and I was of course tired but generally, I was feeling positive. It was never going to be that easy was it? About 3 and a bit miles from the end (it's always 3 and a bit miles from the end) my feet were in agony all of a sudden and then I felt something "ping" in my knee. Ouch. These last few miles were not going to be fun. It was painful but I put the music on and ignored the pain and walked on. My spirits were flagging a little but my brothers decided that it was silly season. Cue cartwheels (yes, after 14 miles), displaying some terrible terrible dancemoves, enacting scenes from movies, walking on barriers and trying to hang from signs. Bizarre behavious but hugely distracting.
See, Crianlarich!!
The scenery was really beginning to change, it is almost unrecognisable from Milngavie. Wow, what might we have instore for the last three days? We have to make the final push to Fort William. I have the fear. Can you see those hills? That's what my future holds.
Wish me luck, and while you are at it- sponsor me and help me get to my £1000 target for SANDS.
