All photos are currently being uploaded by son James as I can't on the phone for some reason, hence the disconnect between words and pictures.
The Whitebridge Hotel served up a Highland burger last night, venison with a layer of haggis and then bacon and a side order of whisky sauce. Not what Rabbie Burns would have recognised but an interesting meal. The beer in Scotland has improved greatly with a reasonable range of local real ales available.
This morning started with some climbing that led to a superb run down past little Loch Knockie to Fort Augustus. I could have topped 40mph but a wet road and bends kept the maximum speed down to 39. At the end of Loch Ness I had to use the busy A82 to Loch Oich. At Bridge of Oich a couple of large passenger boats were going through, causing the swing bridge to be closed and I saw an old railway line now converted to foot- and cycle path which was a peaceful route to Laggan and Loch Lochy. Not the most original of choices, making me wonder if whoever thought up Boaty McBoatface hails from these parts.
After viewing the well known Commando monument, a pleasant detour from the A82 ended at Neptune's Staircase, a busy set of locks on the Caledonian Canal where I had lunch and watched the boating activity. Then through Fort William, passing the photostop at the end of the West Highland Way which I completed a few years ago.
Back on to the A82 which by now had a cycle path in places much better surfaced than the main road, along Loch Linnhe and briefly Loch Leven before reaching the village of Glencoe and its youth hostel. Dinner in the Clachaig Inn in the hills above the village with a retired Naval radio engineer rounded off the day. Hopefully the clothes washed in the hostel machine and currently in the drying room will be ok tomorrow as they are all I have!
Tomorrow - the bonny banks of Loch Lomond.
This morning started with some climbing that led to a superb run down past little Loch Knockie to Fort Augustus. I could have topped 40mph but a wet road and bends kept the maximum speed down to 39. At the end of Loch Ness I had to use the busy A82 to Loch Oich. At Bridge of Oich a couple of large passenger boats were going through, causing the swing bridge to be closed and I saw an old railway line now converted to foot- and cycle path which was a peaceful route to Laggan and Loch Lochy. Not the most original of choices, making me wonder if whoever thought up Boaty McBoatface hails from these parts.
After viewing the well known Commando monument, a pleasant detour from the A82 ended at Neptune's Staircase, a busy set of locks on the Caledonian Canal where I had lunch and watched the boating activity. Then through Fort William, passing the photostop at the end of the West Highland Way which I completed a few years ago.
Back on to the A82 which by now had a cycle path in places much better surfaced than the main road, along Loch Linnhe and briefly Loch Leven before reaching the village of Glencoe and its youth hostel. Dinner in the Clachaig Inn in the hills above the village with a retired Naval radio engineer rounded off the day. Hopefully the clothes washed in the hostel machine and currently in the drying room will be ok tomorrow as they are all I have!
Tomorrow - the bonny banks of Loch Lomond.
Take the high road Jim
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