West Highland Way Complete

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Well here we are back in Glasgow after completing the glorious West Highland Way. "Not easy," says Don. A three hour train ride back to Glasgow today from Fort William was quite a shock considering it took us ten days to do the same route on foot due to horrible colds, injuries and the staggering weight of our packs. (We broke down and used a pack service to shuttle them ahead of us for most of it) It was quite an interesting trek and took far longer than we had expected but full of incredible scenery and wonderful people. At the start of the hike we were on our own, and by the end, we had a small family of fellow travelers who each understood our every ache and pain. Absolutely incredible hike... A few highlights of our hike might include: Feral goats, midges (a fraction of the size of a mosquito, but far worse), being sick with a full pack, having beers at Kingshouse and meeting the greatest bunch (hail to the famous grouse and feeling fresh as a buttercup the next day!), sideways rain up devil's staircase, gorgeous towns, wild camping, chips and curry, endless waterfalls and streams, ruined cottages, incredible mushrooms and flowers..... on and on we could go.

We spent the last few days in Fort William, the Cameron homeland. Through the course of the hike Susan's achilles flared up terribly which resulted in a cascade of about three other injuries.... Which needless to say cancelled our original plans to continue on the Great Glen Way to Inverness... Another time, another time. Don wandered around Fort William while Susan watched awful British television gameshows. He felt quite at home due to the local thugs and was unnerved by the ubiquitousness of the name Donald Cameron on every plaque and monument he passed. Even the B&B owner Albert was a little hesitant about renting to one of the Cameron clan.


Far too many photos to post at this time (especially with the internet rates in the UK). We are now realizing that updating this lovely site of ours is quite a task and difficult to plan but we will spend what time we can now to record and work on a more detailed site when we return. Tomorrow we plan to take the ferry to Northern Ireland (Belfast) for one night's stay. The following day will be a bus journey North to Portstewart which will be our gateway to natural and cultural wonders.. (The Giant's Causeway, Carrik-a-Reid Rope Bridge and the Bushmill's Distillery).

It would take many hours to recount even a brief on our adventures so far, so we will leave you all with this and hope to post some select photos soon. Take care!

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Photos

Picture 002
The soaking walk from Glasgow to Milngavie - Day One of the hike

Picture 003
Tent life

Picture 004
The official start of the West Highland Way

Picture 009
Loch Lomond

Picture 010
Loch Lomond

Comments

[Tomoe]

Midges!
Oh no, midges! How's the repellent spray working? Awesome photos. Beautiful places and beautiful people. :-)

[Kathleen]

Yeah! More Pics
HI again, Thanks again for the pics. I love the country side and Wow! those mushrooms are awesome! And the sunset at Loch Lomond is Beautiful. If you can find an Avon rep. buy some Skin so Soft for those midges. Susan I am sorry to tell you.....you have missed all the fun of the E-Line move. Now we feel like mice in a maze. Actually, it is all much better and we should have all the bugs worked out by the time you get back. I know you can't wait and are counting the days! Hey, is that Don on the Box of the Scott's porage oats? (Pic 59) And don't forget to keep your eyes open for those Highland piles of POO. Miss you!

[Carmen]

Thanks for sharring!
Love the mushrooms! I always wondered if there really were little red ones with white spots like the knolls live in. And all the scenery is gorgeous. Looks like fun people.

[Kelly & Michael]

The Highland-Crew
It was an awesome time with you guys, hope we see us again. Members of the Crew (Kelly and Michael) PS: Raise yor glas and yell: FREEDOM

[John [Buffalo]]

Kingshouse Hotel [Sober and Drunk]
Don & Susan, Hope your still enjoying your travels, Ireland is a great place but not as nice as Scotland. Stuart and I finished the walk and made it home, the leg transplant was supposed to take place this weekend but I’ve decided that it can wait, till after the pub. Like you we were deflated with the 3 hour train journey but to be honest we were more pissed off that the pub at the sign was closed and we had to walk a further mile to get a pint. I’ve told everyone the Kingshouse is the official drinking stop of the WHW, keep the grouse flowing.

[olivercameron]

From the Wild Grouse and the Buttercup
Good to hear from you! You are right about Ireland, we miss Scotland with a fury. Susan's limp is finally dissappearing.. and Don is horrified at the price of pints here. How will one ever drink the mighty grouse on a budget?! Are you up for WHW round two in a couple of years? Say hello to Stuart and give him a "big boy" from both of us!

[Mauriann]

Close to my "homeland"
After reading about where you're going in Northern Ireland, you're actually closer to my homeland than you think! Apparently (after doing a little research), as you look across the North Coast from the Promenade in Portstewart, you can see the Inishowen Peninsula of Donegal, and that's it! That's where both sets of grandparents and where my mom was born. Your adventure is amazing! Can't wait to see and hear more...cheers to both of you! Mo

[Bully4You]

Hi from Bham
Hi guys! Sounds like fun -- looks wet there. We just had more than 2 weeks of constant sun, but the rain has arrived again. Ah, October. I'm 40 now, so that's good, and Don can feel relieved that the deal we had about me turning 40 and my old maid status is no longer an issue. By Nov. 1st I won't be an old maid anymore! Emmett says howdy. Joe says howdy. Have fun! When do you come home again?

[Kelly n Mike]

Hey lads !
So hello again. I sent you both a private email but Mike didnt get a reply. I guess you are quite busy with your travels. Hows Ireland?? I bet they can pound back a few pints or two hahaha. Please send us a line when you can we are thinking about you both. We finally got the stink out of our clothes and the aches and pains are long gone! LOL MISS U GUYS!! Next stop we hope one day soon is Germany... Be safe n have fun!! Mike n Kelly