Today was a good day, as we didn’t have to carry our rucksacks! We set off on the West Highland Way on good paths up into the hills, seeing plenty of walkers on our route. We climbed up to Conic Hill with amazing views down to Loch Lomond – a shame about the mist! Unfortunately it has been a coats on, coats off day, with intermittent drizzle whilst warm and humid. From the hill, we descended to the Loch and had refreshments at Balmaha, a real tourist spot, which explains the numbers climbing Conic Hill! The rest of our walk was on an undulating path meandering through forest beside the Loch, with less walkers. Towards the end of our walk, we realised that we had probably spent too long over our picnic lunch, and had to walk swiftly, as we had booked a taxi to collect us at Rowardennan and return us to our hotel.

A Backward Glance

Setting off today after a full day’s rest leaving our heavy rucksacks behind us, Carol was positively skipping up the slopes to Conic Hill on the way to Balmaha. A middle aged couple were coming down towards us and were nearly knocked over by Carol as she sped past them. They recovered themselves and nearly bumped into a shabby old man, red faced puffing and panting, staggering upwards about fifty feet behind her. They gave him a reassuring smile and told him he was doing really well but he didn’t have to rush. He explained he did because his carer had run off ahead with his sandwiches and energy meds. They both looked back up the slope behind them with concern and asked what she looked like. He replied like Jessica Ennis with walking sticks and pointing at the woman, said “just like you”. “I don’t have walking poles she replied”. “No, but do you have my sandwiches?” he asked. They both smiled and wished him a good day, warning him about the incoming rain that was forecast. At the hill top there were a great many who had walked up from Balmaha Car Park to enjoy the splendid views over Loch Lomond and hills beyond. It wasn’t raining, but a brisk wind and angry looking sky was not persuading many to picnic. The walk down to Balmaha was steeper than our walk up from Drymen but well paved and covered in walkers. After enjoying crisps and a drink at a small cafe in Balmaha, Carol left the table to visit a public toilet she’d noticed on the way down. When she returned her face was like thunder, “50p to wee” she exploded. (That’s Ten Bob in real money!). Having spent the last three months wild peeing, she quickly disappeared into the cafe looking for a place of convenience. We continued our walk, which was for the most part up and down through woodland along the shoreline of Loch Lomond, with a steep climb at the end, to rendezvous with our taxi ride back to Drymen.