Apart from the three mile slog on the road from Spean Bridge back to Gairlochy, today’s walk was relatively easy. The route took us through woodland paths above Loch Lochy and occasionally alongside the loch. It was an attractive route, and towards the end of our walk we met up with Ian, who is walking LEJOG in aid of the hospice which cared for his Grandpa, and we enjoyed sharing information about our walk so far. We also met three American ladies walking the Great Glen Way. We all met up again on the Eagle Barge Inn, a Dutch Barge used as a pub, very welcome after a long walk! Here we joined two Danish guys, who were sailing round the world – it made our adventure sound insignificant! The socialising came to an end, when our taxi appeared to take us back to Spean Bridge.

A Backward Glance

On the road back down to Gairlochy we saw in the distance a young chap with a large rucksack and walking poles, but we never quite caught up with him and when we arrived at the end of Loch Lochy he appeared to head away in a different direction. After several hours of walking the north side of the Loch along forest logging tracks, beaches and tarmac, taking in views of distant high peaks, we sat on a fallen log at the side of the path for lunch (snack bars and water). As we finished, the young walker we nearly met when we first set out reappeared. A fellow LEJOGer! He’d met Greg and Victoria, who’d already arrived at JOG some days ago, and Sean, who was making good progress too and several days in front of us already. Later we met three charming ladies, two from America and one from Switzerland also walking the Great Glen Way. There’s no doubt in my mind now that all these Americans in Scotland at the moment are US government agents sent over here to prepare the way for making it their 51st state. Let’s face it, not long ago Donald met the Queen trying to get first refusal on Buckingham Palace, and now they’re adopting some of our Royal’s to use against us. If Haggis and Black Pudding wasn’t enough, soon it’s going to be Chlorinated Chicken on the menu too! When we got to the end of our walk we all met up on a barge called ‘The Eagle’ and enjoyed a convivial drink together in the company of a couple of Danes intent on sailing around the world and complaining all the time about our beer being ‘flat’. First they come over here pillaging and pinching all our beautiful women and now they want to unflatten our beer! It’s all kicking off up here in Scotland.