I could have stopped quite a bit sooner today. I saw a few good pitches as I was walking beside Loch Lomond and could easily have stopped. The thing is, I’d been quite lazy today. I didn’t get moving until 10am and then kept on distracting myself by things on the trail.

The first was my usual problem. The curse of the better picture. I see a scene and think, how amazing, so I take a picture. I then walk about 10 yards further and see another scene and think, how amazing – better than the last amazing, so I take a picture. This can go on for some time, and each photograph takes time because I have to stop, take my phone out of my pocket, take the picture, then struggle to put it back again, and finally walk on. So that’s the first thing.

The second was that I wanted to fly my drone. Now, the footage I took is pretty poor, I’ve done something silly with the settings I hope (rather than is being broken) and the colours look strange. I might include a picture here so you can see what I mean. I reckon my friend Iain could work out what I’ve done and how to fix the image. He will be consulted on my return. So, I flew the drone, then rested for a bit, so that took time.

The third, and I’m really pleased I did this. I actually think I genuinely deserved it, although maybe not today with my tardy start. But I went for a paddle in the Loch. I remember all around the SW coastal path I was longing to have a dip in the sea, especially on the really hot days, but I always felt too pressed for time. Well this time I thought it, and did it. My feet were very grateful despite the water being surprisingly cold.

So that was it, I wasn’t making much progress, although was having a terrific time and I realised that this would hurt the future me. I thought, yes, you could stop early. But that means that for the next 3 days more miles will have to be covered. So I decided to be kind to my future self and push on a bit. I’ve been really really kind was well. Not particularly in distance, but some of the latter part of the path next to Loch Lomond are really technical. Quite tough in places. Really enjoyable but you really needed your wits about you and definitely take your time. They reminded me of some of the more exposed and narrow cliff of the coastal path.

So the good news, those extra couple of hours and 5 or so miles means that I only need to average about 18 miles a day to get to Fort William which seems like a nice sensible pace. Thank you Ben! You’re welcome.

Sub optimal

So pressing on did mean walking a little later so I didn’t find a pitch until just before 8pm. Light wasn’t a concern as sunset isn’t until around 8:30pm at the moment and it stays light longer than that. It was just that a lot of the good flat ground near the Loch had been taken. I think this is definitely something I have now learnt. Maybe leaving a little earlier so that I can get a better choice of pitches would be a good idea. I’ve no idea what it’ll be like later in the walk but at the moment they’re not very plentiful. Well the good ones aren’t anyway.

My pitch isn’t flat at all and the undergrowth quite long, but all things considered I’m very happy with it. I’ve got a great view of the Loch and some snow splattered mountains so I really can’t complain. The slope does mean there is a danger I’ll roll into the Loch in the night but hopefully the tent will restrain me. Hey, not a bad first attempt.

Tomorrow I do plan to hit the trail a bit earlier though. One of the good things about wild camping is the lack of facilities. No shower, no shop, no bathroom. So you don’t have to take the time to use any of these and can just get on with your walk.

I’m also pretty excited to be heading past Loch Lomond and into the mountains as I passed a local couple half way through the day who I really liked. They asked if I was enjoying myself and how lucky we were with the weather. I said it was amazing and the man said it gets better. So this is going to be good.

Loch Lomond is big

I know this is obvious but when you walk along its side for a whole day, having already walked along in for some of the day before, and you’re still not at the end. Well, it makes you realise how big it is. I had heard that this part of the path is among the toughest on the West Highland Way. I didn’t believe that until I got to the more complex parts at the end of today then I realised what it meant.

It’s an amazing walk. I honestly can say I’ve enjoyed every minute. There are few short road sections but even they’re not bad and, I think, there is always a path. There are also so many different parts to it. A flattish bit at the start, then some narrow winding parts, then a climb into a forest, then down to some very difficult narrow sections close to the edge, and now into more of a meadow. I can’t believe all this variation is running down the side of one Loch. Often you come to little pebble beaches which always seem to have white trees. I’m not sure if the trees are dead or a certain type. I don’t know much about trees. But they really fit into the landscape but that landscape isn’t one I’m particularly family with. It feels very foreign but I really like it.

I know I’ve missed parts of the path out of my description. It feels like days ago when I left the campsite and it was only this morning. Shortly after I left I stood to the side of the path to let a runner get by. I passed her a little later because she had stopped to do something. When she passed me again she noticed I was taking a photograph and she stopped and offered to take one of me. She was so friendly and made me like all Scottish people immediately. She didn’t give me a chance to hold my stomach in for the photograph though so she wasn’t totally perfect. Honestly, thinking about this interaction, it feels so long ago.

Rucksack update

It’s better. Still not perfect but so so much better. Last night I watched a video on the manufactures website of how to fit it properly and to my relief, I’d been wearing it incorrectly. I’d had the hip belt too low on my hips and this was causing the shoulder straps to dig in as they were taking all the weight. And that’s not pleasant. Now the hip belt is in the correct position my shoulders feel better and it’s made the walk so much more enjoyable. I don’t think the rucksack is perfect yet, and I do think the padding is a bit stiff, but I’m going to make another minor tweak tomorrow and see how we get on. I feel a lot happier.

In other news, the umbrella belt attachment thingy was not needed today. Because, have I mentioned this, the weather is perfect. This can’t last but I’m enjoying it while I can. I can’t believe how lucky I get when I do hikes.

In even better news, I’ve worked out that I can carry sunglasses on my hat when I don’t want to wear them, negating the need for a sunglasses belt attachment thingy, and they only fall off when I bend down to get something out of my rucksack.

Same place, different side

One thing I’ve really enjoyed is watching the road on the other side of the Loch. I’ve driven on that road a few times and it’s quite difficult. Often there are coaches and camper vans having to go slow to get around the beds. It’s definitely a road to be patient on. It’s funny how much noise the motorbikes make as they’re constantly trying to overtake. Make me think about my biking. I think that’s why I don’t really like group rides because the pressure to keep up can be quite stressful. And probably a bit dangerous. I think I’m more of a slow and enjoy the view type biker.

I think this side of the Loch is better. I’m being biased but I think you see more. Or maybe that’s because I’m doing 2 miles and hour and not stuck behind a bus.

Another part I was trying to see on the other side was a beach where my children were stone skimming on our way back from the Caledonian Canal. A nice memory. I think that was further south though so I didn’t see it this time. Here’s a picture from the past.

However, I did manage to spot the tourist information centre with the big car park that’s handy for a break when driving towards Fort William. That was easy to spot because of the large hydro electric plant next to it.