It’s amazing how a little gesture by someone can make someone else’s day. It doesn’t have to be something big. Just a small act of kindness, can make all the difference.

When I was walking on a lot of roads on the Outer Hebrides, it always made me feel happy if a driver waved to me. If that wave was also accompanied by a warm smile I’d be lifted by the thought there were nice people out there. Because, let’s face it, most people are nice, it’s just sometimes easy to forget. One bad act seems to beat multiple good ones – which doesn’t really seem like a fair fight.

Today, when the tracking on my website stopped working, Tom messaged me to check all was well. He suspected, and rightly so, a technical issue, but I like to think he was checking in on me. Another reason for me to feel good – knowing there are people looking out for you.

There have been many times on this trip where a smile, a quick conversation, a kind message, or just being friendly has made all the difference, and I think has helped me to carry on. Not that I’m doing anything extraordinary, but I have found it hard at times.

Tonight will be my last night on the trail. I have to be honest, I’m ready for it to end now. It’s been a fantastic journey, and I’ve seen some amazing views and met some lovely people, but I have found it hard work, abeit rewarding hard work, and I’m ready to go back to the world where it’s easy to be warm and dry, and I can eat and drink whatever I want, whenever I want.

So it’s definitely in the spirit of my trip that my last night has been impacted by an act of kindness.

I was going to try to get to Balmaha today and then camp on Conic Hill. I thought it’d be an interesting last pitch and also would leave me less than 20 miles to walk on my last day. I was getting a bit worried about this plan as it was getting close to sunset, I still had a few miles to go, and my feet were tired. As I was about to go past the Cashel Campsite (one I’d previously used) I noticed that it looked open. I thought I was looking at some kind of mirage. No campsites would surely be open in mid November.

But it looked open. I started to dream. I could shower. I could use the toilets. I’d be pitched up before dark. I could stop walking for the day. All my worries would just disappear. I decided to risk it – I’d go and see.

I was greeted by a really nice lady. Of course I could camp here. She said Conic Hill would have been very cold and instead of freezing up there I could set up here and even have a warm shower. My relief was immeasurable. I can’t describe it. A man then came along and suggested I get set up quickly because as soon as the sun dropped behind the hills it would get very cold. So, after treating myself to a picnic bar and bottle of coke from the shop I headed to the field to get pitched up.

It’s funny, I’d gone from a state of anxiety, feeling the need to rush to get somewhere, and now I was relaxed and calm, just moments later. I set up, and then went for a shower. Just aAn hour before none of this seemed possible – it wasn’t even a consideration. Back at the tent, I made myself a hot chocolate, and settled down to drink it.

Then I heard a lady calling my name. It was the campsite owner who’d checked me in earlier. She had two hot water bottles in her hands, full of hot water, and gave them to me. She said she’d refresh them for me later if I wanted as it was going to be very cold.

What an absolutely, amazing, lovely thing to do for someone. I hope I thanked her enough. I felt so cared for. It was so kind. I put the bottles at the bottom of my quilt and soon had nice toastie warm feet.

This trip has been amazing on so many levels.

I’m not Cinderella

I wasn’t cold over night so I didn’t think the threatened low temperatures had occurred. It had rained initially when I got into my tent so I thought it’d probably be a bit warmer. When I woke though I could see that there was condensation in the tent and that the fly was iced up. On the plus side though I could see a clear brightening sky so, even though very cold, it was going to be a dry day. Even on cold days, once walking it can feel quite warm. It’s probably, during daylight hours anyway, better than walking in the summer.

I started packing up my stuff inside the tent and, as I went to put my shoes on, encountered my first problem. As my shoes had been quite wet, one of them, I guess the one nearest the outside of the tent, was like solid ice. I couldn’t get my foot in. Its shape was warped and for a long time I was unable to manipulate it back to the correct, shoe shape. The laces were solid as well.

I did wonder, as in the fairytale, how many attempts I’d have to put on the shoe before it was declared not mine. Fortunately, after about 10 minutes of trying to warm it up, further manipulation, and then a bit of brute force, I managed to get it on. I had never experienced anything like it.

When packed up, and as I started walking, I noticed I had a similar issue with the straps on my poles. They were stiff with ice as well, although soon melted with the heat from my hands.

With all this icing up I was worried about the state of the path. Especially this section next to Loch Lomond that can be quite tricky even with good conditions. For some reason, that I don’t really understand, the path was not icy. It felt like it should have been. I’m really very fortunate it wasn’t as this section with ice would have been a problem.

Lets underestimate it one more time

The section of the West Highland Way that runs next to Loch Lomond is long. Half of it as least is quite difficult as well. I don’t think I’ll even learn how long it is, and if I was to walk it again, I would make the same mistake.

I think it’s because a lot of time is spent with a view of the loch, but through trees. So a lot of it seems very familiar. Many times I thought I was getting near the end, when I was in fact nowhere near. Other times I’d think I’d completed all the tricky parts, only to come across more.

I’m still next to it now in my campsite. And I started the day next to it. It’s a long section. I only averaged about 2mph for the day where on other parts of the trail I’ve been at 3mph. I don’t think I was trying any less hard today, so I think those figures say it all.

Did I mention the cold

Today the weather was superb. After yesterday’s snow that was most welcome. I did wonder if this was the best time to walk the path as it feels like summer (while you’re walking), you don’t really sweat because it’s cold, and there are no crowds. When I suggested this to someone out for a walk, he pointed out that this type of day was rare, and I was therefore wrong. Which sort of pleases me, because if everyone started walking it all year round, I wouldn’t have the place, pretty much, to myself.

So, back to the weather. I got away with the ice today. But, it’s going to be colder overnight and into tomorrow. So will I get away with it again? I have Conic Hill tomorrow, and if that is icy, it might not be wise to attempt it. Also, I’ve never been to Drymen so might be worth a diversion. It’s certainly a consideration.

I think I’ll just have a look tomorrow and see what looks like the sensible thing.