A hundred mile drive to Tyndrum where we were to liaise with a group of friends who were riding the West Highland Way, a route for walkers, cyclists and horse riders from Fort William to Glasgow.
After some miserable chilly and mainly wet weather we are were glad to see a forecast of a pleasant dry day, hopefully not too hot for the riders.
We arrived with time to spare and had time for a cup of coffee while we waited.
They arrived before too long, but had had a few mechanicals, punctures and were one man down with a dislocated finger and broken brake lever...luckily not too far from Fort William. The ride so far had taken them much longer than expected, due to a steady headwind..so they called it a day!
We supplied rubdowns where needed, bananas and coffee, before having our lunch.
Our friends had parked one car in Tyndrum, and loaded it with bikes and bodies to return to the campsite in Fort William for showers and much-needed rest!! The other half of the Way will have to wait.
We drove five miles up the road, turned off and found a safe place to park.
A few photos first before heading down Glen Orchy on a beautiful single track road.
Off down the road, with a head wind... hopefully a tailwind back!
Then a surprise..we met a friend who we haven't seen for two years! He is a cyclist and an artist and teaches at the Glasgow School of Art..as does his partner whom we met for the first time. They were having a walking and swimming holiday in their nice old campervan.
On and on by the river down Glen Orchy, wondering do we turn back soon as we have to come back up this lot!
Then before we knew it we were almost at the main road to Oban and it was time to turn and retrace our wheeltracks.
Our hearts sank as the wind was in our faces, unexpectedly and it began to rain lightly. However as it was quite warm it was welcome, cooled us down and dried as soon as it landed!
I only walked a short section of one hill...but that energised my legs and onwards and upwards..
And back to the car after twenty miles!!
A quick change ,a bite to eat then escape from the midges and head for home.
Unfortunately that was the idea of a great many others and by the time we were halfway down Loch Lomond at Luss we were in a traffic jam, first and second gear, creep a few lengths then stop..for an hour..and then it rained heavily, with added thunder and lightning!!
We thought that it must be due to an accident..but when we arrived at the roundabout where the road goes to a dual carriageway..no jam!! Simply excess traffic flow.
Another fifty miles and we were home by 9.30. Tired but satisfied.
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