Friday, May 23, 2008

WHW in Pictures-messed up formatting.

"The stane that lay not in yer gait, will ner strike yer taes" - something of a Gaelic proverb, found in the Aluminium Story, Kinlochleven.












The obelisk marks the Start at Milngavie (pronounced 'mull-guy' with a Scottish slant). To follow the abstract thistle the rest of the Way.



















1st night at Drymen. B&B pictured in distance, of lesser importance than the tulips.




Slow worm!! Neither snake nor worm, it is a legless lizard. I put it aside lest some heavily chatting walker should crush its head. We had just seen it on BBC the night before, filmed on the Isle of Arran. That we saw it made our trip feel charmed. Here's possibly a female, with definite lines on the side and the absence of blue spots that males have.
My new favourite animal after the eel. 





 









Where our Sainsbury FCs toilet paper went?











On Conic Hill (1200 ft) for lunch. At this point we still loved oaties with tinned mackerels.











Scotland's capable of heat too. Leaning on a Waymarker that was a constant companion, appearing right before we think of turning around in doubt.





 









Highland Cow. Morech?


















Bark Art.
















Drinking from my Platypus, although the water that flavours the whiskey did seem appealing.



 










OK. Gaiters were a stupid idea.















The antics of Christopher DeShield, my very charming walking companion.



 














a Confident stride. He Did work with Jersey cows.



 













Mince and Tatties.






























The Sun came out, and cheesily took my breath away. King James .....endowed St. Fillian's chapel, now in ruins

















Cemetry. St. Fillian, a patron saint of travelling if we recall correctly. Check with catholic encyclopedia.com



 


 











Legend of the Loch of the Lost Sword - Robert the Bruce's. 









Bridge of Orchy - THE most enchanting Bunkhouse ever. An old train station/rail house transformed. 6 stars. Little lights for each bunk.











4 trains passed, and at one point, while watching Titanic with a walking mate, we were sandwiched between 2 trains and lots of curious passengers. 




 
 











Sketching the place.













Loch Leven on self-timer.













Chris made a daisy chain for me. Always learning something new about your other.














Caution. Falling sheep. Not in this compilation is an upclose we took of a decomposing sheep 4 feet from Christopher. Vertebrae in shatters.


















Loch Leven and its wild flowers. Big one's with me.





























Ben Nevis, Britain's highest at 4406 ft. Almost end of the Way. 




 












Nevis and Chris.




 













153 km. Done.

















Hats off.













Post walk - a part of where we walked over and across from the Bus. The rewind in 3 hours.





 







Forest Caution! I found this highly dramatic and theatrical.





 













Visuals that would supposedly keep us off.


















Syntax ambiguity. This could be a warning or just really, really improperly said.


 








"This (could be) is (found) Art"

  





On the 34 km stretch, with Devil's Staircase up ahead. Name said to be more intimidating than path, as it was the building of the staircase by soldiers long ago that was hell, not the climb. I didn't even realise we were on the Staircase although it was uphill.













:: Just keep on walking.





 










Cheers!

West Highland Way


We, Christopher & I in the company of some quality people finished the West Highland Way last week. 
West Highland Way: An official long distance route completed in 1980, Scotland starts at Milngavie, north of Glasgow and ends at Fort William, in the highlands. Historically used by soldiers, pilgrims, drovers and cattle-folk and passes over grounds of battles, legends, endowments of etc.

Distance (map): 153 km (95miles) 
Our accomplished plan: 
Milngavie -|19km|- Drymen -|24km|- Rowardennan -|32km|- Crianlarich -|21km|- Bridge of Orchy -|34km|- Kinochleven -|23km|- Fort William
Guide: Blessed weather, fellow Companions, couple of Pints and Rucksack Readers.