Knoydart part II, Skye and Loch Carron.

Hi all.

I am in Strathcarron, at the north tip of Loch Carron.

Here are a few more pictures form the fairy tale forest.

Snow white and the dwarfs...

A happy family...


The owl that spoke to me...!

As I was saying yesterday before I was kicked out of Kyle library, Dyeison and myself went "hunting" stags. it was really hard and did not get any shot of them. The scenery though was beautiful, and managed to have lunch in one the of the rain breaks.

Dyeison at the top!

We walked chasing the herds of deers (not that we thought we would catch them) and descended back to the valley through a steep gorge with stream.

Amazing views from the top of the ridge.

We recover the rucksacks and walked the track that would take us to Inveire. We were very hungry and tired, and the only thing in our minds was :"Venison pie, venison pie, venison pie..."

Full belly, having a "few" drinks.

We arrived to the bunk house at about six pm. Karen, Lyndon, Jez and Dan were there. It was a pleasure to see them again, and have a shower.... and knowing that we had a table at the Old Forge for 7:15.

We ate and drink and had a wonderful night. Dyeison and i had a Venison burger, each, and then we shared a lamb leg with mash potato and a salad, plus desert, Irish coffee, and a nice mixture of shiraz, whiskeys and red cuillin ( a nice ale form Skye). One of the best meals of my life.

Back in the Bunk house, I slept like a baby.

On the ferry to Mallaig. Quick pic, and back in again! It was very wet!

On Monday we got up early to get the ferry (small boat) to Mallaig. No breakfast, just get our things and go. It was a rainy miserable day. Half way to the pier, I realize that something was missing: i had left the flag in the bunk house. It was "so good" to run back with a 20 kgr rucksack, wearing the poncho, in the rain.... Morning exercise. I made it on time.

Mallaig's Harbour

The ferry was a small boat, and took us to Mallaig in 30 minutes. In Mallaig we had breakfast. Dyeison, Jeremi and Dan left on the 10 am train, I made some shopping and stayed with Karen and Lyndon for lunch. They were taking 2 pm steam train to Fort William to continue their holiday, but I left a bit earlier looking for place to update the blog.

There was a computer in the library, but it would log off every 30 minutes, so not long enough for the update. I had a look at my e-mail and put the music that Phil had sent to me in my MP3.

I rediscovered U2. Songs like "So cruel" from Achgtun baby, and "If you wear that velvet dress" from Pop. Genius!!! http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6snI72LGfP4

Thank you so much Phil!!

The huge ferry from Mallaig to Skye

I took 4 pm ferry to Skye. Unlike early morning, the sun was shining. The wind was blowing strongly and made quite a few pictures of the west side of Knoydart and the south of SkyeKnoydart from the ferry

The first thing that called my attention from Skye was the clarity of its coast water. The landscape reminded me somewhere in England, maybe somewhere in Devon or Cornwall... at least this part of the Isle: Armadale. There was supposed to be a hostel just in Armadale, but it had closed. A local told me that there was another one not far, a couple of miles away following the coast. It was sunny, and I really enjoyed the walk.

Mainland form Armadale in Skye

The hostel was in Kilmore, up the hill from the main road. McDonald hostel. It was a small place, family run.

After eating, i borrowed a bike, without breaks to go to the pub back in Armadale. On my way, I was hit on my head by a disorientated bat. In the pub I could see Man U.-Portsmouth (footy is back, woohoo!) and updated my diary. They had Red Cuillin, which was good.

I cycled back to the hostel under an amazing stars sky.

On Tuesday, for my walk in Skye weather had turned ugly again, and it drizzled constantly, all day long. The landscape changed and from the road I was walking on, all I could see were low moor land covered on heather. It was not a fun walk, to be honest, and all i wanted was getting to Kyleakin, and rest in the hostel I had booked.

Skye Bridge from Kyleakin

Dun Cann hostel, a really cosy one, and family run, was a real pleasure. It is in Kyleakin harbour and overlooked the Skye bridge. The atmosphere was excellent and there was people from New Zealand, Canada, and England, all of them travelling in Scotland. I went to the nearby pub where I try to update the blog, but the computer did not work very well, so i just had a couple of Red Cuillins and went back to the hostel, where i carefully planned the route to Tongue, on the north coast.

The cuillins from Skye bridge

It resulted to be a complicated way, with no villages, apart from the Ullapool area, just very few roads,...

...and a gap between paths where I will have to walk in what for the moment is an unknown terrain and follow a river up hill to find a good crossing point.

I finished the planning a bit nervous, and I went to bed a bit nervous about the walking days coming.

On Wednesday, yesterday, the weather had changed for better again and i could take a few good pictures of the Cuillins (the mountains, nothing to do beer ... for once) from the bridge that took me to mainland again.

In Kyle of Lochalsh I made yesterday slow and frustrating update, in its library. I should say though that they were very patient and kind and let me log in again and again every half an hour so I could do my thing. They shut for lunch and i went for an orange juice (and I mean an orange juice, I swear) and i put dates to my walking plan to Tongue.

I felt better, compared to yesterday unsettling nervousness, when i realize that I had more than enough time to get to Melvick on time, where I will meet Karen on the 8th of sept. to do the two last days together. I think I will have one, two or three spare days, which is always good.

Back to the library, and then I continued to walk following the road that runs by the coast towards Loch Carron. The walk was a pleasure, lifted by the music that Phil had sent to me. The scenery reminded me the west coast of Ireland.... wait a minute, I have never been there, but it is true that when I saw this place, "west coast of Ireland" came to my mind automatically; I guess, that I must have seen a program in telly or something.

Anyway, the place is gorgeous, but mainly, you can breath calmness and tranquility there. Small houses spread in small villages in the heather moorland.

Special mention to Diurinis. If you want tranquility, go there.

Diurinis

After this coastal bit, the road went a bit inland, through a conifer forest and by Loch Lundie. This place was not Knoydart, but there undoubtedly was a feeling of loneliness and isolation in it.

Ria de Vigo?? No, Loch Carron.

The road went back down to the coast and I began walking by Loch Carron. The water reminded me "La Ria de Vigo" (Maria, Ruth? Are you there????!). It is quite a wide one and in the distance I could see one of those floating things they use to grow mussels and other seafood.

Me at Loch Carron

It did not rain in the whole day, but it was being pretty gloomy. There was no camp sites or hostels on the way, so I had to look for a place to pitch my tent. Just a few miles before the end of the Loch, there was a gate that led into a path. I put my tent in the beginning of the path. The place was quite wet, and the midges attacked again, not in the King's House numbers, but were a pain in the arse.

Once I was in the tent, it rained again. I write my diary, read the newspaper (if you are wondering, I updated the diary in the office, and read the newspaper, comfortably, seating in a sofa in the lounge; this tent of mine, is amazing!). Had just a bit of bread for dinner. Mum: don't worry, I am not wasting away, before dinner, I had just had an addict attack and ate a whole pack of choc. biscuits and a whole choc. bar...

Loch Carron

This morning rained a little bit as well. But stopped as i got out of the tent. I kept on walking by Loch Carron. I big clear opened just on top of the Loch, illuminating the North side of it (I was in the north one), and photographed a nice rainbow.

The Loch finishes in Strathcarron where I am now. There is a train station, a restaurant and hotel, an art gallery (there are galleries almost in every house in this place; not surprised, the scenery is inspiring) and a post office with food store where I am now. It is not being cheap or extremely quick, but I am managing to update the blog properly.

From here I will walk 2 or 3 hours more to the hostel in Craig. Tomorrow, off road again towards Kinlochewe.

That was all. I feel better now that I got it updated. Next one?, I don't know.

All the best

Carlos

Knoydart part I

Hi all

I am in Kyle of Lochlash. I am finding increasingly difficult to get my blog updated as I go further north. Computers just don't exist or if they do, "just for half an hour" and that is not enough to update this space.

Here are a few pictures to that proofs that the fairy tale forest was not part of my imagination or an effect of having had some magic mushrooms:

The nymph...

Gnomes...!

The ghost...!

On friday the 22nd I met Jeremi, Dan, Dyeison, Karen and Lyndon to walk the Knoydart peninsula. I walked for hour and a half to Invergarry on the main road, the A82. We were supposed to meet at 2 pm. They were slightly late so i waited reading the Times and having a few Red Cuillins; nice ale!

When they arrived, I was quite merry, and had a whiskey before leaving.

Getting the camp ready. Headnets for midges on!!

We took a taxi to Kinloch Hourn (this is not cheating as the road goes westbound, so did not take me closer to John O'Groats). The road runs by a Loch surrounded by low hills a conifer small woods. It has something special, and the feeling of isolation, as we were supossed to find in this place, is present since the very beginning. The single track road left the loch to continue windingly and up and down. The "campsite" is in a valley where there are a couple of farms, in the west end of Loch Hourn. We found a place to pitch our tents and did quickly while the midges were beginning to be a pain. Dyeison was in charge of lighting the fire.

Chilling out around the fire

On that night we had a nice stars sky, and drank and ate around the fire. Just before bed we could see the moon coming out behind the hills surrounding us. It took one minute, a real magic moment. Then Dan, Jez, Dyeison and me looked at the moon for minutes, like hypnotised.

On saturday, after a nice full English breakfast we walked on the south edge of Loch Hourn. The path run very close to the salty water, and went up and down the low hills surrounding the loch. The weather was good, no sunny though, but rain and wind was forecast. We stopped several times for some water, or biscuits and chocolate, and had lunch on a nice beach from where we could see the isle of Rum.

Jeremi walking very close to Loch Hourn water

From there we changed direction into Knoydart, Southwestbound, into a steep valley. The weather changed, and became wet and very windy. The steep and uncomfortable climb led us to a summit form where we could see Gleann an Dubh-Lochain valley. The place runs from east to wast towards Loch Nevis and has a nice lake on its west end before the sea. The valley is surrounded by almost 1000 metres high mountains and in the middle has a mini hill range 200-300 metres high approx. We went down the valley on a path on the north slopes of it heading west. From the path I saw what what looked like Highlands cows, but Lyndon's binoculars made clear that they were stags!! I got very excited, and thought on maybe getting a good picture of one of them if i got lucky enough!!

In good company

We all were thinking on finding a good spot to pitch our tents before the weather got really nasty. Almost at the bottom of the valley, before reaching the lake but not too far and by the last hill of the small central ridge of the valley, we spotted a small green that could make as our wild camp site. Dyeison went down through the rough and steep heather, crossed the stream and checked how wet the grass was. Thumbs up. We all went down and pitched the tents as quick as possible.

I went for a quick look from the small hill (around 60 m. high) we were camping by. I grabbed my camera, and borrowed Lyndon's binoculars just in case. From the top of the hill I looked east towards the small central ridge using the binoculars: nice water fall in the distance and and heather moorland. Noting else. I was going to go back, when I saw a dark red stain moving. The binoculars showed me a big stag, at about 400 meters, moving down the hill from the central range towards me. I got really really excited....

Through the binoculars I could see that there were several big knolls around the area where the deer was going that i could use to hide in order to get closer. But in order to use them I needed to be at the other side of the small hill where i was. So, I run back around this hill, away from the stag sight, and surrounded it losing height so that on approach to the animal, the small knolls would hide me. I used the principle, "if i can see him, he can't see me". I ran on the boggy heather trying to keep the knolls between me and where I thought the deer was. I got increasingly excited because I was getting very close. At the same time I was preparing my camera, running and watching out for any sight of the deer coming out behind the knolls. It was really good fun... Hunter!!!!!!

I crawled up one of the knolls and had a look. I saw it!, very close, but not close enough. there was another knoll, that would let me get real close. I ducked and moved towards it. And there it was!!! 20 metres perhaps??.

The light was very poor, and used ISO3200, and -2.0 eV correction, and even with that i only could have 1/15 shutter speed at 300 mm, and a not completely steady shot, even with the VR system of the lens.. the heart beating like crazy did not help neither.

And here it is.

Got him!!

The picture is crap (very noisy although the noise reduction system was on, and not sharp, and with no natural colours; I apply in-camera D-lighting feature to get a bit more light), but I got really close to him!!

I got back to where the tents were, 3 or 400 metres away, very happy and excited.

We had something to eat. Dyeison tried hard with the fire, but it was impossible; it was really wet, and raining. We had our drinks in Lyndon's and Karen's tent. Nice night.

Wind speed increases though, and it was really difficult sleep that night... excepting dyeison that slept like a baby the whole night.

On sunday, Dyeison and myself wrapped our tents in a plastic sheet borrowed form Lyndon and went "hunting" deers. The rest, the sensible ones, headed to the pub in Inverie. We had been seeing big herds of male and female deers during the morning in at the top of the ridges. So exciting!!

A picture for Dyeison's and my adventure.

We carried just the camera and a bit of food. We climbed straight up the slopes of the south of the valley. Hard work, very hard work, and it was wet and cold and raining. We saw herds of deers in the distance, and a female and a calf very close to us, but did not get a good picture opportunity....

... and that is all for the moment. Let me underline my frustration for this shortage of time and resources for updating my blog. I'll be looking for a place for continuing with it as soon as possible.

All the best and see you soon,... very soon.

Carlos

Did not try them

Caledonian Canal and Loch Lochi. And a fairy tale...

Hi all.

I am in a youth hostel two miles south of Invergarry, just in the north tip of Loch Lochi.

I don't know how to extract the pics from my camera in this computer, so no images this time. I could wait til tomorrow and see if I can find an Internet place in the village, but i might find that there is none, and I don't know when I will have the chance to update the blog next- from now on, lots of mountains, and paths, and nature, but civilization diminish north of here.

On wednesday started walking at 5:30 pm, after 5 tiring hours of blog updating. I left Fort William not without certain sadness as i had such a fantastic time there. I walked by the Caledonian canal. The day was grey, and I was not sure if i would make it to the camping, just before the beggining of Loch Lochi. No a big problem, i had my torch, i could do wild camping, and the path was actually a track that a car could use.

I got to the campsite at 10 pm, in complete darkness and in the middle of an unpleasant drizzle. No dinner, not even a shower. Straight into the tent, and sleep. I was very tired.

Today, more rain in the morning. My tent soaked in the outside, and some small paddles in the inside. I dried what I could. This bloody weather is beggining to....! well, i don't think the weather will care if i like it or not, if i get frustrated or not, if i want sun and a dry field to pitch my tent, so, I just take as it comes, and expect for the best. Sigh!

I had more drizzle on and off, but it was not too bad (if hadn't bloody had it for the last two or three weeks!!!!.... easy, easy, take it easy...). The path that runs in the north side of Loch Lochi was very easy to walk.

It goes into a small wood, not far from the beggining of the loch. Just there, guess who i saw!:

Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. No, I had not been smoking any kind of "plant" or drinking any kind of "juice". Sorry I can't show the pictures, now; I'll do it when i can. Then I noticed that they were welcoming to the Fairy Tale Wood. Between the first few trees i could see more wonders: a gorgeous tiny nymph smiled at me. I went into the forest, and i saw more dwarfs, and even gnomes, and there was a swamp with crocs and lizards and horrible spiders and worms, and a family of cats, a huge bear, and wild animals like monkeys elephants and tigers... I also bumped into a teddy bears meeting, saw clowns and even a ghost!!

An old owl said goodbye to me with deep voice. I continued my way.

The path turned into a good track, following still the the loch. My boots were hurting me a bit more than the last few days before getting to Fort William, and just after 4 hours walking I felt knackered. have I lost my fitness with the week rest?? I don't think so, maybe just a bad day.

I arrived to the hostel at 5:30. Tomorrow i will meet Jez, Karen, Lyndon, Dan and Dyeison to walk the Knoydart peninsula. After that, a bit of Skye and then more mainland northbound with Craig.

That is all for the moment.

Take care  and write to you soon.

Carlos

Fort William

"...Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in..." (From "American Beauty" screenplay)

To Claire, Ben, Sally, Anna, Craig, Graemme, Sam, Alexia; Lorraine, Graemme, Brad, Garreth; Sonja, Ira; Michael and Malte.

All of them part of my week in Fort William.

Once in a life time.

Carlos

Blue, sliding doors and the rest of my life...

*Apologies to Paul* :(

Hi all.

I am in Fort William. Today, after updating my blog, I will walk following the Great Glen W northeast towards Invergarry.

A&E

How could I begin? This is not one more blog update. I have just had one of the best weeks of my life. I have met some amazing people.

Last Wednesday, after the last blog update, I was just knackered. Did some shopping and took the bus to the hostel, that is 2 miles away form Fort William in the Nevis Valley, just at the base of Ben Nevis. I ate, had a shower, and headed to the pub for diary updating and beer.

It was then that I met Graemme and Lorraine. I had seen them before meeting. Graemme stood up for ordering something and stopped by my table and offered me a drink. Spoke for a while standing up. I was not feeling like talking, to be honest, and I really wanted to finish with the diary, but he invited me to joining them. I did, which was a great thing to do.


Lovely Graemme and Lorraine

They are form South Africa, and live in Nottingham. Came to England 10 years ago. They were on Holiday with their two boys and Lorraine's mum and dad, just in one of the bungalows next to the hostel. We had a good night on Wednesday, and we would probably meet the next day in the West Highland games.



Music in the games

On Thursday morning I met Michael in town. Before that I made a phone interview for La Nueva Espana, an Asturias regional newspaper. We did some shopping, had the first of the day, and headed for the games. There we met Malte (sorry if I misspell your name), a German guy that had walked the WHW at the same time as we did. We stayed together and saw the games.
I met Graemme, Lorraine and their two boys, and her mum too.

Scottish power in action!

The games finished quite late, around 9, and Michael, Malte and I were quite tired. "...yeah, time to go home,... I am knackered, ... yeah me too,.... well, actually, shall we have one?" It was, you know, one of those times when you go for one.... and another, and another... Beer, nice whiskeys.
Live music. Michale loved the singer! What a good night!

Having "one". Malte is actually less pissed than he looks like in the pic...

Time to go. Said goodbye to Michael and Malte, and got ready for the 50 minutes walk to the hostel. (no buses at that time of the night). But I got a taxi eventually. £8. Too much! From now on I walk, I thought.

Before leaving the taxi I saw a couple of girls chilling out outside the hostel. I recognised them. I had seen them the night before in the pub. My week began to change...

Said hello, we spoke for a minute, and sat down with them. Sonja and Ira. German.
They were wearing mountain gear (they've been at the top of Ben Nevis), barefoot, with their feet resting on their rucksacks. They were traveling in Scotland, planned to go to Edinburgh festival and Ireland.
They were really nice, and took out of one of their rucksacks one of those things you always carry when you climb Ben Nevis: a bottle of Greek sweet wine, and three glasses. I took out some bread, cheese and chorizo.

Sonja and Ira

We shared, the wine, the food and watched telly.

This encounter, really stroke me hard. Maybe it was nothing, maybe it was just the way I take things, but really hit me hard.
Since I moved to 17 April Close, in February, everything had been equilibrium, and peace, and knowing what I was doing, and sensibly happy. When I said goodbye to Ira and Sonja, everything changed, they left me feeling the blues, that kind of sweet sadness,... melancholy??. Once again, just maybe the way I take things...
They were kind of an inspiration, the way they were traveling, the way they were taking life on those very moments.

On Friday I woke up with the same down feeling. However, the guy in the mirror had a silly subtle smile on his face...
Many things went through this head.... strange ideas like keep on walking, when I get to Dunnet's Head, my way down to Horsham. I thought about what I want in life, where am I going from here?. At the same time I realised how much I was loving my time alone, my walk, my adventure, and I wonder if I really wanted to go back to "normal" life. How to go back, when you can live a never ending adventure? Even, if that means being alone, forever. Even if it means "dying alone"...

How do I want to live my life?

Adventure? Commitment?

I saw Ira and Sonja in the morning. "Bye".

I left the hostel and looked for Graemme and Lorraine bungalow, I knew they were leaving on Saturday, and I wanted to see them again. I found her mum and dad in it. They had gone for a walk. I left my number, maybe we could meet later for food and drinks.

I went to Fort William and sent some pictures to the newspaper, some e-mails, and back to the hostel for shower. Graemme had called. We met at 7 and went to the Ben Nevis Inn, a 200 years old refurbished barn. They invited me to a lovely dinner.

Lorraine, Graemme, Brad and Garreth.

It was a real pleasure to meet and talk to Brad (16) and Garreth (13). I will see what I can do with isopropanol Garreth, and Brad, you will have your chorizo iberico sometime in October.
Had a great time. I was not in the best mood, but they really cheered me up.

Brad, Garreth... I think he is falling asleep... :) and me.

The boys went to bed and I stayed with Lorraine and Garreth for the last one. Interesting conversation, and inspiring too. More than once I have been asked about the possibility of writing a book with all the stories, experiences and pictures from this walk. "Book" sounds like a too big word for me. I can write something, but that does not mean you can call it a book. Lorraine and Graemme were really inspiring in that respect, and made me think about it seriously.

On Saturday, more of the same feeling. For the first time in a long time, I was regretting a bit to be alone, I really needed someone to talk... just someone. I looked for a place in Fort William to write my diary; there were lots of things to write....
Volunteer's Arms?, a bit dodgy, sitting by the Loch?, after five minutes I needed a toilet, the next pub? too noisy, or the telly was on.
I ended up in a good atmosphere Bar/Restaurant in the High Street, and my week was about to change again. I was comfortable, and just in the right mood (moody) to write. After a while I went to the bar for the second (in that pub, not overall). While I was waiting for my pale ale, some began elbowing me. Some idiot in a hurry, I thought. When i turned, and looked slightly down, I could see this crazy girl, looking for a party really. She funnily apologised, and went somewhere else down the bar with her friend, to "annoy" someone else. I went back to my seat, and started to THINK how good it would be to chat and drink with these very attractive persons.

A pin size dancer from the Highland Games. Un espurin, diria yo!

From Glasgow, I decided that there would be no more THINKING when it is about approaching people. I immediately stopped THINKING and went to them. Introduced my self and offered my table. They were from New Zealand We sat together for a few minutes, but they were really in a hurry, "forced me to finish my beer" quickly.... wait a minute, "forced me...", that was a funny line!! Anyway, I finish it, and almost chased them to the pub down the road.

Just after getting there, they went to the toilet. I took care of my drink while reading the newspaper. After a few minutes on my own, I realized had not gone to the toilet, they had run away..... to be honest, I felt a bit upset. I really was not nasty with them or anything like that.... Had I had a shower that morning...????

Anyway, I walked back to the nice quite pub to keep on writing. Just on the doorstep, I saw the two run away girls inside. I turned 180 degrees and looked for another place.
I went in to the Ben Nevis bar. It was quite busy, but it looked like nice form the outside.
Left my stuff on the table at the bottom, went for a pint and as I walked back to the table noticed a group of people on my right. There was a blue eyed blonde, and two guys fighting by the fire exit... they were playing.

Ben Sally and Anna... far in the center of the pic. We met a few seconds later

Just when my bottom touched the chair, two of them stood up, and said, loudly: "oh my God, it is him, the guy that is Walking Britain....!!!!!" They came closer, shouting, everybody looking, "Am I in deep shit?", I thought.

If I had not gone to meet the "attractive" New Zealand girls, this would never had happened.

Sliding doors.

Ben, Sally and Anna... closer.

In the landscape above you can see Ben, Anna and Sally far away in the center of the image. That was the beginning of the Pennine Way, on the ridge on top of Edale Valley, the Sunday after my sheep shit feet picture. They saw my banner, we spoke for a minute. Gone, like so many other people.

Graemme and Claire.

They saw me in the pub, and remember my face. In the beginning I could not remember them, later on I did; first Ben and then the girls. And then I found the picture. Unbelievable. Some ask the other day. Do you believe in fate? I don't, but...

So, who is the lucky bastard????!

Ben Sally and Anna were with other five friends from the Manchester area (also Wigan and Newcastle): Craig, Claire, Graemme, Alexia and Sam. And Paul; I met him a few days later. They immediately asked me to join them for dinner.

Craig: doesn't he have an amazing pair of blue eyes??!

The blues was finished. My week changed for better. What can I say about them? First of all: I felt welcome, very much. They are an extraordinary group of friends. Among them, a bike rider that looks like Richard Ashcroft, and a model that looks like Cate Blanchett....

"Richard" (Ben) and "Cate" (Alexia)

...and talking about "Cate". She is the first model I have ever met. You know when they say in models contests, that is not only about having a pretty face, that you also have to be nice and have character.... bla bla bla bullshit. Well, it was true. Alexia is a cheerful, very expressive and caring person. Cheers for Alexia.... by the way, this is Paco...


So, after dinner, we went to the night club.... yes, there is a night club in Fort William. We danced, we drank, they played U2, but a fight stopped the song. Damm it!.
It was time to go back to the hostel, and the camping where they were staying very close to the hostel. Taxis.
They came, but there was no space for the Gladiator... I mean the Spaniard. So, they took my camera, and jumper, and diary, "and carried it for me". I had a run to the camping, but I could not find them.
Craig had just the time to put my camera on e-Bay, he was offered £300. Not enough!

Luckily, on the next morning, I was quick enough finding them in an area of the camping I had not looked, and recovered my stuff, including the camera. I was invited for bbq later in the evening.

Sam and Claire

Things had changed completely. I was so happy I had met this amazing people. I still felt a bit touched by "the blues" of the last few days, but it was very different now.
I went for a swim, and did some shopping. Back in the hostel got ready for the bbq.
We had a good night. Ate, and drink, and sang.

Camping and hostel are down there. From the path that took us to the summit.

The plan for the next day, Monday, was climbing Ben Nevis. Craig would join us for the walk. Craig will also walk with me after doing the Knoydart.
We were supposed to meet at 10 am, and for once, it wasn't the Spaniard the one that was late. Craig and I met at the hostel and walked to the camping; 10 minutes.

Climbing it!

We started walking at 12.... no rush. Craig, Sam and Graemme, did not come and went to the Nevis range for some bike descend.

Claire, having a rest, and relaxing.

The day was overcast. An hour before reaching the summit we went into the cloud. It became windy, and increasingly cold. The fog was very dense. In the summit, we got into the shed for lunch, otherwise it would have been bad to eat in that weather.

Having lunch in the shed at the top of The Ben.

We descended quickly and it was nice to be able to remove jumper and waterproofs.
And suddenly, going from seeing no more than 20 meters to kilometers with Glen Nevis down below.

A nice group picture, with Craig standing in the middle.

After the climbing (it felt easier to me than when I did it a few years ago for the Three Peaks Challenge), Craig and I stayed in the hostel for dinner, the rest went back to the campsite. We met for a drink later on. Just a quick one, we were tired.

I am quite happy with this one...

On Tuesday, yesterday, I was supposed to go with Sam, Graig, Graemme and Ben to the Nevis Range for some action photography. Before that, Graig (the other Craig) and I walked back to Fort William to plan where we were going to meet on the evening of the 26th. We bought some maps, did some shopping and Craig left to do some hiking on his own.

The camera likes Ben

Karen called me the other day. She will join me for the last bit of my walk, the last two couple of days, which is great. She needed to know when and where to book transport, so I had to do some planning.

I almost got hit in this one

It was not nice, I did not enjoy it, it was stressful. I was with all those maps in the Mountain Center, and it was really difficult to found a way through the Highlands. The tracks going in the right direction would normally end up in an unpassable cliff.

Graemme jumping. High ISO setting got him sharp.

Eventually, I think I found my way to Dunnet Head, and I will be meeting Karen in the north coast of Scotland in the 8th of September, which means We'll finish the walk together in the 10th.
I left the shop with all the maps I need from Fort William to Dunnet Head, really stressed, and facing something that I really did not like, the end of the walk. Went back to the Blues for a few hours: life, adventure...???

I took a bus to the Nevis Range, and met the boys for some action photography. Sam and Craig where waiting for their extremely expensive bike to be fixed. I went looking for Graemme and Ben. Most of the pics I took were crap, but for being the first time taking these kind of shots, i got a few half decent ones. See above.

I got a lift to hostel. Ate and fix the banner. I have a new one now. Printed and laminated. Same as the other one, although something is telling that not so well assembled as the one that Sally did. We'll see.

Blue eyes French painter??

I met my lovely Manc accent friends later on in the camping. Sam and Craig left to somewhere in Scotland, for more bike riding.


It was a great night.

We basically drank wine, and talked, and laughed. This is one of the things about them: laughter was always about to happen. I did not talk much, sometimes they went to quickly, so I would have enough with listening. Listen amazed. They are such good group of friends.

SO, WHO THE HELL IS THE LUCKY BASTARD???!!!!!!!!

I feel very lucky that I met them.

It was a night when the stars shined bright. Well, it was overcast, but I am pretty sure they were shining bright. Don't you think, Claire?

The boys. Graemme, me, Paul and Ben.

And when they do, and wine runs free, I can't help it, I get very very very very silly, and cheese, and songs does not stop coming to my head. Yesterday, it was and Amaral one.

Beauties!. I was the photographer. I am such a lucky bastard!

Amaral is a very good Spanish singer. It was "Como hablar" the song that was coming to my head yesterday night, while the stars shined.
"Como hablar": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6I9ezt5_pI

The song, you will not understand much guys, goes dedicated to all of you.
Thank you so much for a such a fantastic time.

I hope we meet sometime in the future.

Me and Claire.

This morning, full gear on, including banner, I bumped into Paul, Sally, Claire, Alexia and Anna. They were in Graemme's car. They stopped. More kisses and hugs, more good wishes, more goodbyes.
They left me trembling, slightly blue, almost crying, feeling the luckiest guy in the world.

It might be nothing, it might be just me, just the way I take things... it felt like heaven, felt like I would die a happy man then.

I have been almost 5 hours in front of the computer now. I am tired, and I still have to do today's walk.
I wonder what will the rest of the walk bring? How will I feel? How will reaching Dunnet Head be like,

... and the rest of my life...?

Bye now.


Carlos