We crashed immediately after Chris and the girls left. We tried to get ready for bed, but I think we fell asleep with toothbrushes still in our mouths. I know Pam snored but I’m sure I was too tired and out of energy to spare any effort to snore.
Breakfast was included at the hostel so we went down to the dining room. There was a guy from a former Eastern Block Country working in the dining room who insisted we try haggis. I refused and he tried to shame me into trying it, but, alas, I have no shame. Pam did succumb to Eastern Block intimidation (yes, she votes democratic). She described it is as tasting like extremely greasy meat loaf—yum yum, get out of my way (while I run to puke).
By the time we ate, got ready, and packed, it was already 10:30 by the time we left. We headed to the fountain in Kelvingrove Park. The trail was well marked and easy to follow since it ran right beside the river and was paved most of the way. Occasionally we would pop up to a bridge and look around. We hiked for several miles through Glasgow but you would never know it since there was a greenway around the river and the city was about 30 feet above us. There were several old (I’m talking hundreds of years not tens of years) bridges and sculptures along the way. It was a very peaceful and relaxing walk.
After about 5 miles, we started to head into the country. At one point, the trail left the river and went through a kind of subdivision. Once we got back to the river, we decided to have our lunch in a little grove of trees along the Kelvin River (Kelvingrove—coincidence?). Once we got restarted, we came upon a section of the trail not much used and very overgrown. We checked the map and noticed that it was about a two mile trail around a river bend or a half mile road walk—we chose not to be purists since the Kelvin Walkway isn’t even the trail we came to hike so we took the road more travelled.
We emerged from the Kelvin Walkway into a commuter parking lot—this was Mullguy. It was about 3:15 so we headed to the West Highland Way information center and got our passports and first stamp—we are officially on the West Highland Way after 10 miles. Across from the information center was a Costa cafeteria (the only open restaurant on a Sunday afternoon). We stopped into have a sandwich, chips and drink (with entirely too little ice) and a porcelain break.
The WHW officially starts right next to the cafeteria. It’s a little hard to miss since the bench says West Highland Way Milngavie and there is a 60 foot arch across the trail head. We also had to take the opportunity to get out photos in a Dr Who Tardis (aka phone booth)—it was not as big inside as I have been lead to believe.
At this end of the trail, the WHW is actually a much used pedestrian path connecting towns and we ran into several families out for an evening stroll. We had planned to stealth camp tonight at one of the small lochs just outside of town. After letting Pam sit at Costa, I had a hard time getting her motor restarted and when I did, there was a constant whine that could be heard continuously. The only way I could get the whining to stop was to agree to stop hiking. The first trees we came to was Pam’s first choice for camping. I looked around and there were lots of dead tree limbs and the spot wasn’t very level—made no difference to Pam, she wanted to stop. Since hanging limbs are called “widow makers” she knew she was safe, but I was somewhat concerned. I wanted to go on. Pam sat out the search for a better camp site—in the middle of the trail, she sat!
I hiked on about ½ mile to the far end of the loch and found a much better spot with a fire ring and level spot. I dropped my pack and went back and coaxed Pam on down the trail (I’m sure m&m’s were required). After much more effort than was necessary, we got into camp, took off our boots, and set up the tent. Pam immediately crawled into the tent, inflated the mattresses, changed clothes and went to bed. It was a very peaceful spot, well worth the effort to get to. After ibuprofen and valerian root, Pam snored in agreement.
