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Gordon has requested walking The West Highland Way for his 50th Birthday later this summer. Garnering enthusiasm for training from our kids was always going to be difficult enough but the added task of organising a day that we were all available and could all start our training proved to be a step too far.
Carla/ youngest/age 16 put forward a reasonable argument at not being available by stating her prelims were starting in 3 days and she needed to study. The other two's attempts of avoidance didn't cut the mustard with me so Kiran and Kim were dragged off at 9am leaving a sleepy, smiley Carla in bed!
We were VERY lucky with the weather as we were going to walk come hell or high water. The day was beautifully sunny all day.
We decided to drive to Balmaha and walk to Rowardennan and back to Balmaha before driving back home.
A few hours into the route Gordons cocky comment was how straight forward it was all going to be. The terrain was reasonable and walking our planned 26km today was a simple matter of two 3 hour slots of walking with a relaxing lunch at The Rowardennan Hotel in-between!
We responded positively with lots of chattering, laughter and being impressed with the gorgeous scenery of our country.
It really didn't take that long before Kim and I were feeling achey- about 2.5 hours. But we cheered ourselves up with an imminent up and coming stop with a well earned pub lunch. Well you can imagine some appropriate choice words being muttered when we excitedly rush to The Rowardennan Hotel and see the CLOSED sign!!!
Nowhere else to eat anywhere near to comfort us! We headed back with grumbling tummies and mouths! Just some chocolate to keep us going for the return 3 hours!
The Oak Tree in was mobbed at 3:30pm and no way could we consider a 20minute wait for a table. So we drove to The Winnock Hotel pub in Drymen and thoroughly enjoyed Haggis pie/Steak and kidney pies and scampi and chips washed down with well deserved beer and wine!