7 May 2013: 13km. Started 10:00. Arrived 13:30.
My day began watching breakfast TV while lying in the jacuzzi bath! Suitably relaxed, I went to breakfast and for once I wasn’t the first to arrive. I overheard some business men discussing the pedal cycle market – clearly the more expensive end including carbon fibre bikes costing £4,000. I recognised a Shetland accent from a woman sitting alone and we struck up a conversation. It turned out that she was related to a family I had known very well during my year in Shetland and was also friends with the people who own the flat where I lived. It’s a small World. She was on the mainland at that time doing some work in her role as a Shetland Islands Councillor.
The weather was warm, sunny and 20 degrees – ideal for a relaxed stroll and a complete contrast from the previous day. I wandered through the village and would have stopped for a haircut, but didn’t think I needed one yet. The route to Milngavie was straightforward – up a quiet “dead end” road. through some Forestry Commission land off road and then quiet lanes the rest of the way.
At Milngavie, I arrived at the end near the railway station and was able to confirm that it would be easy to get to Glasgow the next day with trains every twenty minutes. I was due to meet my husband at the airport to get a bigger rucksack together with camping equipment for my walk further north.
Given that Milngavie is the start point for the West Highland Way, I had expected there to be an outdoor shop so I could buy stove fuel. My husband could not bring that for me as he was flying. Eventually after asking at the Tourist Information Office, I discovered a hardware shop which had a small supply of the sort of gas canister that I needed. The start point for the West Highland Way was marked prominently. I bought some postcards from the bookshop.
It was still too early to book in to my room so I enjoyed a bargain price coffee and cake at a coffee room next to the Scottish Episcopal Church and run by “Churches Together”. As expected, it was an extremely friendly and welcoming establishment. The man who served me, discovering that I was from Exeter, asked me whether I knew a previous Bishop from the area who now lives in Exeter. Amazingly I did. Just like the chance meeting at breakfast, it is indeed a small World.
Eventually I made my way to the Premier Inn, where I was booked for two nights. On signing in, the lady asked whether I had baggage transfer expected – apparently it’s rare that walkers carry all their stuff! I set to work, sorting my possessions – some of which I would be jettisoning the next day in exchange for clean items. The window opening restrictor was useful to use to secure my boots and allow them to air on the outside sill. I even found time to read the newspaper!
Where's Kathryn? 