9 May 2013: 33km. Started 07:45. Arrived 17:45.
I had a very restless night. Not only had I caught a cold, but I was also worrying about the weight of my rucksack and how I would manage to carry it for twenty miles the next day. I don’t actually know how much it weighed and I suspect that, even if I did know, I wouldn’t want to admit that I tried to carry so much. At least it was more or less packed and ready to go.
I was eating breakfast at 06:40. This was one of the few days that I struggled to eat much breakfast. It was probably a combination of having a cold, an unaccustomed lack of exercise the previous day and my concerns about managing the next section of my journey.
However I was ready to leave at 07:45. Under the strain of all the weight, the chest strap on my rucksack slipped out of place before I had even left the hotel grounds. I tried to slip it back on, but did not achieve this until the evening at my next hotel.
Two men who I had seen at breakfast were also starting the West Highland Way and set off at the same time but turned off to the supermarket.
The route was well marked along good paths, tracks and road so it was easy to follow. I was delighted to spot three deer soon after leaving Milngavie. After an hour or so it started to rain and sadly the rain didn’t stop for the rest of the day. I saw a few cyclists, several dog walkers and some day walkers but no-one with a heavy pack like me until the two men from breakfast walked past as I was eating lunch.
Unfortunately part of the route through a forest was closed until June because of tree planting so I followed the diversion via Drymen and up a long quiet road marked as part of the Rob Roy route.
Eventually I turned off through the forest. I opted for the more difficult walk near the end over the Conic Hill – this was open as evidently calving and lambing had finished for the year. It was a steep path and the weather was windy as well as wet. The stunning views over Loch Lomond were partially obscured by the rain. I took care on the slippery and steep downward path and was amazed to see a cyclist carrying his bicycle up the hill.
My booked accommodation was in a superb location right on the shore of the loch – although I did not really appreciate this until the next morning. It was busy with a large group booking. However I was delighted to have survived my first day with my very heavy rucksack.
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