Run or drive?

 

We had set an alarm clock for ourselves today, because it is easier to wake up in the great outdoors than in bed - at least in my opinion. In addition, yesterday we decided to take the bus to Tyndrum despite the error around one. The stage between Crianlarich and Tyndrum would be similar to what we had seen more or less in the rain yesterday and the weather was so unbelievably good that we really wanted to start the next stage. Plus, the fact that we could take it easy was just too tempting.

Our time management was really perfect and so we stood at the bus stop right in front of the hotel at 8:20 a.m., backpacks packed and postcards in hand. When the bus arrived, we bought our ticket from the driver and enjoyed the ten-minute drive to Tyndrum. Crazy, we would have covered this stage on the WHW for half a day on foot.

 

On foot again

 

When we arrived in Tyndrum, we didn't immediately find our way back to the WHW, as the signs weren't particularly good - but further questions help! Thanks to the friendly help of two young hikers, this problem was quickly resolved. We left our postcards in a hotel and then ... party on! (Why didn't we hand them in at our own hotel? I don't know.)

On the way we were overtaken by a young Briton whose calves were completely covered with Midges stitches. We never found out whether he was Scot (they usually let the bites and ignore the mosquitoes - however that is possible) or had a slight urge to self-mutilate, because he moved there like a young peregrine falcon.

The sun really came out today, as if it had never rained yesterday. In the travel guide, the stage between Tyndrum and Kinlochleven was marked as quite difficult in bad weather, as there should be little or no opportunity to find shelter anywhere. Shopping opportunities are also limited here. That is why most hikers in Tyndrum prepare themselves again with food and all sorts of useful things. We had already done some shopping in Crianlarich and so we could just go. The travel guide also said that the route was easy to hike in good weather. And today we had good weather. Slowly we wondered where "our crew" Mesut, the bearded man and the flower backpacks might be ... maybe we had overtaken them? Our cheating on the bus made it possible.

We definitely enjoyed the wonderful stage and even dared to shorten the pant legs. After yesterday's rain, the sun and the cozy warmth on our skin were a real treat.

 

Walking on Sunshine

 

We stumbled over flat terrain and a wide path to the Bridge of Orchy. There we unpacked the stove and treated ourselves to ready-made curry. As soon as I had finished eating and washed the pots, it began to rain. But today we put on the right things. Something like yesterday shouldn't happen to us again. And luckily Anne had packed all her things in bags and thus averted this danger. today we knew how to interpret the signs of the weather! "Off to the protection of the forest!" We thought. However, there was hardly any protection there and so we started climbing a hill in the rain. Even before we were up, however, the rain subsided and we took off our jackets, only to put them back on shortly afterwards. At the summit we had an incredibly beautiful view and a wonderful natural spectacle presented itself: on the left the sun was shining, while on the right the rain pelted in twine. We only got a few drops and enjoyed the wonderful spectacle of nature. The rain pervaded the lush green of the Highlands like a wet wall. Some hikers were amazed with us and a short time later the rain had completely said goodbye and the sun flashed out from behind the clouds.

A quick glance at the map told us that we could already look for a place to sleep in the small forest area right in front of our noses in the valley, because our stage destination for today had been reached. At first we were a bit undecided, but after Anne had scouted the place about 50-100 meters away from the path under the protection of the trees, we decided to set up camp there. And that was a really good decision!

 

Midges, Midges, Midges ...

 

The damp clothes we hung over a line that I stretched between two trees and then we cooked something and enjoyed the sound of the brook flowing directly past the tent. Since the Midges weren't too wild yet, we sat down under the trees for a while and enjoyed the wonderful place and the idyll that goes with it. When it got colder and draftier, we finally hid in the tent. I had made up my mind not to sleep too early today and enjoy the sunset in the Highlands. But then I did the bill without the midges ... those damned ones ...

Fortunately, we had also equipped ourselves with these stupid head nets on the Leglas farm, by which you can usually identify tourists from Midges-free regions. But today we actually needed it! The swarm was so dense, the CO2-loving beasts literally crowded around the best seats near the face. We soon decided to retreat into the tent. The sunset took place somewhere behind the mountains anyway. Once we slipped into the tent, we soon fell asleep and we slumbered comfortably.