I think I’ve figured out why people drive–walking is TOUGH. Especially walking fourteen miles with nobody to talk to or explain what you’re walking through. I was pretty much alone today until the last mile or so, when I fell in to walking with an English guy about my age. We had plans to walk together tomorrow, but as he’s going about eight miles past where I’m staying tomorrow night (he’s done this sort of thing, though not the West Highland Way, several times) we bagged that idea because I’d just slow him down. My pace has been less than fleet, but it’s pretty steady, and with water and scenery breaks I’m doing okay. That’s not to say my shoulders won’t still be sore tomorrow, but I’ve made some adjustments to the straps on my pack that made it a lot more comfortable toward the end of the day.

Tomorrow promises a lot of rain in the morning, with gradual clearing toward evening, but I am going to try and get rolling as early as possible (hopefully on the road by 6:45) to make the most of the cool part of the day. It got really hot today, and doubly so with the 22 pounds I’m humping on my back.

Off the computer now–I’m at the hostel in Rowardennan, on beautiful Loch Lomond (pictures when I get home), and someone else is waiting.

Loch Lomond, approaching Rowardennan