Sept 8 - 11: On to Glen Coe and Glen Nevis

We have just finished hiking up Ben Nevis -- the UK's largest mountain. It
was a cloudy day and we spent part of the hike in the clouds. We had to use compass bearings to find our way coming back down. But it was a fine hike anyway, as we did get views about half-way down. We were thinking that our friends Dave Chesterman and Mark Weston would really like this little tramp!

The real gem of the last few days was the bike ride over the last stretch of the West Highland Way. We loaded up the bikes and headed up Loch Leven from Glen Coe to Kinlochleven. This was rollercoaster of a ride -- great views of the mountains, glens, and lochs. The day was sunny and warm and the visibility was excellent.

At Kinlochleven we had several kilometres of up, up, up -- to the Mamore Lodge, where we joined the Way. Then it was up and through a high, but rather flat pass -- mountains rising all above us, a few ruins in the middle of the pass. The day was really quite perfect. We passed a few walkers, and they all looked at us as if we were crazy. We did look quite a sight with our fully loaded bikes dodging potholes and rock, and fording streams.

The West Highland Way day was Jan's birthday, so we had a b-day picnic for her in the middle of the trail -- Strongbow, chocolate, and presents.

We were thinking that Lisa and John (especially John) and Mark Weston would really enjoy this route. We had to be up on our bike handling skills to get the most out of this day.

The end of the Way gave us great views of Ben Nevis, and made Mike and I more determined than ever to climb it the next day. It is wild how quickly the weather changes here -- so beautiful and sunny one moment, then overcast and blowy the next.

In Fort William, at the end of the Way, Jan and Alan opted for B&B while Mike and I hit the hostel. Jan and Alan will now be making their own way forward, as there are a number of things that they want to see, while Mike and I want to try and get in a bit more hiking if possible. We will probably meet up again somewhere on the route.

ttfn
Mary

Our route and pictures:
Our route from Mull to Glen Coe and Glen Nevis
Glen Coe pictures
West Highland Way (and Jan's b-day) pictures
Pictures from the Ben Nevis hike