And then it starts … – The walk

Sunday May 25

AND …

The alarm turns off at 6 am I fell in love subconsciously and I turn around to hug my wife. She is not there. That is strange. Oh, wait, wait, I’m 450 miles away in Scotland, yes, I remember it now! It’s day 1 at West Highland Way today! I think I have about 5 hours of sleep. You need a shower to shake some life!

They dress with my team to walk, shorts, a Merino, Altra wool and … after a quick visit through the window … My gore-tex (damn it!) And wanders the restaurant next to the hotel for my breakfast reserve at 7:30 am. He is already buzzing there, but the waitress haste to me and takes my order, a great Scottish breakfast and a bowl of porridge! I go to the coffee maker to get a coffee with milk and a little juice of the adjacent counter. I grab a couple of cakes, as well as a last moment idea. Baby calorie time !! On the walk back to the table, I notice that almost everyone else has hikers who look at guides, maps or maps applications, all in their own excited conversations about «The Way». The food comes, it is demolished and coffee is drunk. I took my juice and returned to my room with my cakes and tics of last -minute mental verification lists in my head of things I need to do before starting. I grab my bag, put it on and take a quick selfie for the wife and daughter.

Surprisingly for Scotland in spring, it is raining and raining quite hard. I decide that it is actually a type of waterproof day today and remake my solitary peaks with that change of sock plan. It would be good to have dry feet for at least one day of this trip! Then, they are impermeable pants and tapas with a lid (in which practically alive!) And put the door … Then immediately go back and take my walking posts … and then go out the door again!

The Inn Milngavie Premier is approximately 1/2 mile at the foot of the output line. Around 8:40 am, I go out the hotel door, walk along the way and turn right to climb the main road to the city. When I leave, there are a couple of luggage forwarding services that collect suitcases and canvas bags to take to the next night location of the walkers who use their services, seat well to the staff and the walkers around the truck while handling bags.

One of the joys of Whw is its accessibility to the walkers of all ages, levels of physical condition and ideas of what they want from the path. Hundreds of people use these luggage services every month to take advantage of their bulky bags during the night while walking with a lighter backpack. I guess the so -called Slackpacking can be frowned upon by some in the walking community. However, I have no such view and I appreciate any service to help more people leave and walk. It is a form of exercise that is so good for our body both physical and mentally that any additional service that can allow those who otherwise could not be capable or want to carry a bulky backpack to enjoy this impressive Sauntor through the mountains is in my mentality.

I arrive at the initial obelisk at 8:55 am. I have timed my arrival here specifically to arrive on time for the opening of a small convenience store in the starting line (Spar, a national local store chain) to obtain a path of trails.

He firmly urges him to choose one of these if he walks on whw, not only give him a useful reference map and a mileage table to track his trip, but he can also collect stamps from several points on the road making a wonderful memory in the end.

The sky has enlightened a little in the last half mile, so I lose the waterproof pants. After that small path administrator, it’s time for the photo line photo!

And in the mid -solo groups and walkers I left!

The first miles of West Highland Way come out of the city through a pleasant road by a river through a rural park, there are people walking through dogs, they run, they ride bicycles. There is a gentle rumor of human activity (and canine) while leaving the sounds of the city. I am satisfied with a rhythm, the last part of the hobbit playing and enjoying the way.

After a few miles, one of the first notable views appears, a lovely cabin with a mileage marker that reminds you that your trip just begins!

The weather is also improving. I take the opportunity to throw my jacket in my backpack.

The road continues to a small road with a little unfortunate 400 meters through the walk to collect the next path. On this particular day he is calm and I don’t see any car before he can turn off and climb a small hill. The road makes its way through a few miles to Dumgoyne passing a charming cabin of elves!

About 8 miles to the path, a small delicious coffee called «Nabe the beet» passed. Well, I’m in favor of supporting local businesses, so this looks like a good place for my first rest stop. I enter the intention of having coffee … and then I saw the food. Well, a pastrami bangel later I am back on the path and covered again go to the feet in Gore-Tex. Thank you Scottish Climate!

As apart, I will make another publication after having finished the updates of my paths that cover in detail the logistics of West Highland Way and the places to get food along the way. Ok, back to the path.

The path at this time closely follows a main road, sincerely, it is pleasant but nothing special at this time. I cross a couple of roads and pass through a field before leaving a lane from countries. I pass on a charming bridge mounted on a river in a strong flow and pass through a row of cabins with an honesty box. I grab a can of foamy orange, a chocolate bar and ice cream. Look, I am supporting local people on the road here so that the calories are good and noble calories!

Honesty boxes are a lovely feature along the way, they are essentially food cabinets of diverse greatness where a local resident or company will supply with a variety of snacks, drinks, sweets, sometimes fruits. Essentially, a small nutritious stop point if you need sustenance. There are more of them concentrated in the first half of the whw, but there is a couple later. Now it is important to keep in mind that they are not Magic de Trail, they work in the Honor System! The goods must be paid and will have an cash of some description or in all the cases that I saw, a QR code linked to a PayPal address to pay their products. Ping about money and continue on my way.

Now what follows is a walk for a few miles in the town of Drymen. It was not my favorite section of the road in any way and, although it is a quiet path, you must be careful with traffic and walk accordingly. Step Drymen Campsite, a popular destination of the first night, and heading to the people. Technically, the way he avoids it, but I think most people chose to go to the center of the village like me. There is another spar convenience store, as well as a lovely coffee and several pubs and restaurants. Still full of my Bagel I go to a pint of Guinness in «The Cracan» before returning and following the way to a forest. What follows is a constant climb for several miles before the road opens in what I would call the appropriate highlands and in front of me the first «climb» of the conical hill. Honestly, it is not such a bad hill, take it at a constant pace and you will be fine and the view when you reach the top and see Loch Lomond extended under you *chefs kiss *.

Local trails have spent a lot of time and money on a hard rock road on the west side of the hill in the small town of Balmaha. CONIC HILL is close to Glasgow and easily accessible by car, so he gets a lot of traffic. I will be honest, I find the way down on my knees, but I understand that it will stop the erosion of long -term human trafficking, so I will live.

At the bottom of Balmaha, I stop for a passport stamp and to recharge my water before heading on the side of the lake towards my destination at night. The legs are sore at this point. I have already made more than 20 miles and I am anxious for food and sleep! The path is a mixture of paths along the road with trips to the forests from top to bottom in various points of view.

I arrive at the camp and after making friends with the locals …

… I have been configured my store, the camp administrator and I get some food on the stove. Tonight is the chicken risotto, Parmesan and dehydrated basil (*Chefs note: in reality very beautiful and strong Parmesan flavor with a subtle indication of basil in the background. Nice consistency. I really enjoyed 9/10*)

I make a quick phone call to wife and daughter with a state update and got into my comforter.

It is spilling absolutely outside. I don’t need an audiobook tonight to sleep. 24 miles and the sound of rain in the store. I am asleep in minutes. Day 1 – Fact.

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