FORT WILLIAM TO KINLOCHLEVAN
DISTANCE: 15.7 MILES
START TIME: 0705 HRS
FINISH TIME: 1310 HRS
TOTAL DISTANCE: 223.69 MILES
Well what started out to be a cracking day turned into a great dissapointment. I had read that it was indeed the hardest section of the West Highland Way, I had read that it was a glorious walk, I had read that it was one of the best section's of the WHW. Well if that was hard, if that was one of the best section's then they lied. Yes the mountains on both sides of the walk were stunning, what they fail to tell you, is that it is like walking in a quarry. Rocks, boulders, pebbles that was the track, the route was the dissapointment. It started so well out of Fort william up a major hill through the forest cross some open ground to another forestry block that was no longer there. It had been decimated,, tree stumps the only give away that there had once been a forestry block there. I'm sure they have there reasons for decimation, but so then did the roman's. To say I was dissapointed is an understatement, the route was clear in direction but poorly maintained in terms of the rock's, boulders ect. you may as well go to a pebble beach and trog that.
I did however meet about 35 people coming the other way, most were foreign and did not pass the time of day. However I spoke to and I think I have his name wrong so I apologise now to him in fact I cant rembember so I won't even try. Suffice to say he was a gent and donated kindly to the cause. he recognised the REME belt and said that he had served with a Reme guy at 5 Div called Paul Fisher. Now that name rings a bell I took a Fisher on RDQ ( for the civvies attached that is the Senior Regimental Duties Qualification ) a 3 month course that I was privilaged to run. Any of my old gang we had a fisher on the roll. was his name paul? text me and let me know please.
The route thereafter was not memorable, left and right were stunning but I spent all day looking at the floor trying not to break my legs. DISSAPOINTED to say the least.
On arrival I asked the landlady of the Tail race inn ( which is fantastic ) is there a shop, she said what do you need I replied, I need some insect repellent, to which she said we have some here. The name of the insect repellent is SMIDGE THAT MIDGE, well, I was talking to phil and the subject came up about the name and we were off, I'm off to smidge that midge, then it got worse and more bizarre, so i will not tell my lord what was said and how the conversation went spiralling out of control, but i bet you can imagine, Just remember Smidge that Midge, LOL for civvies out there it is an army sense of humour and sometimes is not understood or funny for those not blessed with the warped thought process.
Well for those out there that want to see me suffer, and I am sure that there are many, tomorrow is all rain rain and more rain, so vid's in the rain is going to be the order of the day. Rain is set fair for the remainder of my trip over the west highland way. So I beg the question why oh why did I buy Smidge that midge, for all those little bugger;'s will be in there homes, fires on, heating turned right up, thinking No fool would venture out in this!!!!! Would they.