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Day 6 - Kingshouse -
Kinlochleven - 8 miles - A short wet day and the Devils Staircase
First the good news. Today I had porridge for breakfast. Yay. With
prunes. Double Yay. It was the Scottish version i.e. with salt. Also
a Loch Fyne kipper. Yum so a 9 for breaky. Enjoyed the Kingshouse a
lot especially after the rubbish at Tyndrum.
Today was always our short day but unfortunately it rained and it
rained and it rained. It was one of those days when the word
waterproof clothing is a bit silly, as you just get soaked.
Dale and me on top after the climb up the Devils
Staircase
We started a bit later at about 10.00am and we were soon climbing
out of Glen Coe. The devils staircase wasn't as bad as first
thought; it was just a relentless climb. Even in the mist and cloud
Glen Coe is some place and is jaw droppingly beautiful. We took some
time taking photos at the top before the descent into Kinlochleven.
The views were still spectacular despite the weather but with all
the rain the water in the streams has been spectacular. The roar of
the waterfalls big and small was ever present today and all the
mountains had silver streaks running down them as the water found
its way down the hillsides.
We arrived in Kinlochleven soaking wet and worse we had beaten our
bags, as the bag pixie had not been. As we didn't have our bags we
couldn't put all our clothes in the drying room unless we wanted to
streak through the hotel. So we had to dump what we could in the
drying room but leave the rest in our room until the bags arrived.
So we had our packed lunch naked in our room, which was not a pretty
site. Thankfully our bags were brought to our room, which saved any
embarrassment.
We were then able to get changed and visited the local microbrewery
and got 2 free pints. Yippee. We then visited the ice wall and
climbing wall, which were impressive. They were also playing some
great music: Editors, Long
Blondes, Oasis etc.
We met up with Matt, Karen and Mike so team beer were reunited. They
had a long damp walk but made it ok. It was great to see them again.
Our meal was very nice. Had haggis, tatties and neeps plus sticky
toffee pudding. Very nice it was too. Also team paraffin joined us
and were in a better mood than last time we met them. Sampled a
couple of whiskeys and they were good too.
Anyway, last day tomorrow. A tough 14 miles but I'm sure we'll make
it and we are planning the party.
I will talk more about some of the characters we've met later as it
time for bed
Photos from Day 6
View on path down towards Kinlochleven (Blackwater resevoir on the
right)
View on path down towards Kinlochleven
Very full waterfall near Kinlochleven (there were lots today)
Loch Leven From back of Macdonald Hotel
Loch Leven From back of Macdonald Hotel
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