Another uneventful 8 hours in the air ...
Arrival is Glsgow was a welcome relief, although the flying was completely uneventful, there was only one bump in the whole flight enough to disturb anyones coffee, and the takeoffs and landings were very smooth.
Even the guy who sat next to me and drank, I lost count after the 11th double vodka and coke, merely went to sleep and didn't disturb anyone.
Immigration and customs were remarkably uneventful, in fact I couldn't really say I saw a customs officer anywhere than in Australia as I left! In Dubai there was only immigration, and similarly in Glasgow. Walked out the "Nothing to Declare" gate ond onto the street .... AGAIN!
It couldn't have been easier, the car rental booth was immediately outside as was Tescos.
I think the whole "XXXXX Make and Model" of car "OR SIMILAR" is a scam. They never have the car you booked and the only options are to take a much smaller car for the same price or a much larger car for a much larger amount of money and of course the "frighten you with the costs if you don't" additional insurances. Never the less since Digby and Rosemary took the upgrade option and when we travel together we can go in their car I can take the downgrade option and end up with a little rocketship Peugeot 3 door.
A quick visit to Tesco, right next door for a GBP10 phone card and I'm off up the M8/A82 which run right alongside Loch Lomond for a considerable way.
While there is the odd patch of sunshine it is generally pretty grey and dismal ...
and continues to deterriorate as I head further North.
Thiere are small "parking" spots alongside the road every few miles but their position is dictated by convenience of construction rather than opportunity for sightseeing and they are too far to walk to a better spot considering the deteriorating weather. This is the clearest shot I can get all day.
There are tantalising glimpses of fabulously snow covered "mountains" through the rain and sleet but never where or when I can stop. It is getting darker and greyer by the minute so as the afternoon wears on I start looking for a "B & B" to stay in. And it begins to dawn on me that this is the time for B&B owners to take a break and the NO Vacancy signs are out in force!
Fortunately about 6pm the Invergarry Hotel appears and is "Open all Year" at GBP65 for the remaining last room. Yes Thank You.
It is a charming old place with my room on the third floor up flights of steps which must be an insurance assessors nightmare. I decline to take my case up to my room and unload what I need in the car leaving the remainder in the boot overnight. Seeing we are miles from anywhere I am not too much worried about it being broken into and my other gear is not too hard to negotiate up the stairs.
A few quick snapshots with the "point and shoot" are all I am prepared to risk in this weather.
By this stage I have been travelling in the same clothes for 48hours and a nice hot shower and a bowl of soup does me in sso it's an early night for me.
With just time for a quick snapshout out the window before I turn the lights out....
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