Cycle: 48.59km // 2h49m // 17.21km/hr
Tuesday September 17
Today's goal: plan our escape.
After some time pouring over weather/meteorology maps for northwest Scotland and the Hebrides, including cold fronts, warm fronts, occluded fronts, low pressure regions, troughs, etc...we were no closer to deciding on the fate of the Hebrides. It was decided that we would just start riding... somewhere, and decide later about the Hebrides.We cycled down the east coast of Loch Linnhe to Corran, and then took a small ferry to the west side. After being cooped up in our tent for the last couple of days, the ride was redeeming with short but frequent bursts of radiant sunshine (alternating with equally plentiful rain). Unloading from the ferry we spotted two loaded bikes and exclaimed "there is family" (cycle tourist family). Gwen and Raymond! A couple from Fife (Eastern Scotland), who were very friendly, and had a wealth of knowledge about Scotland. Their enthusiasm about our intended route (Isle of Mull and the Hebrides) was contagious, and it was starting to feel like we could weather anything to see these places. After talking to them, we changed our route a bit, and found ourselves riding a single track road through incredibly beautiful countryside along the SW coast of Loch Linnhe. We passed one tractor, the rest was just us and the green hillsides, seals on little islands in the water, sheep, goats, horses. Camp tonight was alongside a small river, with the sounds of water flowing over shallow river rock.
 |
| Fueling up the stove at a gas station. |
 |
| Preparing lunch in a green space in Fort William, during one of the periods of sun. |
 |
| Corran Ferry crossing. Look, the sun came out just as we got on! |
 |
| Cycling away from the ferry. |
 |
| Looking across Loch Linnhe at Glencoe |
 |
| We were there! |
 |
| Is it a black sheep or a white sheep? It was eating seaweed! |
 |
| Our wild camp site was pretty awesome. |
