DAY 4 - GLEN NEVIS TO CRIANLARICH

Today has been an absolutely beautiful day in terms of scenery and weather, but a nightmare for my knee. If I was playing rugby, I think I would have needed to be substituted it’s affecting me that much. And that’s coming from someone who played on for 70 minutes with a broken knee cap! The real pain is on and around the kneecap. It’s fine when I’m not moving it, but obviously I am, so I’ve been in a heck of a lot of pain with it.

Today’s route itself was a relatively short run in the grand scheme of things, following the A82 from Fort William to Crianlarich, via the beautiful scenery of Glencoe.

I left the hostel at 9:20 and met Mackie in Fort William to bid him farewell. I left him around 9:40 heading south alongside Loch Linnhe and, within minutes I was feeling the pain in my left knee.

I carried on regardless and tried to take in as much of the scenery as I could, because it was just breath-taking really. I know my photos will never do it justice.

It’s been sunny and blue sky today, not what you’d think is typically Scottish!

The roads were relatively kind today given my situation, with very long gradual hills, rolling up and down. I saw a fighter jet fly low overhead near the pass of Glencoe which was pretty cool.

I saw a couple of deer today. Unfortunately they have been added to my list of road kill that I’ve seen on my trip so far. They were both big things as well. Well bigger than I expected deer to be anyway.

I had my sandwiches for lunch by a beautiful spot just off the main road and away from the lay-bys which meant I was alone to enjoy the scenery. I think it may have been Loch Tulla but, I could be wrong. The photo at the top is the view I had anyway!

Weirdly while I was eating lunch, I noticed that I had full network coverage on my phone so, I decided to take full advantage and phone a few people who I haven’t been able to speak to recently. I spoke to my parents and grandma as they wanted to know my updates but, had only been getting them second hand from Jenni. Unfortunately, after many times of trying, I just couldn’t get hold of Jenni, which is annoying because, as I write this in the youth hostel, I have no network coverage again!

I also managed to speak to Dave who, on hearing that I had lost Mackie for my next two mountain climbs, took pity on me and offered to climb Scafell Pike with me. Hopefully also, he will take my panniers from YHA Eskdale to YHA Hawkshead that day, as a fully laden bike going over Hardknott Pass is a worrying thought for me…..fully fit or crippled!!!

Having had my lunch, I cycled the last 12 miles to SYHA Crianlarich, just north of Loch Lomond.

I arrived at 15:40, then immediately started to work on my bike which, had been making strange noises most of the day. I wasn’t sure if it was the bike at first or just my knee. I can safely say now that I wish I hadn’t bothered as if anything, I’ve probably made it worse. So tomorrow, I’ll be on the lookout for a cycle shop who can sort it out at the time. Hopefully they won’t all be closed for the independence vote!

A broken bike, a broken man, but I will get there! Somehow, I will get there!

DAILY MILEAGE – 54.4 MILES