BOULDERS, TICKS, & FERRIES

 Stats-Today we hiked 12.7 miles with 927’ up and 934’ down. We walked from Rowardennan to Ardleish where we took a short ferry ride across the loch to Ardliu.

Today we have a 7 am breakfast and are walking by 8. The skies are gray and overcast and will remain that way all day. The sun will not be seen today…nor will the rain, which is fine by us! A few yards of pavement and onto gravel paths. We will see no more pavement today but will see plenty of boulders, narrow dirt trails, mud, and water. The lake is our companion all day, always on our left side and rarely out of sight.

It is a day of constant up and downs and then more ups and downs. Boulders of all sizes, many the size of college dorm refrigerators, some smaller but many larger. Over the boulders and around the boulders, being careful with each step, each foot placement. A lot of concentration is required. The trail is wet at times and we pass through forests of ancient oak trees and areas of hazel, silver birch, and hawthorn. At times the trail is almost swallowed by shoulder high ferns.

We pass several waterfalls and hop over endless streams. The lake is dotted with small beaches nestled into the shore trees and moss covered boulders.

                     Oak leaf carved wooden benches and acorn wooden tables along the trail

                                            Moss covered ruins of old stone buildings

Mid morning we stop for a snack/energy bar break. I glance at my forearm and noticed a tiny crawling creature. Closer examination reveals it to be a tick that is battling its way through my arm hairs. I snap its photo then notice it has stopped and is starting to dig in. I flick it away and quickly check my arms and legs for others…there are none. Later in the day I discover a second one on the same arm area. As we depart I notice that Bill has managed to sit on a rock that had recently had a visit by a rather large bird. His hiking shorts are decorated with white and green bird poop.

                                               The bird chose Bill’s pants as their assing place

Lunch is enjoyed once again on a small beach, sitting on boulders hat we all carefully check for bird droppings.The afternoon is relentless with more miles of boulders and crags. We climb a steep wooden ladder, cross duckboards over boggy areas, ascend wooden steps, and wonder if it will ever end. It is tedious, but beautiful at the same time.

Eventually we cross a stile over a fence line, leaving the WHW trail and descend a short distance to a small metal jetty. There we remove our daypacks, hoist a large orange ball up a tall metal pole and sit on an old 2x4 piece of lumber balanced on two stacks of rocks.  And we wait. In about 40 minutes a small boat arrives. It is the Ardlui Ferry, a small 12 passenger ferry that will take us on a 10 minute ride across Loch Lomond to our accommodation for the night. The orange ball we hoisted was a signal to the boat captain that there were passengers waiting for passage. 

For dessert Scot and I enjoyed Scotland’s favorite…Sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream! It was great! And we all 3 took the oath and ordered haggis stuffed chicken breast with mash and veggies. Amazingly the haggis was delicious!!