JOGLE 5.5 Day 6 Sun 7 Oct 12

Depart 0920 Arr 1800 South Laagan to Fort William Distance 24 Miles

Really nice breakfast by Robert and Phoebe. Robert was very entertaining and trying his best to wind us up being a typical North of the County of Durham man. He was busy telling us about his sheep over breakfast which is when Ian won the wind up stakes by asserting that the price of sheep is very good right now and that sheep wool is being made into carpet by British carpet markers. Well the reaction was certainly entertaining and we had a good laugh about it all day. (I think BBC Radio Four “the Archers” is a fictional programme). Saw several cyclists, meet two guys one from Dales and one from London on their way to Laagan. Ian has got shin splints badly and took the road to avoid ups and downs and I took the Great Glen Way path and went via the Fairy Wood which is much the same as the Gnome Garden in North Devon. Meet two Jordi lads who have been on the road since 5.30 to escape wife and kids for the day. Note to Ian - familiar theme here for a chapter in the book “we’re” going to write. Did I forget to mention the latest bright idea is to write a book about our adventures but instead of a start to finish narrative it will have individual chapters on themes such as B&B landladies, types of B&B, different showers, styles of breakfast, the variety of packed lunches, different types of B&B dogs, etc I am not so sure, clearly another retirement job. We kept at it all day and soon got to the end of the canal at Jacobs Ladder Locks. Walking through the outskirts of Fort William felt a bit dodgy but to save time we took various short cuts through housing estates to get to the Gylngyle B&B which just happens to be on the edge of the Ben Nevis Path and the start of the West Highland way. The Glyngyle B&B was very warm and the room was very comfortable. and a good shower. Didn't have to worry about washing as we had enough clothes to get us home which made a refreshing change.  Anyway there would be no point in bringing clean clothes home as they would only get washed again! The first night we ate at Browns Restaurant which also had a very original menu and good service and more importantly it was only 100 meters away, so not far to walk!