How many times can one get lost getting out of Clydebank? Lost count, big chunks of Clydebank, Patick have been demolished and rebuilt in various ways. Throw in the motorway and not quite linked bike paths and it is a mess.
Twice on the way to Dumbarton Scots ladies stopped driving or serving in their coffee van ( one every couple of blocks) to tell the lost wee’uns which way to go. Not where to go which a couple of drivers told us.
Finally got on to the Loch Lomond Rail Trail which gave a fantastic run to Bowline where the Forth and Clyde Canal gets the Firth if Clyde. Nice little park and coffee shop. Proprietress has sister (?) in Rockingham.
At Bowline I read student day’s friend’s, but now Australian, Heather’s Messenger DM advice to avoid Helensburgh and Faslane at the cost of missing The Gairloch and Loch Long but avoiding the traffic. H’s advice was subsequently accepted. In a phone she sounded very croaky so maybe her plan to walk the West Highland Way next week is in doubt? (Turns out she was coming down with Covid).
Dumbarton was cleaner than I remembered, Renton was dull and the boating harbour at the bottom of Loch Lomond much developed with a new board walk and shopping venue.
Interestingly, several hotels and pubs along Loch Lomond were closed even as the tourist season ramps up and there is a general shortage of hotel rooms in the Highlands. Ardlui Hotel was shut (the caravan park behind was open) and Baĺlloch was open and doing good trade with walkers off the West Highland Way. Smartly, Balloch Hotel had signs to a drinking water tap and the toilets to entice the walkers.
The weather was fine (no rain), varying between random patches of warmth and cold. Jackets on, jackets off.
The hill from Ballahulish to Crianlarich was a mild non-event. Crianlarich is small village on the West Highland Way and has the requisite large youth hostel for the Way walkers. Many of the walkers seem to be in their 60s or 70s though.
Stocked up at the little local store for individual meals and fought the midges for the hundred yards back to the hostel.
About 11pm a train went through, presumably the sleeper to London Euston. But I was the only one to hear it.