Day 8 started with complimentary breakfast at the Drovers Inn back across the highway. Hubby chose traditional Scottish porridge while I had toast (there wasn't a vegetarian option).
Before venturing out on a hike, we walked back down to the Beinglas Farm Campsite in hopes they might have an opening at the bed and breakfast for the night. The owner was very kind but informed us he was booked. He asked where we were staying and we informed him about the Drover's Inn which he referred to as a "tourist trap" and that he wouldn't wish that place on anyone. He insisted on calling around to the other bed and breakfasts he knew to see if there was an opening, which there was not. Scottish kindness at its best!
Determined to not stay in our mold-infested hotel room, we started our hike out to Loch Lomond which was approximately 3-4 miles away.
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| In typical Scottish fashion, it rained off and on for the entire hike. |
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| Believe it or not, we ran into another couple out on this deserted trail who were from Phoenix. Can you believe it? |
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| Scotland is the most beautiful place I have ever laid eyes on! |
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| This was right before we got to the Loch and just before my energy plummeted. The hike back was much more difficult for me. Hubby was a rockstar. |
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| There is where the Ardleish ferry can take you across the loch. It is literally a fishing boat and the way you get their attention is by running a ball up a flagpole and waiting for them to notice. We didn't have cash on us or we would probably have gone over to Ardlui for lunch. |
We hiked back to the Beinglas Farm Campsite, where we had lunch. This time I threw caution to the wind and ordered chicken fillets for lunch (in Scotland they are referred to as "fill-its.") I had had so little food that day, I knew I needed some protein fast. I also ordered by second cider since arriving in the UK and OMG, the cider in Scotland is amazing! More on that later. The owner who we met in the morning was running the pub in the afternoon and recognized us. He was concerned about whether we had found a place to stay or not, which we told him we did not but that we were leaving the following day and thought we could "survive" another night. After he took our order and served other guests, he came by our table and inquired about where we were going next. Once he found out we were headed to Glasgow he grabbed a paper and pen and started writing down all the places he thought we should check out. He grew up in the town of Dumbarton and suggested we take a detour to see the castle. I already had our Glasgow trip scheduled but when a local takes time to sit down at your table and give you advice, you take it! So we changed our plans for the next day.
After lunch we went back to our room and Matt took the hair dryer to our clothes in an attempt to get them somewhat dry before packing them away in a suitcase the following day. He also had to dry his tennis shoes, which I avoided by packing boots. Bless his heart, he sat there for hours with an underpowered blow dryer while I sat on the bed next to the window in my medical mask praying to not die.
That evening we went over to the Drovers Inn for dinner, where I ordered vegetarian bangers and mash with brown sauce and peas. I loved it! Hubby splurged and sauntered up to the bar to get us each a dram of whisky. The barkeep was a young man who was absolutely elated to help Hubs make a decision. This is when the surreal moment for me happened. There we were in Scotland, surrounded by conversations which were distinctly Scottish, in a 300 year old pub with squeaky wood floors, where dogs are allowed to mingle with guests, sipping a glass of whisky. My mind couldn't wrap itself around the experience. It still can't.
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