It's time to end this walk

Day 4: Arrochar to Lochgoilhead

Distance: 11.9 miles (59.1 total)

Time: 5 hours 45 minutes

Tomorrow: It's time to end this walk.

I'm learning to walk differently. When I walked in February it was boots on, head down, complete the miles. Partly because the miles to be completed each day are slightly more reasonable on this walk, and partly because B and I are trying to persuade Walker Number 3 that these hikes might actually be quite fun, I've been open to all sorts of new experiences: we've been to cafes, we've not started a walk until after 9, we've even stopped to enjoy the view. Yesterday I remarked to Barnaby that maybe in future I could go on shorter walks and take my camera and enjoy both my favourite hobbies; to me this was quite the breakthrough moment, but the look that my youngest gave me rather suggested that this was not exactly rocket science. This new-found adaptability came into its own today, when we decided at the last minute to change our route. The original route for today was going to take us over The Brack, quite an exposed and steep peak, but with 30+ mph gusts predicted and rain setting in for most of the day, we decided to change tack and follow The Cowal Way to Lochgoilhead instead. We still had quite a climb, we were still on quite an exposed peak, and we still struggled to stay upright in the fiercest gusts, but it was a far more children-friendly day than it might have been (these things are all relative!).

As Dad taught me, some days no matter how many waterproofs you're wearing, you are still going to get soaked through. Today was one of those days. The walk started with a steady climb out of Arrochar where we soon realised that today was going to be, one of those days. As I talked about in yesterdays blog, Midges and Midday Prayer seem to come together in a most frustrating way. Today was no different from yesterday, which is why we have decided to officially rename Midday Prayer, Midge-Day Prayer. 

Okay, so I thought B was going to write a bit more, but he's asked me to fill in while he gathers his thoughts, so this is what I have -

- I used to have a boy who would skip, just skip, when he was really happy. Today, making our way through a forest as the rain poured down, I watched him skip ahead of me. Just writing this is making me want to cry.

- As we walked towards the summit of today's hike, the rain got heavier and the wind got wilder. Although James had a waterproof coat with him, he refused to put it on, in spite of my frequent pestering. As we came down off the summit (and the only other people we saw up there were soldiers on training) I chastised James for being the only person I'd seen in a tracksuit top, to which he replied, "And you're the only person I've seen all day in shorts." Busted.
- The walk is nearly over. I hate it when these walks end. Always. And I know that tomorrow I need to return Mum, and that's been on my mind a lot today. She loved being up in the hills (although I don't think she'd have enjoyed them today) (in fact, she'd have given me a right royal bollocking for taking the boys up into the hills in the weather we had). Tomorrow my pack will be a lot lighter. My heart will be a lot heaver; for a time.

As we got closer and closer to the top, the wind picked up more and more. By the time we were at the summit you could barely stand still without getting blown all the way back to Arrochar. It was at this point that Dad(dy) decided that it was time to record my daily 'Bring Me Sunshine'. I think that James would agree with me that we weren't too keen on being up there for too long, but I did it anyway, I think that my loyal fans deserve it. As I was struggling to keep myself upright whilst singing 'Bring Me Sunshine' the wind howled over the hilltops.

Tomorrow is going to be tough. The three of us have shared in carrying Granny all this way, but now it's time to end this walk and bring Granny hame.

James writes:

Today's walk was alright but midges were everywhere. The climb wasn't that bad and when we got to the top it was a little bit windy but me and Barny didn't notice it but father was getting battered about and he was whinging for the whole walk also the walk was a 8/10 and the veiws were pretty cool and yea.

this will be all