Thursday 9 September

MISTAKE!!!! We should never have camped at that hotel. The surrounding terrain is bog which means loads and loads of midges!! We were going to cook ourselves some dinner, but you only had to stick your head outside the tent and you hit a wall of midges. They weren't big, just plentiful. I have never seen so many midges in one spot. We smothered ourselves in my Jungle Formula anti bug lotion - they loved it!! They grew fat on it! We gave up and went into the hotel for a soup and a roll and a drink.
As wild camping is allowed anywhere in Scotland, the area just over the bridge from the hotel is free to camp, but you are not allowed to use the hotel toilets. As mentioned, the area around is scrub and bog - no cover. The evening is no problem, as the hotel is open and lots of people are wandering in and out. In the morning, however, the hotel is firmly shut. This was one of the reasons we set off so early this morning (7.05) - that and the fact that the midges were so bad we just packed up in double quick time and got out of there fast. We still had so many bites that it was murder. We set off for Glen Coe, and the trip down would have been magical, as the mountains were majestic, and loomed out of the mist. However, all that was on my mind was the distance to Glen Coe (12 miles before a toilet break), the throbbing of my whole face where I had been bitten, and food.
We got to Glen Coe - of course nothing was open at that time, except for a petrol station that sold hot food. Got a chicken and bacon pastie which we had to heat up ourselves in the microwave and a cup of tea each. Also some Avon bug repellent, which we have been told is the only thing that works. Smacks of stable doors, I know, but maybe we'll have more problems later, although we have resolved NOT to camp again this trip unless absolutely necessary!!!!
We were on a cycle path for a lot of the way after Glen Coe, and on into Onich. On the way got phoned by the BBC in Bangor, who had seen the article in the NW Weekly News and wanted to interview me. Unfortunately, it must have been for Radio Cymru, as they wanted to do it in Welsh!! They weren't interested as I couldn't do that. Carried on to Fort William. Just on the outskirts, as we were riding on the pavement (roads narrow and busy), we got off as two old ladies were walking along it. As we went to get back on again at a dropped bit of curb, Peter misjudged it, didn't hit it square enough and - bang, down he went - the back tyre having caught along the curb and thrown him off! (Richard, he really needs those lessons! Although after your last comment, he was blaming the shoddy goods you sold him :-)). He picked himself up and carried on, but it became obvious that he had a puncture, so he fixed it at the side of the road. There was lovely scenery behind him, but I don't think he appreciated that at the time!! 15 minutes to fix - well done Peter!! Second repair on the move.
We arrived at a Hotel where we booked a B&B at 11am. We were early and the room wasn't ready, so we walked into town and I am currently at the local library typing this. We may take this as our rest day, instead of tomorrow, as we are so early arriving here.
I think John Clayton arrives here tonight, s0 we may see him sometime.