We are in Fort William waiting for Stuart to arrrive so that we can continue the West Highland Way. I am somewhat apologetic to admit that I had another day off yesterday. This was solely due to being ahead of schedule due to finishing the Caledonian Canal in 3 day rather than 4 and having to wait for Stuart to arrive. Alan took Richard and Meredith back to Glasgow Airport to return to Canada. I am very grateful to them for coming over and helping me on two of the more serious challenges of the route. Having read the blog on Loch Lochy I think that Richards memory is a little over enthsiastic in terms of the size of the waves. I think they were about a foot to 18 inches not 2-3 ft. Put another way the wind was strong enough that we were pleased not to be going the other way and some of the larger waves definitely pushed the boats along so that we were almost surfing.

Yesterday I had a great day off going up into the northen corrie of Ben Nevis under the north face. I hope that the photographs will do justice to the amazing scenery. I returned over the col to the campsite in Glen Nevis. In contrast to the tourist route I saw 6 peaple all morning. I was also able to sneak a quick look in the CIC hut in the corrie as it is being renovated. This hut is where all the greats in Scottish mountaineering have stayed and is a part of mountaineering history.

If I can reply to a couple of the blogs. I am very grateful to Liz and the Wantage Choral Society for their generous gesture and donation. Please can Liz pass on my best wishes and thanks.

Alan, So far the midges have been relatively quiet. We did get driven inside yesterday. Luckily we have sufficient breeze to keep the away at the moment. I hope that this continues as the West Hightland Way is notorious for them.

Not much more to report except that we are moving on from Fort William tomorrow and we hope to get to the bottom of Loch Lomond by the weekend. I have decided to walk down Loch Lomond as Orginally planned as I have a slight strain in my side from paddling and I do not want to aggrevate it.

If any one is interested I have started to update the equipment lists.  I thought that I might put some comments on at the end of the trip in terms of what we used, could have left behind and wished we had taken. This might help for planning future journeys.

Many thanks for all the support.