The Purple Penguin

Saturday 13 June
So got into Glasgow and started trying to find how to get to the airport – hired the car from the airport so we wouldn’t have to drive through Glasgow! After running about looking for the bus stop, we finally found it, just as the bus drove up. So that was good timing. Then got to the airport and to the car rental desk just before a flight came in – so at the head of a long queue of people. Had reserved the smallest car they do, but got a large one. But it’s comfortable and got us on the road. Once we got on the A82 we slowed down and started sightseeing. Took our time driving up past Loch Lomand, stopping every now and again for photos and views.

Didn’t have any problems finding the B&B and got in and got settled. Then down to the pub (about 300m away) for our first hot meal of the day and a drink. And that was us done for the day!

Sunday 14 June
Up fairly early. Had a lovely breakfast and chat with the other guests before getting stuff together and heading out. Today was orientation day – a chance to see the area and get an idea of what we wanted to do. So we carried along up the little B road that goes along Loch Awe, saw where Joe will be doing his photography, and carried on. We took our time, stopping at the parking areas and watching for birds, wildlife, views of the loch.

Decided to do a short walk up to some falls, an easy walk up. The falls we saw weren’t that spectacular, but were nice, and Joe got several photos. The path looped around over the stream and the bridge crossed a fast fall area which was lovely. Carrying along the other side of the stream we cam to the actual falls. Seems the bit you can see from one side of the stream is merely the lower part, which is nice, but the bit above is the really good bit of falls. Sat there for quite a while for Joe to get lots of photos. Carried down to another fast fall, then it really started to rain. It had been lovely and sunny (with lots of midges) but with clouds passing over. This cloud decided it was time to rain and it poured down, complete with hail. We stood under a tree until the worse had passed and then headed back to the car. But the best bit of the walk was, on the way up, we saw a frog! Little froggie just hopping along but he sat for Joe to get several photos before disappearing.

Drove out of that rainstorm and the sun came out again. So we went back to just cruising along, stopping at the parking areas admiring the views. There was another walk that looked very good but the cloud was following us and we really wanted something to eat, so we marked it to do on Wednesday. Did do one short walk along a short path to a viewpoint, which was lovely. We may have even spotted an osprey.

Turned out there wasn’t much to eat along the section of Loch Awe we were on, so we carried on around the loch and headed off toward Oban. Passed several places but we were aimed for Oban so kept going. Now sitting in a lovely pub in Oban, wondering if we’ll ever find an interent connection. But enjoying sitting and sipping a drink while watching the sea and the ferries come in. Getting ready to order dinner.

Things Kathleen forgot (K- because someone was trying to drive and not run off the teeny tiny little one lane road!): spooked something in the road which flew off, big bird, well, not Sesame Street but probably a buzzard, brown with yellow legs; then there was the Castle runined which will look great at sun set/rise; plus the nifty rail bridge just like the Forth bridge but you could paint it in a day :).