Log No 110. Tue 13th Aug 2013 - Camusnagaul to Ft William, 23 miles (1724 miles walked)

We opted for a late start this morning and took the 10.00 ferry back across to Camusnagaul. The earlier ferry was 07.45 but with a good 45 minute walk from the campsite into Ft William it was a bit too early.

It had been a dry night and the forecast was reasonable as we set off on a 20 mile road walk round Loch Eil.

If we had started walking at 08.00 it would be an easy walk and we would expect to finish by 16.00.

The same walk started over 2 hours later is psychologically much harder for when it gets to the usual stopping time and you still have a couple of hours to go it can fairly drain the body.

The weather was very calm and there were virtually no ripples on the loch giving us perfect reflections.

The south side of the loch was fairly open so we had some good views.

It made a change to see a mussel farm in a loch instead of the usual salmon farm.

It took us just over 3 hours to get round the end of the loch and we were both feeling the effects of long distance walking, Mick's knees and my achilles tendons were complaining.

We didn't have the same views from the north side with it being more tree lined and the long straight stretches of main road made the walk seem much longer.

The sun came out in the afternoon and we came across an unfortunate road casualty, a pine marten.

After going through Corpach we came to the Caledonian Canal and stopped in the Moorings Hotel for a "Last Supper". Mick had reached his target of Ft William and I decided my ankles needed a break and so would also take a break here, a week earlier than planned.

It seems a while since the cloud level has been above the mountain tops but today we just about got to see the summit of Ben Nevis.

Mick's train back was at 07.40 and I realised I should hopefully be able to make the 13.15 ferry if I catch the 07.30 bus.

This would mean leaving the campsite by 06.15 so after a hard 23 miles it was early to bed and hope to rise in time.