It’s only 1 PM and already I’ve had a full day.
Had toast and very weak coffee at the hotel at 8:30, then walked into town and got money, then to a café to get another cup. Got to the TIC at 9:01 and was the first person there again. Spent an hour catching up on emails (NONE from my family) and went to HW BB to “talk” to my writer friends.
Today is a Bank Holiday in England but only kinda-sorta in Scotland. All the stores are open, plus the post office and library. Just the banks are closed. Post office worker told me today is an English holiday but not a Scottish one. But everything will be closed Easter Monday.
Today was my Walk Day. Besides my usual up and down the hill and up and down High Street and up and down the loch (gosh, I’m tired just writing about it), I walked to the ruins of the Inverlochy Castle. The route begins at the far north end of High Street, behind a McDonald’s. It’s advertised as a three-mile hike (return), but felt like much longer. No matter because it was well worth it. Negligible elevation, which made it pretty easy going. Part of it was on the Great Glen Way so I met a few hardy souls walking the entire way. Some even older than I, but certainly in better shape.
Behind the McDonald’s I crossed the River Nevis and took some pictures. Following the River Nevis and the River Lochy, I passed a huge field whish was the site of part of the Civil War of Inverlochy. Then went over a stile and into a field full of sheep. Some of the rams were really big and they were the only ones that watched me walk through. I took several pictures. They all were marked with blue and yellow. Simon once told me what that meant, but I forgot and will need to ask again.
Went over a narrow footbridge by the aluminium smelter. Under a railway bridge and then I finally saw the ruins of Inverlochy Castle—built 1270-1290. How old! How cool! I took a lot of pictures. It was amazing. A lot of the castle is still there and you can walk among the ruins. I loved it.
On the way back to Fort William I walked through the village of Inverlochy. It is really something. All the houses are nearly the same. All made of stucco—except one had one granite wall. So clean and picturesque. All houses had front courtyards and people really expressed their individuality through the decorating of their courtyards and gardens.
After the walk I stopped for a pint at the pub where I wrote the above.
Worked a bit in the afternoon and then played a bit. Stayed in my room and just snacked for dinner.
posted by Jerilyn Dufresne, author @ 17:09
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