We arrive in Glasgow at about 7:00 am, WAY too early after such a long bus journey. The city is deserted as we wind our way through it’s streets to the SYHA and the start of the trail proper.
It takes about 40 minutes to reach the YHA, our legs are stiff and the packs feel very heavy after a few months off carying them! It strikes me that we havn’t done anything like this since we were in New Zealand. it’s going to hurt a bit at least!
We’ve already met 2 lovely people today, a “bagel lady” who whilst she served me breakfast managed to keep up a good chatter about the WHW and how much we will enjoy it, the second was a guy obviously used to lost backpackers who directed us toward the yha, unprompted and with a great grin. Wish I was that chipper at 7:30 every morning!
We wander down the kill to the banks of the Kelvin and descend into a parallel world that runs through the city more-or-less unmolested by the rigours of it’s journey. It really seems that we’re a world away as the odd commuter zipps past on their bike and the odd dog-walker shatters the peace. It’s almost like a deserted city - “Glasgow, the city that never wakes”
Down by the river...
Bags are feeling heavy and my legs protest as we tick over the 5 mile point - I know the fitness will return quickly but it’s still a shock to the system. On the banks of the Kelvin we stop to admire the view, already the city seems a long way away and we’re sourounded by fields, and Milngavie! As we walk on there are wild raspberries along the path - perfect for snacking on!
Snacking
In the park we stop for lunch, many people call it a rest here in the suburbs of Glasgow but we’re determined to make it a bit further and find a nice wild-camp somewhere. Wendy has a post-fodder nap in the sunshine and then it’s off again, rolling down the road.
The "Official" Start
A few miles on down the trail we find a decent spot for dinner - right next to a lovely little loch (craigallian loch) where we can swim-off the day’s perspiration - and a little patch of woodland to hide our wild-camp in.
Craigallian loch
Wild-Camp night 1
Hawks circle our heads as we eat our rations, butterflys flit past as we rest. - I hope tomorrow will be as nice…
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