It rained all night, and by the time I woke up there were nearly twenty slugs on my tent. Removing them was not the funnest task I've ever I've had in the morning. All night I'd been sliding down the tent and my legs had stiffened horribly.
I trotted down the slope to the gate I'd past yesterday, the ground before it became very boggy. Peering out I climbed over and felt the sudden relief of having done something naughty and gotten away with it. The path back down was as steep as I remember it. Once back on Queenzieburn I carried straight on towards the next section of Forth and Clyde Canal, the rain also continued and my rain pants were no not merely split as gaping. There must look ridiculous.
 |
| Bike track along Glazert Water |
3 miles more of canal and then I was off into Barleybank and a quick break in a McDonalds, breakfast and internet. I also enjoyed their toilet facilities after my camp in the wilderness. From there I switched between the canal path to a bike track along Glazert Water. I barely noticed Lennoxtown as I skirted it and then along the fields near to the rather impressive Dunglass mound into Strathblane. A hotel here provided me with tea and yet more internet. Gladiator soundtrack, which I'd downloaded at McDonald, had bawled me over and I was listening to it a third time. I took this break as a chance to get a few more of Hans Zimmer's work, grinning when I got confirmation that he had in fact
written Pirates of the Caribbean.
 |
| Dunglass Mound |
 |
| On reaching the WHW |
Finally the West Highland Way!!! There was a struggle between Strathblane and joining the trail, the path going through overgrown fields where the route is too indistinct to work out where the hell I'm meant to go. Without View Ranger GPS there is no way I'd not have gotten very lost here. In the end I ran across a field full of horses and joined the road, putting up with traffic for a clear path.
West Highland Way began with a nice easy track, flat and wonderfully clear of brambles and nettles. I'd already walked nearly 20 miles my this point and boredom was not only welcomed but cherished. I played the Gladiator soundtrack again and grinned my head off having completed a section of the walk I was dreading. There would be campsites galore from now on. More than than Wimbledon was about to start! Life was good.
I reached camp and was shocked at the amount of other small
portable tents tottered around the campsite. In the past weeks I'd seen
maybe half a dozen other hikers traveling with a pack, and there was
that number here in one night. East Drumqyhassle Farm is a lovely camp,
the grass was a little long but there was a shelter for the kitchen,
showers were included and it ran on a honesty box where you paid the
mere £5 fee. I love these rough and tumble campsites and they offer just
as much as the larger corporate ones. They feel more homely and safe,
moreover no fire code prevents them from offering up pluck sockets.
something I cherish above all things after a nights wild camping.
 |
| East Drumqyhassle Farm campsite |
3 miles more of canal and then I was off into Barleybank and a quick break in a McDonalds, breakfast and internet. I also enjoyed their toilet facilities after my camp in the wilderness. From there I switched between the canal path to a bike track along Glazert Water. I barely noticed Lennoxtown as I skirted it and then along the fields near to the rather impressive Dunglass mound into Strathblane. A hotel here provided me with tea and yet more internet. Gladiator soundtrack, which I'd downloaded at McDonald, had bawled me over and I was listening to it a third time. I took this break as a chance to get a few more of Hans Zimmer's work, grinning when I got confirmation that he had in fact 
I reached camp and was shocked at the amount of other small
portable tents tottered around the campsite. In the past weeks I'd seen
maybe half a dozen other hikers traveling with a pack, and there was
that number here in one night. East Drumqyhassle Farm is a lovely camp,
the grass was a little long but there was a shelter for the kitchen,
showers were included and it ran on a honesty box where you paid the
mere £5 fee. I love these rough and tumble campsites and they offer just
as much as the larger corporate ones. They feel more homely and safe,
moreover no fire code prevents them from offering up pluck sockets.
something I cherish above all things after a nights wild camping. 
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