Monday 11 July 2022, Day 7 on the WHW. Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy, 7.3 miles by Garmin, 489 feet elevation gain, 3 hours 30 minutes walking.
Our rest day around Tyndrum saw bright sunshine and motorcyclists and more people enjoying this beautiful area. Tyndrum, although small, fits the description of a mountain The place is full of bikers, hikers, and folks out just loving the sunshine in Scotland. We have our first introduction to a box breakfast. A paper bag with croissant, yogurt, juice, freeze dried coffee and a box of make your own porridge that once mixed up with boiling water, looks and tastes like wallpaper paste. We all head for the Real Food Cafe, for a supplement of soup as soon as we can.
Upon their arrival the three girls met the village massage specialist at the Tyndrum Inn and scheduled all of us for a massage the next day. Pat the masseuse was good and we all enjoyed our time under her touch.
in South Dakota. It has a little of everything. But alas no more dried prunes. They do have Gorilla Super Glue which I bought at the gasoline station part of I cleaned Karens boots and started the repair process. We hope this works better than the duct tape; but I am keeping the duct tape just in case it does not.
We enjoyed a nice dinner at the Tyndrum Inn bar, not to be confused with the Tyndrum Lodge where we are staying. Another nice rest day. Karen and I walk to the upper Tyndrum Train station after dinner. A walk that made the decision to take the bus.
Pat Fraser, the masseuse, has a busy day with all of us using her services. Sandy is a licensed masseuse and says she is excellent. I am the last, 4:30, to enjoy her strong hands. She tells me a little about her life, inextricably tied up with Tyndrum. She came to the village when she was eighteen, to work in a big hotel near where we have lodging. This hotel now houses employees that work in
Scotlands only active gold mine, which just recently reopened. She says she cried every day for a few weeks but stubbornly stayed as she had heard her mum say to her friends, Shell be home in two weeks! The house staff would get up at five and go to the kitchen where a roster of guests names would be listed and the time each room wanted their coffee. They would set up all the trays and deliver them, retrieve them, wash all the china and cutlery and then make up all the rooms.
Pat now has her masseuse parlor in what used to be the parlor of the old manse. The latter is part of the current Tyndrum Inn. She noted how things have changed in recent years. In the past travelers down to the parlor and have conversations, play cards, read and perhaps have an evening drink. She notes that now travelers will retire to their own ‘bubble room, be on or watch their t.v. And of course, she laughingly says, ‘They make their own coffee in the morning!!
11 July 2022 (Start of Day 7 on WHW) at 0730 we return to the Tyndrum Inn restaurant for a real breakfast. Then walk the half mile back to the Lodge to get packs and head for the trail. We walk beside the stream past the Lower Tyndrum Station and cross the stream and A82 just beyond Green Wallys and start the climb up the side of one of the two Beinn hills that are along our way. It is a nice walking track so we made good time even climbing. Karen is taking the bus today but the other 5 of us walk along.
We encountered more sheep and cows than we had previously seen. One is the long haired Scottish highland cows (Coos). Going up the road on the trail, Sandy catches the loop on the strings of one shoe on the hook on the other and trips. She has a bruised nose and shoulder but is otherwise OK.
When we arrived the restaurant at Bridge of Orchy Hotel told us they had a charter bus tour of 55 to serve and we will
I joined part of the group for breakfast and saw them off on their journey. So, now, down to the bus stop. I stop at a little swath of green across the A82, the main road going north and south in the highlands.
