Oban - Inveraray - Arrochar

Yesterday started out with a win and a loss, and as it turns out, it also finished up with a positive and a negative.

Let's start with the positive. As you may have read on some of the comments, my friend from Perth (via Newman days) Colleen is actually over in Scotland and there was a possibility our paths may have crossed. As it turns out it may not happen, but the nice part was I got to talk to her on the phone last night and actually spoke Australian!!!

The negative was that those bloody banks tied up my money again and wouldn't let withdraw any cash! I cannot believe this has happened to me again. And I had no cousins around to provide a secure internet connection and landline (Missed you Jo!)

I wasn't sure I had enough credit on my UK sim card, so I got out the laptop and loaded up Skype and you can use it to ring International Calls if you have added money to your account (which I had before I left). Because it was 9pm Sunday here, I was able to connect with the CBA in Sydney (10 hours difference)  and got it sorted. But they could give me no explanation why it had happened again... I had listed all my countries I was visiting and there were no attacks on my account..... I so hate banks!!! So, once it had been cleared I went straight back down to the ATM and took my money out, in case they did it again to me. Fortunately it worked this time, as I was getting low on cash.

I suppose it gives me something to write about on my blog!

After my rest day yesterday, I must admit I felt refreshed and invigorated and ready to hit the road again. I think I mentioned yesterday that my target destination was Arrochar - which my Scottish friends Margaret and Alistair totally approved of. 😃

Today's actual journey

This is what Miss GMaps and Gaby Garmin wanted me to do!

As you can see from the maps above, my GPS and myself had a little argument about which way to go to Arrochar. I consulted both GMaps and Gaby Garmin and they both were adamant I should take the short way, but I tricked them by putting in Lochgilphead and then when I got there, put in Arrochar. It was a longer journey, but it was so beautiful. It had the compulsory one lane road for about 10kms, but after that the roads were excellent and traversed some really beautiful country.

When I left Oban, it was very misty and rainy, but I was glad in a way, because at last I was getting to experience what was quintessential Scottish weather!!

Misty weather

Misty weather

I wasn't sure what facilities were available along the road, so I stopped at this lovely hotel for a cup of coffee and  a loo break.

Coffee and a lovely fire

View from across the road from this hotel (Kinipoch hotel)

It was a delightful drive as the road wound through the mountains again. The country was more like that up North than the Western shores where I have been lately, and the mountains were so majestic. They just seem to tower over you and spill down to the road.

The route that I had selected followed water for most of the way and was just lovely. In the beginning the mist covered a lot of the view, but was the day went on, it started to clear. The skies were still grey, but the views were there to be seen again.

Views from the road

Views from the road

I stopped for lunch at a charming little village called Inveraray.

Main street of Inveraray

Inveraray Harbour

Memorial for the soldiers from the Scottish regiment killed in WW1. Note the wreath from Ypres.

Inveraray also has a castle, but I've decided I've had enough castles for a while. So I drove up the driveway to get a picture, then did a U turn and kept going on the journey.

Inverary Castle

Inverary Castle is the seat of the Dukes of Argyll and the Clan Campbell.

Not sure if any of you know about the massacre at Glencoe when the Campbells betrayed the MacDonalds, but I've always been a bit "off" the Campbells since then!

I'll be going to Glencoe again when I join my train tour at the weekend, so I'll try and give you a more full account then. Hopefully with pics!

 After lunch it was only a short journey to Arrochar and once again the scenery was just magical.

Beautiful scenery once more

Beautiful scenery once more

Beautiful scenery once more

And we're now officially within the realms of Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond Territory

Now I have safely arrived at Arrochar and am staying at the Arrochar Hotel.

Arrochar Hotel

It is positioned right across the road from Loch Long and is only a couple of miles away from Loch Lomond - that might be tomorrow's journey, because I'm here for 2 nights.

Views of Loch Long

Views of Loch Long

Views of Loch Long

I payed a little bit extra to get a room with a view, so now I'm sitting at the table near the window, looking out over those views - just magnificent. The cloud is descending on the mountain opposite and it's beginning to once again look like the Scotland I imagined.

How lucky am I to be experiencing all this.