Day 1: Milngavie to Garmin recording
Today we learned that the restaurant “Sizzler” apparently had very different connotations in the midwest in the mid-90s and California in the late 80s, but that nonetheless we are agreed that the Beefeater Steakhouse in suburban Scotland of a Saturday evening could be easily dropped into — say — Cleveland, OH without anyone in either location being the wiser (as long as the volume was turned slightly down on the accents).
We started Day 1: Milganvie to Drymen (12 miles by according the guidebook, 13.5 by the Garmin when all was said and done) bright and early and bushy tailed. The first 3/4 of the route were quite lovely, well-maintained trail getting out of town and into forested, rolling-hilled countryside, and even included a side-trip at Glendgoyne distillery for a tour and whisky tasting. After that we hit the wall early and we hit the wall often. The last few miles in particular were on a narrow, paved road that had no shoulder and no places where one could rest ones’ weary feet (though it was possessed of plenty of short, steep hills to keep the intrepid trekker entertained while waiting for the destination to hove into view o’er the horizon).
We did finally arrive in Drymen, if somewhat ragged, footsore, and slightly cranky. Our B’n’B was really lovely and we had a great dinner at (allegedly) Scotland’s oldest pub.
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- At the starting obelisk
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- Stream running from Milhgavie
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- Bee butt
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- Gaining ground
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- Over the first ridge into the highlands (only just)
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- Sidetrip for a whisky tasting at Glengoyne
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- Happy after whisky tasting at Glengoyne
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- Finally made it!
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- And dinner and drinks at Scotland’s oldest pub!
