Wednesday 10/11/04

Woke up to a bright and sunny morning, a complete contrast to yesterday's wintery situation. Today I'm relocating - to Lochmaddy, North Uist, Western Isles. Walked to Fort William at 9 o'clock, leaving Glen Nevis for the final time on this visit. The bus to Uig left at 10.15 and took me on a wonder tour through the wild west of Scotland. It was fantastic. The sun was out and put everything in a beautiful autumn hue. The Great Glen, Loch Garry, from the viewpoint on the A87 beyond Invergarry, Cluanie, Glen Shiel and Skye. Sgurr nan Gillean cast a shadow at 1pm which almost reached the road. The sun was that low. Reached Uig at 1.45, and had to wait for the Lochmaddy ferry for about half an hour. Not many were going that afternoon. At 2.15 footpassengers were transferred to the Hebrides in a minibus. Once the ferry had docked, the walkway was hoisted up and we could go on board. The crossing was totally unremarkable, hardly any swell. Arrived into Lochmaddy at dusk at 4.40. Walked to the Uist Outdoor Centre, where things went pearshape. The door was locked, the building was in darkness and nobody about. Rather disgruntled I withdrew to the nearest phonebooth and rang the proprietors, or tried to. Neither phonenumber was answered .Oh. So I relocated to the Lochmaddy Hotel for the night, and determined to sort this stupid problem out the next day. Waitress at the hotel snatched plate from under me nose before I had finished it, and you cannot remonstrate with a full mouth, can you now. Bad end to the day.