Next day we started out of Glasgow along Loch Lomond and then into the mountains and glens. We paused somewhere near a church holding a funeral with bagpipes playing.

Sheep, sheep and more sheep – everywhere. When on the road they know perfectly well who has right of way and behave accordingly and with ‘attitude’.

We drove alongside Loch Awe on the most magical road but while I oohed and aahed I realized that this could only be appreciated by people facing forward and people riding in a bus wouldn’t get that view so – it was for me only, not for a group.

Paul was concentrating on driving – it was challenging.

I also realised in the first couple of days that my back was not happy with all the bouncing around on very bumpy roads, stopping suddenly for oncoming traffic since these were one lane roads, and the winding bends one after the other. We have agreed that B roads are to be avoided. Even A roads are often just one lane here but the surface is better.

Our first overnight in Oban was a poor experience though I suppose a one-toothed barmaid to check one in can be considered a cultural experience. Four flights of stairs on old, worn carpet patched with duct tape, a bathroom so tiny you could hardly turn around in it, leaking roof when it rained, furniture falling apart, and the ubiquitous kettle for making morning tea had something black and really nasty inside. We were glad to leave.