Best bits: news of Will’s exam results, late lunch
Worst bits: Road walking
Distance: 10.6 miles
Days to the finish: 17
I woke this morning to the news that my son Will has passed all his final exams for architecture and now he’s able to register with the Royal Institue of British Architects. What a huge relief after nine years of studying. I’m so proud of him and I’m looking forward to seeing him in a couple of weeks time to celebrate properly.
In my mind I was replaying all of the things that we’ve done together initially to enhance his chances of getting on the course such as weekly art classes at the Glasgow School of Art in the famous McIntosh building. The models we’ve helped him create, the essays I’ve checked and rechecked because of his dyslexia, the pats on the back when he’s achieved something great and the hugs and support when he’s had a bad day. Angela would be so pleased and so proud of him. I got a bit emotional at the fact that she missed out on this moment.
The kettle was almost boiled when the gas ran out and so I had to jump out and change the bottle. Jobs done I set off on time and was soon back on the road.
I hadn’t been going very long when a car drove past and somebody’s hand was out the window waving at me. They pulled in just down the road and two people started running up the road towards me. It was Virginia from Ardfern. She was off for a day walking on Arran with her friend Sara. They had already driven past Priscilla and stopped to take photographs and were hoping that they would bump into me along the road. Then they did!
This magnificent creature was grazing in the field when it looked up to see who I was.
I walked along the side of West Loch Tarbert where the water was really still. The tide was out for most of the morning.
The road climbed up higher and the view became more extensive. Kirsten arrived bang on time at our meeting point and had even picked up a cuppa for me from the cafe in Tarbert.
Today was a short walk and Kirsten met me at Clachan and drove me back to Priscilla. I went for a lovely hot shower at the harbour. It’s amazing what things you take for granted, like a shower, in normal circumstances and how they have become much more enjoyable and meaningful to me.
We popped over the road to Lullabelles for a late lunch. It was of course time to try out the extensive gin menu too. I had Isle of Gigha and Isle of Bute Oyster gin.
Then back to Priscilla for a catch up and logistics for tomorrow and some wine before an early bedtime.
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