And only 69 to go, if it really is 79 miles. What with our mistakes as we walk the Great Glen Way who knows how many miles we will really go?!

We began today with the hotel breakfast. I won’t miss them, to be honest, but since I normally don’t even eat breakfast does it really matter that they were sort of ho-hum? Probably not!

We first went to the starting point of the walk to take a photo. A woman eating at the picnic table right in front of us offered to take a photo of us. She was clearly American, but we didn’t really chat so I have no clue where she is from. She, too, was doing the GGW, but she was on her own. I suggested we’d see her on the trail but she said she was a very slow walker.

And then it began. The first mile (plus a little) was what I’d already done, but the rest was new. At Soldier’s Bridge the woman who said she was a slow walker passed us. We never saw here again. Some of the walk was now just walking through the town of Caol (pronounced “Cool”), as cars drove by.

Eventually we did come across the fairly well known beached boat and of course I had to take a photo.

Then it was on to the village of Corpach. It was there, at the Corpach Sea Lock Office, that we could purchase a key that would get us into a few compost toilets on the GGW. Well … so much for that! The sign said they were understaffed and no one was there. Ah well.

At that point we were at the Caledonian Canal and that was to be our companion for the entire rest of the day. That and just a lovely view, beautiful flowers, and an easy going walk for the most part. Because we were on an unpaved road it wasn’t as easy on our feet as, say, a forest path would be, but really it wasn’t bad, and there really was no climb to speak of.

Prior to the eight locks of Neptune’s Staircase the GGW marker told us to take a left. We ignored it because we wanted to first see Neptune’s Staircase. When we went back we saw a different sign for the GGW and took that instead. It took us in a circle, really. Turned out that turning left bit was merely to avoid crossing train tracks (or so we think). We should have just kept walking when we first arrived at Neptune’s Staircase! (Is this confusing? I’m not sure I’m writing clearly, but I am so exhausted my brain isn’t working all that well! Of course it also wasn’t working well when we walked in a circle. Hah!)

Close to the top of the Staircase we saw a place to get lunch, so we stopped, had bowls of lentil soup, and enjoyed sitting for a time.

Then it was back to walking the canal.

I’ve read people complain about the day due to walking the road and “just” being by the canal, but honestly it was just so pretty and I was happy to be there.

We walked by another swing bridge and eventually ended up at the Gairlochy locks and swing bridge.

Then I merely had to learn how to make a phone call to our night’s lodging’s owners. It took a while, but I eventually figured it out (011 44 are required, but the 0 that’s listed before the given phone number should be removed. Who knew? Definitely not this phoneaphobic person!)

Cameron showed up quickly, and drove us to our place. It is just fine and the yard is beautiful! But our luggage transport hadn’t shown up with our luggage. Uh-oh! I called Mickledore and was told they’d get on it right away. Then I remembered our AirTags! I could easily see the luggage never left the place we stayed last night. When Mickledore got back to me they said there had been a “hiccup” and I said I knew that the luggage was still at our hotel. Gotta love those AirTags! It took a bit of time, but the luggage did show up. Whew!

We walked to dinner. I ate too much.

We walked back to our lodging …

We showered. And now I’m fried which is why you are reading the “rest of the story” in one quick paragraph.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a thirteen mile day and is supposed to be a bit harder. I hope we are up for it!