Coast to Coast Day 1

Glasgow to Ratagan YH (not all by bike!)
Our big adventure started with us sipping coffee amidst harassed commuters in Queen Street Station. The three musketeers (Elizabeth, Elspeth and Adam) and their gleaming steeds, boarded the train to Inverness and then on to Kyle of Lochalsh. Once there, the steeds remained gleaming and dry for less than one minute as the rain was throwing it down and you could barely see the sea, never mind over to the Isle of Skye. Still, undaunted, we started our journey South to Ratagan, where we were going to stay the night. Passing by Eileen Donan castle (pausing only to add to it's reputation as the most photographed in Scotland) we were all wondering whether 6 days of battering rain would really be the best way to spend our holidays. Adam and Elspeth decided that they wanted to be even wetter and went for a swim in the sea. I pleaded the lack of a swimming costume (or a towel larger than a face cloth) so only paddled!

When we turned up to the hostel there was noone around but we let ourselves in and, while hugging a mug of steaming coffee, we spotted a porpoise out in the water. With our waterproof socks also steaming away in the drying room, everything was starting to seem a bit better. After a good feed in the Kintail Arms and trying to coax the nearby llamas to come and be photographed, we settled down for a good sleep before the adventure proper.