Crianlarich

On the map Crianlarich would appear to be a major transport hub with the train from Glasgow splitting here to Oban on the sea or Fort William and with two major roadways passing through but it is a wee village of less than 200 people but I’d never been there and was on my way to Oban so I stopped for a couple days to rest a cold. The ride up was a delight

Ben More Lodge is a hillwalkers rest stop in the better weather with a nice pub and good brekkie.

The kilts on the barstool backs were a nice touch, not as nice as the fire though!

Pine walled lodges with no wifi

And a wee surprised when the library truck rolled in!

A local artist had decorated the walls

A couple of stops up the train line to Ft William was Bridge of Orchy so I decided to visit.  That was an error as nothing, not the hotel or even pub was open.  Well at least the Glencoe road was. Two hours outside the station for the train back but at least no one asked for a ticket

I had heard of the Green Welly Stop in Lower Tyndrum so I went.  The morning had started brisk but dry but the slushy rain made this pointless.  I asked the lads in that black van if they were headed to Crianlarich and was back in my rom in less than 90 minutes for a good snooze.

I met Tom Purcell in the pub and learned that he was a mining consultant from Ireland and he was currently working on a gold mine.  I was aware that occasionally someone might pan for gold and recently one had found a good sized nugget but I was stunned when Tom told me his company which drills not surface mines, was expecting £200 millions of gold from “them thar hills”! I hope to reconnect with him in Erie.