Left home over an hour early and just as well I did as there's a huge traffic jam locally caused by the bud before mine breaking down in the middle of rush hour. My bus now on diversion round the back of the shopping centre. I'm the only happy passenger, everyone else wanted the shops. Train and bus worked perfectly. Now in First Class Lounge at Euston. Will board sleeper in half an hour. Now for a nice meal.... after a thirst quencher. Venison platter to start. Nearly forgot to snap the main course - chicken with black pudding. Pudding: cheese of course. Washed down with a malt. I'll sleep well tonight. 7am, awaiting breakfast... And here it is. Loch Lomond, I never managed to get a tree-free shot, sorry. Still no Internet on the Caledonian Sleeper, but there is Wi-Fi. I don't understand that. So I can't use the laptop for the blog, phone is OK but tricky. [Photos you see now have been edited once I returned home.] Now 9.20 at Tullo...
Problems on the trains today. This one is only 2 coaches and should be 4. It's packed but I have got a window seat facing travel! Here we're passing the southern end of the Caledonian Canal with Neptune's Staircase - 7 locks. Approaching the Glenfinnan viaduct: Everybody rushed to my side of the train at this point! This is looking back at the viaduct and the station is just around the next bend. The purpose of this trip: Arisaig Train conductor advised me which train door would be nearest to the Most Westerly sign. Why aren't there similar signs on the other three stations? I never spotted one. You can tell what the weather is like - typical west coast summer Stayed on the train to cold, wet Mallaig where I had a good lunch starting with expensive local langustines followed by haddock and chips all washed down with unusually low-priced beer The haddock was superb with exceedingly thin batter. There was over an hour to wait for the train back to Fort Willi...
I'm not the only person who decided to return to the station early, there are no seats left. Strange... three times now I've felt the station shudder as though there's a mini earthquake. No train moving, no kids jumping. Maybe it's just my reaction to the cold! Just spent the coldest 20 minutes of my life huddled on Mallaig station with some 50 others failing to avoid the Arctic gale. Eventually we were allowed on the equally cold but relatively draught-free train. I don't think I'll return in a huŕry. A reminder of why I subjected myself to this permafrost: Looks warmer here We sat at Glenfinnan station for a few minutes the were informed that, because this is the last passing place before Fort William, we'll have to wait for the north-bound train which is running about half-an-hour late. I should still easily catch the sleeper. The 7 locks again NEXT: fort-william-to-euston