TGO -1

After another not so good night (my bed at the hostel isn't great), I awoke at 05.30. There were three other girls in the room, but they were also getting up early, since they were doing the Edinburgh Marathon. I packed everything the night before , so I was soon on my way to the train station. I changed trains in Glasgow, where a number of people with backpacks were already waiting. On the train I met Helen and Pat, and the time went by quickly. 

From Fort William I took the bus to Kintail, where I spent the night. Some months ago I made a reservation for a bunk bed in the Wee Bunkhouse, very basic and simple, but upon arrival I found that the bunkhouse was closed and I had been upgraded to a beautiful room in the Kintail Lodge at no extra cost. I also had a lovely view of the loch. After dinner with three challengers from Albuquerque, Kent, Greg and Rich, I went to bed at around 10 pm.

Kintail Lodge - my room is to the left of the round windows

The view from my room

Drama on day two

The first thing I did this morning was to check for my sweater at Lost Luggage. It wasn't there. Luckily, my sister with family live close to the airport. In 15 minutes she arrived with a sweater that my brother-in-law let me borrow for the challenge. I guess this is the second challenge the sweater has seen, as he was on the challenge last year.

Sunday May 6 I ordered a QC3 wall charger and Body Glide (anti-chafing cream) from Amazon, for pick-up at Waverly Mall in Edinburgh. The delivery time would be one day. After placing the order this was changed to Wednesday 13:00. When I woke up this was changed to 20.00. The post office closes at 17.30, and this was my last day in Edinburgh. So I called Amazon. All they could do was to return my money. We agreed to wait until 15:00, since I didn't want to spend my afternoon looking for a good wall charger. Body Glide I was fairly sure I couldn't find.

After visiting the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Botanic Garden, and a walk along the Leith to Dean Village, I returned to the post office, fairly nervous.. And finally, the parcel had just arrived! I think I have now had enough drama for this trip. (More of that later)!

Drama from day one

So I was sitting on the plane to Stockholm, relaxing for the first time in days. I was the last one off the plane, I was in no hurry. At the airport I tagged my bag and checked in, thinking that the less I need to do tomorrow, the better. It had been very hot all afternoon, but now it was cooling down, so I went to put my sweater on. This is where I realized it was gone. When had I last seen it? It turns out I left it on the plane =(  I went to left luggage, who informed me that they only receive items from Scandinavian Airlines once a day, around 7 in the morning. So, if they have it and if they are punctual I will get it back before my plane leaves. We'll see tomorrow!

On my way again

I'm on my way again! This time to Scotland, to take part in The Great Outdoors Challenge, TGO for short. This is an annual event, in which 300 to 400 persons make their way across Scotland, starting on the west coast and finishing on the east coast two weeks later. We plot our own routes, mine starts in Shiel Bridge and ends at Dunnottar Castle.

Right now I'm waiting for my flight to Stockholm, where I will stay overnight, and continue to Edinburgh tomorrow morning.

Passing through airport security was a hassle. I anticipated it to take some time so I was here early. As it turned out I had to unpack more and more, and they kept x-raying what wasn't unpacked, until they were satisfied. I will have to be at the airport very early tomorrow.