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Day 61 Lennoxtown to Drymen (800 miles completed)

 

A very warm day was predicted so we started walking early (8.30am) from Lennoxtown, back on the John Muir Way along a sheltered old railway line surrounded by woodland. I turned back with Alfie after a short while as it was going to be warm and called in at 'Alfie's roastery' where I was given a free coffee. It looked a very interesting place. 



Garry carried on along the railway line for about 5 miles until he reached Strathblane, having passed Dunglass with some unusual looking caves.  In Strathblane, Garry walked through the village and a housing estate to find the John Muir pathway again. 

Garry continued on a forestry track for a couple of miles until he joined the West Highland Way (WHW) at Carbeth Loch. We walked the WHW back in September 2021 (pre-Alfie days) in cooler temperatures.   He met Charlie, who was running 25K today! Once on the WHW, there was a noticeable increase in the number of hikers, many of whom commented on Garry's sign ' Walking Land's End to John o'Groats', including Paul and Jen, who were both keen walkers.     

                    

At Dungoyne, Garry stopped for an ice cream and a cold drink. There were many hikers seeking shady spots. The path was fairly flat and straight from here to Gartness, a pretty little village with a fairly extensive honesty box. 

          

          

The road from Gartness passed Easter Drumquhassle and for the last mile the road undulated up and down to Drymen, where we shall probably see a few hikers later.

                                                        

A total of 16.2 miles in heat of 26-27 degrees at a good pace. Garry has now walked a total of 809 miles and has passed the 75% mark. 

Tomorrow is a well deserved rest day, and predicted to be one of the hottest days in Scotland this year. 

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