This year's TGO Challenge is our 3rd trip across Scotland and we are set to start from the town of Oban and finish right on the beach in Montrose. Again this year I tried to find a balance of interesting sites to see, but make it walk-able for Vicky with maybe a couple of "wild days" to add some scenery for me. Traveling to Scotland takes the usual planes, trains and automobiles. This year I was forced to fly just American Airlines and not use British Airways because of the terrible pricing BA has put on awards tickets. BA is charging almost as much in a use tax for the award ticket as the whole ticket. Instead AA has started a new service running out of Philadelphia directly to Glasgow Scotland. This sounds ideal as it is only 2 hours from St.Louis to Phily and just 5.5 hours from Phily to Glasgow saving all the time of connecting through Heathrow in London, However AA is using the awful 757 a plane not really suited for transatlantic flight and so small there is not a chance of award tickets in its only 12 business class seats (no first class). First world problems I know, but it makes for a rather uncomfortable albeit shorter flight to our destination.
Below is an overview of the middle portion of Scotland with our route and some of the FWA (foul weather alternatives) if needed.
Leaving on a jet plane
All set and ready to go.
The fascinating thing about our trip across this year was a night flight where given the distance and time we chased the sunrise all the way across the Atlantic. Leaving at 7 pm EST and arriving in Glasgow at 6 am GMT, the sun never completely set.
Once in Glasgow we know our way around the city by now and it was off to the high street for a look around and then off to Queens Street Station to catch our 2 hr train to Oban.
The trip up the westside of the country brought us into some small but charming railway stations.
Arriving in Oban it was still raining as it had been on and off all day. Oban is a charming and busy little city with ferry service to the islands of Mull and Skye.
I had booked us into the Youth Hostel in Oban this year. The YHA would also be the sign out point for all the challengers starting from Oban, so I thought it would be a convenience and easy place to start. It is on the outskirts of the main "downtown" area, but that is only about 1/2 mile from the train station. There was 50 challengers scheduled to start from Oban this year. The most popular starting point of the year.
We took advantage of walking around town for the day (that is what walkers do on their days off- walk)
We explored the streets and neighborhoods and found some lovely spots.
We stopped into their local grocery store (Tesco) and looked for anything else we might need to supplement our supplies. One of the differences in our culture is they make pre-made pancakes to serve anytime. Can't say this is not a bad idea!
In the evening we spent time in the local brew pub with the vetter (person who checked our route for this year) Colin Crawford, who we also shared a room with at the YHA. Colin was on his 20th Challenge and we shared a few excellent brews and conversation. We also ran into Patrick Deane, who had been so nice to Vicky and I on our first crossing starting in Mallaig in 2014.
Day 1 Friday May 11, 2018 Oban to Taynuilt Hotel -12 miles
Vicky woke not feeling really good. We chalked it up to a bit of jet lag and went down to breakfast before checking out at the official register at the Oban YHA. In order to complete the challenge you must sign out in the beginning and sign back in at Challenge Control in the Park Hotel at the very end. (As usual you must also phone in 4 times along your walk)
Our page of the register. We are challengers 122 and 123
Our first day overview
The 12 miles walk from Oban to Taynuilt is all on roads, some paved some gravel, but hardly any traffic all day, just an easy stroll to get up to speed. The day was cloudy and overcast with a cold wind, but no rain fell on us while we were walking.
May is lambing season and we passed many farms during the day.
baby lamb
great views most of the day as we can see we will be heading into the real highlands of Scotland soon. The day was mostly uneventful expect for one event. Vicky and I had been walking the road talking to a few challengers as we passed or passing us when a tall English man appeared next to us. I didn't look up at first when I said hi, but then noticed blood dripping down his face. We immediately stopped him and offered assistance. He had been reading his map when a gust of wind had caught him and made him stumble off the road. He had landed face first off the road in the gravel and dirt. He had a large gash on his forehead that looked to need a few stitches. We sat him down and managed to get it butterflied close and put some tape over the wound. He then proceeded along his way (he was a very fast walker) In all that we failed to get his name. (If anyone knows who that was and if he was able to get stitched up please let me know. I would like to make sure he was ok! )
Arriving at the Taynuilt (Guest House?) around 2 pm
When I had made my reservations here way back in December, it was the Taynuilt Hotel with a bar and restaurant attached. Since then the bar and restaurant have moved to Oban and left just a guest house with no evening meal or drink.
I had gone to the tiny local grocery store upon arriving, while Vicky rested, to buy some food for the evening, as I was offered the use of the oven and stove, but when I returned to the guest house a plan was presented! Also staying in the Guest House was John and Norma Keohane, who we met and became friends with on our first challenge and have stayed in touch with on social media.
John is on his 21st challenge! and Norma on her 13th. Also in the hotel were Marian Parsons and her husband Mike. Marian had actually pulled out of the challenge before the start with a bad foot, but was following Mike by car for a few days before going off on a sight seeing adventure of her own, while Mike did the Challenge. The plan was to shuttle us all down the road just a couple of miles to Brander Lodge where we could get a meal and some drinks.
Dinner at the Brander Lodge turned out to be really nice. The lodge (hotel) was very upscale for being along the A816 motorway in the Bridge of Awe.
At dinner was (Vicky, with her back to the camera), Mike and Marion Parsons, Anne Satow, John and Norma Keohane
We also met Andrew Glass a challenger from Canada who told us he thought our route for tomorrow was going to be too muddy to start out and we might have to find a detour. We will meet up with Andrew again later in our story. We all decided that there was really nothing we could do but continue on our planned route and see the situation for ourselves first thing in the morning.
But dinner was superb with venison medallions, sweat potato puree in a red wine reduction, cooked pear and a bit of deep fried haggis.
Oh boy, have I been waiting for this. When you came home, we got few details about everyday adventures. Looks as though you had a very good beginning, and it is so great that you all met up with people you already knew. The food actually looked pretty good. lol I'm liking all the great scenes along the countryside. Your narrative is always the BEST. Keep it coming!!
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