West Highland Way / Slighe na Gàidhealtachd an Iar - The Run Up!

Max, my cat, always seems to get a bit nervous when I erect the tent on the back garden. The occasion this time was to re-proof the poor thing for its next outing (the tent, not the cat), which was to be the 95 mile West Highland Way.
I'd already done about half of the WHW about fifteen years ago, with my partner at the time. We had finished just north of Beinglas Farm, which coincided curiously with his previous finish point on a South - North walk of the Way. He cited 'trench foot'. Not impressed. For years I wanted to complete it, but was diverted into the salty world of sailing...
Being now free of any commitment, I'd roughly planned to complete it in September / October this year, anticipating I'd be in work by then with a couple of months under my belt and hoping that my new employers would allow me time off work. This scenario didn't pan out and after chatting with a friend I decided to bring it forward and to just get on with it. That conversation was about 4 weeks ago.
I just about had the kit to do it. Another friend on Facebook, who I've never met in person (as is the way for a lot of online contact), sent me his original GoLite Jam for free, instead of passing it to a charity shop. So I sold my old Lowe Alpine Frontier 65+15L on eBay, pocketed the cash and lightened up a little (2Kg actually!). I had my heavy, old Trisar tent (now reproofed), waterproofs, my sleeping set up and the basics to be able to feel comfortable about walking the 95 miles from Milngavie to Fort William.
With some other things I sold on eBay, I funded my petrol and a stop in Fort William Backpackers Hostel (cheers to Andy who let me leave the car there), plus the lovely train journey down to the start of the walk.
So on the Tuesday following my birthday I said goodbye to my cat and drove up to Fort William, the drive from Dumbarton onwards was clear and fast, spurred on by listening to Eddie Vedder, accompanied by yours truly.

Driving through Rannoch Moor and finally sighting Buachaille Etive Mor was awe inspiring and I hopped out of the car to take a pic, mindful that a coach I'd just overtaken was soon going to bear down on me again!

I arrived at the hostel at bang on 7pm, and quickly got sorted out before meeting a friend in Fort William for a beer.