WHW Day 1 Train to Milngavie and...walk!

I woke early to get my 07:42 train from Fort WIlliam to Milngavie. I'd already been on this journey before and my memory of it was one of the highlights of the previous attempt. It lived up to expectations this time too, with mostly clear, sunny skies across the boggy expanses near Corrour and Rannoch, with views of the mountains clear both near and far.
Early entertainment was provided first by trying to spot potential WHWers and then when a small TV crew got on board at Rannoch, in order to film a ruddy looking presenter getting off the train and into the station at Crianlarich. They actually had to do a couple of takes for this! The presenter, who I recently learned was Julian Hudson from Countryfile, wore a thick cotton rugby shirt, and his pack was 'handled' by the Director/Producer, almost as if he couldn't be trusted! It was hard to ignore the soundman with his large, woolly grey mic, though the TV camera itself wasn't that big. But these 6-7 people who were on my carriage certainly drew attention for the time they were on the train and a German girl came over to chat to me about it. She had a brand new GoLite Jam but I was surprised to see it was size L when she was only about 5ft 2!

I had great connections at the change at Dalmuir, and again at Westerholme where I noticed an older guy in a rain mac and walking boots. I spotted a couple of potential WHWers on the train but they seemed to have disappeared at the first change over.
The good connections meant that I arrived in Milngavie about 25 minutes before I was scheduled to. I picked up a couple of apples, had my photo taken by another German guy, this time carrying out research for his dissertation on the effects of long distance walking on peoples state of mind. I wouldn't count the WHW at 95 miles as long distance, but agreed to fill it in for him.
So I started the walk and at the start of the first tiny incline came across four Scottish ladies (who were probably only a bit older than me) who seemed to be very much out of breath. They all had small Scotland Flags pinned to their small day sacks; they were having their luggage transported between stops. I greeted them with 'Are we nearly there yet?' and asked them how far they were going (12 miles). It was the first of many times that I was asked if I was doing the walk on my own, and then expressions of wonder when I said I was. I had a lot of comment about how 'brave' I was and people asking me if I felt safe...
The next person on this stretch through Mugdock Country Park was coming towards me. A large Scandinavian lady who briefly stopped to compliment me on how I was using my Leki walking poles. It seemed that I was the only one she'd seen who was using them properly! Wow! Impressing a Nordic person with my trekking pole skill! Happy days!
Using the poles has meant that I tend to walk a little bit faster than my normal, unaided ambling. I gradually caught up with a man who looked familiar; the gent from Westerholme! He was now carrying a Greggs bag though that was all that he had with him. I was aware of the racket that my poles were creating so apologised for disturning the peace. I never got his name, nor he mine, but we spent the next hour walking together, covering an easy 4 miles, and him giving me a guided tour of this section of the West Highland Way. It was brilliant to walk with him, and I guess he enjoyed it too as when two buddies of his came towards us on their own walk, he took great delight in saying how the company he was keeping was so much better than theirs!
Anyway we walked through and past the Carbeth chalets where he headed off for the rest of his 8 miles, and I made my way through the sun, crossing a road and off over towards the dreaded trackbed section that goes past the distillery.

After rounding Dumgoyach and joining the trackbed I tramped the route for several miles, noting that the curious chain/squeezer stiles largely seemed to have been abandoned in favour of newer straight forward gates. It was a warm, sunny day, not too many more people on the walk, just a couple of groups of teenage lads that had massive packs and who I never saw again. After feeling quite bored, I eventually reached Gartness and took the opportunity of the honesty box there, with a Sprite and a Lemonade ice lolly. Lovely! I stopped to look at the river and just enjoy the view.

After that respite I headed on towards the campsite at Easter Drumquhassle where I'd stopped before. I nipped in to fill up my platypus some, but it was only about 3pm and I wanted to avoid 'proper' campsites so I headed further on. A brief rain shower about a mile further on was lovely, although a car stopped to just encourage me on towards Drymen. Drymen wasn't my goal for the day; I wanted to get on the other side of Garadhban Forest before I camped up.
I'd covered 13 miles as I started on the leg towards the forest and started to feel tired so had my Sprite, bliss, and walked more slowly through the plantations on the forestry track. It wasn't difficult walking but I needed some food and was glad when I emerged out of the forest where there was a more open area, looking like a very inviting camp site.

I'd now covered 16 miles and didn't fancy the 'official' wild camp so made this my first overnight stop. It was lovely. I had a view over the loch with the islands like jewels in the glistening water, there were no midges to speak of and while there were obvious campfire rings there was little other sign of humans.

I made a couple of phone calls to friends and family and after food quickly fell asleep. I woke a couple of times to the sound of Ptarmigan, and then some sort of screeching owl who was on the hunt; occasional squeals were heard as small animals perished. But it was a warm and comfortable night and I felt safe and at peace.