Gadzooks!
I am sat in the Oak Tree Inn typing this up and every part of us aches. Today was the toughest day of walking I have ever done including the 42 days of the Camino.
It started out easy enough. We made a pit stop in the Drymen Chemists to get some better insoles for my boots, paracetamol and some blister plasters. Drymen is really the last place to stock up for a while.
We left the town on another misty morning and began a gentle climb up into the foothills to the north of Drymen.
By 10am the mist was beginning to burn off and by noon the sun was beating down again.
So much of the track was without shade and the heat from the sun and coming up from the track was already making life uncomfortable. It was calm to there was no cooling breeze.
The big difference between this and the Camino Frances is that on the Camino there are always places to stop a few kilometres apart to slake your thirst and take 5. On this walk once you leave Drymen there is nothing until Balmaha.
The first sight of Conic Hill came into view. We needed to cross it. Whilst it is not big the ascent was on very loose rocks and stones. In the heat it was tough going. It took us just over an hour to get to the top with multiple rest stops on the way. It was tough. Really tough. There was no breeze. even at the top. The temperature got to 26C and climbing in that with a 10 kg backpack was a real test of physical and mental stamina. Tough enough to make you question why.
Then, once at the top, the descent was equally tough on our hips and knees scrambling down loose scree to start with and then a rock staircase. Mind you the views of Loch Lomond were simply magnificent.
I can tell you that the sight of the Oak Tree Inn in Balmaha came just in time as I was at my energies end.
We had run out of water some time ago as there are no filling points anywhere so the first thing we did was rehydrate. Debbie had the foresight to go to the corner shop and get us some Powerade to replace the salts and fluids we lot.
It is taking me some time to recover, replace lost fluids and ease tense muscles and joints.
Tomorrow should be an easier walk north along Loch Lomond. Blisters allowing.
My Garmin has just beeped and told be to move. It can go F**k itself.
Woodend Wanderer 
Love your reports.
How are you two doing?
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Hi Max. So far so good. A real struggle today. Still not recovered from yesterdays climb. Hopefully will get better over the next day or two.
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Hi Max. We are fine thank you. The climb over Conic Hill was nearly the end for us. The heat and lack of any cooling breeze was exhausting to the point that when we arrived in Balmaha we wondered whether to continue as we were so drained. But a good dinner, a shot shower, a gin and tonic and a good sleep was enough to recharge us and change our minds. So on we go.
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