Day 3. Rowardennan to Inverarnan

Day three took us to the half way mark in our Scholarship of the Way. It was an eventful day. We had been advised that the first part - to Inversnaid - was easy but after that it got difficult. Immediately after Rowardennan there was a steep climb which then promptly took us back down to a short distance along the road we had left. Seemed a bit pointless really! Also, we had been told that there were two paths, the higher route through the forest was easier but not so interesting. I didn't see where the path divided but whichever path I was on (I think it was the lower one as it was along the lochside) it was not 'easy'. In fact this was where I stopped thinking of the West Highland Way as being a 'walk'! There is so much clambering up and over rocks and then down the other side that it should be called 'mountaineering'!
Unfortunately I took a tumble crossing a stream and pulled a muscle in my calf quite early in the day. Thankfully, at that point I was on my own and the undignified and rapid acquaintance with the ground was not witnessed! I was able to continue but it was eventually going to become a problem. A second problem was my much hated waterproof trousers which restricted movement and, unsurprisingly, given their tightness and the effort needed to get over some of the hurdles, eventually gave way to pressure in the nether regions! They would not be worn again!
After a long and wet 5 hours I made it to Inversnaid where we all met up for a well earned rest. While the other Drs were ready to continue I decided to retreat to the ferry across the loch and on to Inverarnan where I would line up the beers for the others arriving. The Drover's Inn at Inverarnan is something to behold. From the outside it looks like Disney's Tower of Terror or a haunted house. It is a 18th century building after all! Inside the reception area the guest is met by a host of stuffed creatures including a full sized standing bear! Quaint, is the word I think, to describe it all!
The second half of the journey was even more difficult than had been expected with one intrepid Dr announcing, while sliding down the side of a large rock, that she felt like Lara Croft. It is an image that has stuck in our minds to recall our journey! Large beers were needed. And I had to apologise to one of the Scholarship sisters for being very tetchy with her while she offered a hand to steady me on the way up an inconvenient boulder. I had wanted to swear very loudly at the rock and vent my anger and had misdirected my rudeness.
'Rude?' said the helpful Dr, 'You can't be rude to me. I'm German!'
All was smoothed over and with food and whiskey inside it was time for bed before the next stage.