Glen Etive

The morning dawned bright. The grass wet with dew glistened in the early morning sun. In the stream a dipper dipped and the horses in the adjacent field stood contemplating another day. The temperature was due to hit 24c today so it was shorts and T-shirts on. We'd enjoyed our time in the 'land of kings', but it was time for Marge to experience a James Bond moment. She was going to Glen Etive one of the locations used in the Bond film Skyfall. 

The drive to Oban was pretty the water and mountains never far away. Oban being our last large town for a while we decided top up Marges fuel, and low and behold we saw the Dutch couple from yesterday doing the same, this time fully clothed thank goodness.

Our onward journey took us past Stalker castle where we stopped to take photographs as last year when we passed this way the weather wasn't so good. A coffee shop had been set up in the parking area so we took advantage of some refreshment and decided to have our lunch here. Once again Marge became the centre of attention with a lady coming over for a look at her. Marge as always loved the attention.

By the time we left Stalker castle the sun was intense lighting the mountains as we drove through Glencoe busy with traffic.

Soon we turned off the Glencoe road onto a single track road with passing places. O.K. Marge there's twelve miles of this so no stunts please. This was the road to Glen Etive, narrow and winding the scenery beautiful. The journey to get here had been long but we were glad we'd chosen this day with the weather so settled we were able to enjoy all the views clearly.

The mountains carpeted in a pallet of greens and the red granite on the dry river beds were enhanced by the sunlight. The guide book had been right, this was God's country. The parking area at the end of loch Etive was busy, but there was one space for Marge next to a small V.W. van. The couple who owned it had driven down from the Isle of Skye this morning for the day. They had a book with them called  the 100 best places to photograph in Scotland and here was one of them.

We walked down to the loch awestruck at just how beautiful it was. The water so still reflected everything around it perfectly. So beautiful was it that it attracts many visitors. Marge has five other vans with her, a couple sleeping in their car with toilet tent, and quite a few people camping on the shore of the loch. Marge had bagged the best spot in the parking area with a little side garden so this evening.

John made burgers (yes made) and we cooked them outside on our gas grill. 

Today has been a good day especially for Marge. As we drove along the single track road a young man in a V.W. transporter van stopped on his way by to admire Marge. 'Nice bus mate', he said to John. Forget Daniel Craig as James Bond, Marge is the star around here.