Road ahead closed...

Another leisurely start to the day but not running quite so late as yesterday.

As we planned to travel a bit further afield (Glen Etive, Glencoe and Ballachulish)  David made us a traditional full Scottish breakfast brunch, which was delicious.

As we headed off, the sun peeped through the clouds and patches of blue sky appeared.  Perfect.

It was a lovely drive north with the scenery becoming more dramatic the further we went.  Soon the unmistakable slope of Buachaille Etive Mòr appeared in the distance and we prepared to turn left and follow the road down the stunning Glen Etive.  I had done my research and knew the spots I wanted to stop at for photographs (yes the infamous Bond and M shot from Skyfall was on my list :-) 

As we made the turn, there was a massive lorry blocking the road.  It was reversing to try and hook up to a huge trailer and having difficulty doing so.  We sat for a few minutes realising we were going to be stuck there a while unless we risked squeezing past.  A few more minutes and we decided to risk it.  

Holding my breath whilst D manoeuvred the car through the awkward space, inch by inch, we finally made it through. Yay!  Only to drive about 30 yards before being confronted by a ROAD AHEAD CLOSED SIGN!  Damn!  It would have been helpful for that warning sign to be on the main road!  We about-turned, squeezed past the lorry again and decided on Plan B - Glencoe, Ballachulish and along to Kinlochleven.

On the main road the sight of the peaks of Glencoe never cease to amaze me.  There was a couple having wedding photographs taken with the mountains as their backdrop.  I snapped a couple of shots as we passed but unsurprisingly the focus is off.  

Just as we were approaching the Three Sisters of Glencoe  we became aware that the traffic ahead was at a standstill.  We slowed right down and came to a stop thinking there were maybe some sheep on the road ahead.  As we waited the people in the cars ahead of us started to get out of their cars, with one man taking his dog off for a wander.  D got out to see what was happening and as soon as he stepped away from the car could see the traffic was at a standstill as far as the eye could see.  Hmmmm.....not looking good.

He got back in the car and realising the traffic wouldn't be moving anytime soon, we turned around and headed back to Loch Tay for coffee and scones Devon style.

It was a lovely drive and what we did see was stunning,  We'll just have to make a day of it in the summer and head back to Glen Etive.  No hardship :-))

I had many blips to choose from today (been a long time since I had that luxury! lol) but have gone with the cliche Glencoe shot of Lagangarbh Hut in the shadow of  Buachaille Etive Mòr.  There's another shot in extras as well as a mono shot of Loch Ba on Rannoch Moor, and a shot of a man walking part of the West Highland Way between Bridge of Orchy and Tyndrum.  I took that for a friend who's about to walk the West Highland Way over four days (!) in May, for charity.

And so, it's almost the end of another perfect day.  Tomorrow the plan is to drive through Glen Lyon, which won't take too long so we will have scope to add another drive to the plan.  Assuming no roads are closed of course!  :-))