Up and packed up by 9.30am. The lovely hostel staff allowed me to leave my stuff in the common room while I waited for my bus so I went for a wander in the sunshine, grabbed a coffee at the pier, then went back to the hall to buy an amazing top I'd seen the day before at the Himalayan exhibit.
Return to hostel, added new clothing to the rucksack and it was off to the bus stop. Quick pint at Macgochans then back to Craignure for the boat.
The theory was to catch the boat to Islay once I got to Oban but the forecast was seriously dodgy with the arrival of the end of Hurricane Bertha.
So I arranged to meet my friend Elaine in Oban for a couple of drinks while I figured out what to do next.
As it turned out, she had to head back to Dumbarton and I had an offer of free accommodation in Partick so the pair of us went for the Glasgow train. Which was actually a fairly stressful experience. We're talking height of summer, Oban. 20 zillion tourists. 3 carriages on one of the most scenic train routes in the world. Add queuing at the station while the train changes platforms at random moments. Tensions were running high.
Despite the mini trauma (which also included a ticket that may not have been valid), we got settled on the train, with a table, food and wine and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey South with a setting sun.
Thanks to Elaine's advice, I shortcutted to Partick by changing at Dalmuir, thus avoiding Glasgow City centre.
A quick nip round Morrisons and it was out past the Crow Road to my awesome kip for the night.
