Day 1 Morning "Bonnie, Bonnie Banks"

The first major mission is to get to Islay.
This involves driving to Tarbert at the top of the Mull of Kintyre in order to get the ferry to Islay the next morning.


After collecting the hire car from Glasgow Airport I head across the Erskine Bridge in the light rain towards Dumbarton, where some ancestors were married 150 years ago.
Looking for a map I see a sign to the Tourist Information Centre.
I pull in, get out of the car and go inside.
I'm confronted with shop-fitters stripping the premises as the
TIC had closed the previous week!
No problem- jump in the car to keep driving and I cannot find reverse gear!
After 10 minutes I push the car out and drive off frontwards.
I manage to find the Bonhill Kirk (and parked so I did not need reverse) and tick the first "Family History" target off the list.

After a couple of wrong turns I make it to the Loch Lomond Centre at the southern end of the loch, (and park right at the back of the carpark so no reversing will be necessary).

It is still grey and a bit miserable @ 11am but it was Loch Lomond.
A little dejected I head to the car having taken only a couple of
photos of the disappointing scene.
The tourist buses have arrived and blocked my forward path.
I accidentally knock the gear stick and a sleeve near the top of
it moves. Eureka! I've found reverse!

As I left the carpark the rain stopped and the clouds started lifting.
Driving north I'm struck by the bright autumn tones emerging
with the tentative sunshine.
Maybe I should give Loch Lomond another chance?
So I stopped at Luss.

The sun shines, the Brigadoon effect of the preserved village takes over and I'm presented with both Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond in all their glory.
I'm walking in a postcard.
I've been in Scotland for 3 hours.
The trip is worth it already.