Monday
On our second day in Loch Lomond, we are meeting with one of Steve’s cousins, Lynn, and her husband Jim. They live just outside Glasgow – Lynn is from the East End of London and Jim is a born and bred Scot.
Plan is to take a cruise on the Loch, followed by a spot of lunch. To be clear, Sweeney is not referring to the brilliant TV series from the 70’s starring John Thaw and Dennis Waterman, but rather the pleasure boat company on Loch Lomond.
Sweeney’s Cruises are based in Balloch or Lomond Shores. It is a family run business operating since the 1880’s – we bet their boats and trips were very different then! Sweeney’s serves up daily hour-long cruises, longer island-discovery outings, and romantic evening sails—all narrated by entertaining and informative commentary from local experts.
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Our Day
Nikki awoke early this morning, again. We have a nest of Magpies in the tree’s behind the Beast and boy are they noisy ! She was not amused, particularly as the sound of rain on the Beast roof had woken both of us up a couple of times. But not to worry and after tea and bacon sarnies we were ready to start our day, walking down into Balloch to meet up with Jim and Lynn for our cruise around Loch Lomond.
It’s fair to say the weather didn’t do us any favours, and continues to fall on the Izatts, and now the Leishmans, although it did clear a little affording great views of the Loch.
Loch Lomond is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area, 22.6 miles long, and at its deepest is 620ft. By volume it’s not quite as big as Loch Ness, and there are no rumours of monsters on these shores. The loch also has many Islands, including Inchmurrin, which is the largest fresh water Island in the British Isles, and Inchconnachan, which is home to a colony of red necked wallabies – who knew !! They have been there since 1975, when two pairs were taken from Whipsnade Zoo, and by 1993 their number had risen to 26, doubtless more now.
It was a nice cruise though, and great to catch up with Jim and Lynn, who then treated us to Lunch at Duck Bay Marina.
Quiet night in for us tonight, as for the next two we are in Glasgow which will no doubt be quite lively !
