Sunday 21st January 2024.
I was woken this morning just before six by Mrs Scott who informed me that breakfast was in half a hour. I didn't want breakfast. After waking and remembering where I was and what lay before me the nervous sick feeling had returned. However they had other ideas and so I relented and managed a bowl of Cornflakes and a cup of tea. Archie kindly made up a bacon sandwich and a sausage sandwich from the rest of the breakfast that I couldn't stomach. He put them in a bag and gave them to me to take with me for later.
Mrs Scott took me to the bus station and got me on to the right bus for Ullapool ferry terminal. At breakfast there had been some talk of a storm that was due to arrive in the area later that day that threatened both road and rail travel so Mr Scott made enquiries to make sure that the coach I was to travel on was still leaving as it would have been better for me to stay there than get stranded somewhere. I'm not sure how I would have informed my grandfather had that been the case. Everything was okay though so I didn't have to cross that bridge.
We did have another bridge to cross though, this one took us high above the water on the way north out of Inverness. Looking down was a bit unnerving, the water looked grey and cold with streaks of white running across it. The morning was bright but had a cold biting wind to it. At first the road took us through undulating farm land which after a while became more hilly and forested. We did stop once to pick up some more people who judging by their luggage were on the trip to the islands whereas I was just on the coach to Ullapool where I was to leave it for a more local bus service. After some time we seemed to climb up into more rugged and desolate countryside. For some of the way now there was a body of water to the right which I think was a reservoir rather than a loch, although I could be mistaken about that, it seemed very big though. As we neared Ullapool the day had changed, the brightness had gone and there was even a bit of drizzle landing on the windscreen of the coach which the driver had to keep clearing. The countryside close to Ullapool was back to being more forested and now there was water to the left of the road and this was for sure a sea loch. We drove along the front by the harbour and into a big parking area that said it was for ferry vehicles, I guessed this was the end of my journey on this coach so I gathered up my bag and coat and let people get off as I wanted to ask the driver where to pick up my next bus. I didn't know if he would know this but I thought even if he didn't he could perhaps tell me where to go to find out. Anyway as it happens he did know and pointed me around the corner to a café where I could wait until it arrived.
I went in and bought a hot chocolate. I didn't really feel like having anything but I didn't want to hang around outside as it was cold and miserable. I asked the boy who served me about the bus stopping just to confirm things in my mind. I then just sat at a table watching and thinking of all manner of things that could go wrong and what I would do if they did. Nothing went wrong, the bus pulled up opposite as planned so I went out to check it was the right one. The driver was just getting off as I approached so I showed him the paper I had that said I'd already paid and he said that it was okay but that I couldn't get on the bus yet as he needed a break for half an hour. This was okay as I needed the toilet but I didn't dare go before as I was worried the bus would come and go while I was in the toilet. I walked with the driver back to the café and he was asking where I was from and what was I doing all the way up here but he then interrupted my reply by asking what I wanted to drink. I was unsure if he thought that is what I followed him in for so I pointed out that I was going to the toilet.
'Okay, so what would you like'? he asked again.
So I just had another hot chocolate which was waiting for me along with the driver at a table when I returned. It was good that I got to know him because I was able to show him where I was being picked up by my grandfather. He knew the place and would let me know before we got there. He also told me some things about the area and reckoned I was in for a real culture shock coming from Coventry as I did. The half hour passed in a flash so we made our way back to the bus. The weather had really turned bad now with heavy rain and blustery wind. There were four men with backpacks waiting for the bus also and came running over from the shelter by the cafe. I think they were walkers by the looks of it as their packs were much bigger than mine. The driver suggested we sit near the front as he picks up school children who tend to gravitate towards the rear of the bus. So with that said I bagged one of the front seats and settled in for the rest of my journey – well, the last part before meeting up with my grandfather.
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