Day one: Scottish Ski Areas in the Summer
Day one….
A bad start – this morning I picked up a hire car in Glasgow.
I had a tough time finding a hire service to use as most of the ‘big ones’, at least in the city centre, seemed unwilling to allow a car to be returned around 5 pm on a Saturday afternoon. This was a bit of a problem. I finally booked with Alamo.
On arriving at Alamo this morning I was asked for a hire voucher (apparently if you book online you get a voucher that has to be printed and handed to the hire firm). I had no voucher. Apparently it was sent to me by email. It either never arrived or my over protective spam filter jumped on it. Even if it had arrived I would have had a problem because I was supposed to present a printed copy. When I travel people comment on the amount of ‘technology’ I pack (camera + charger, computer, iPod, GPS, EyeTV box (very useful in hotels with limited TV channels), iPod speakers, phone + charger, spare wireless hub (long story, but surprisingly useful in hotel rooms with ‘wired’ internet) and if skiing two two-way radios + charger), but I have never yet packed a printer!
Considering I had not booked the cheapest car I was surprised to find it was a VW Golf and how bad it was. Talk about a tin can on wheels. It had done only 700 miles and seemed to be powered by a lawn mower engine and was uncomfortable to drive. ‘Luckily’ the radio didn’t work and this provided an excuse to take it back (I need music when I drive).
The VW was replaced with a Vauxhall Corsa, which was a much nicer car to drive and had a radio that worked.
All the mucking about with cars meant I was late leaving Glasgow. On the plus side it meant that I arrived at The Drovers Inn (Inverarnan, top of Loch Lommond) at lunch time and I can stop for a beer and a cheese and onion toastie…..
The Drovers Inn, Inverarnan, Scotland
