Monday, July 1

 (22) Monday, July 1st.
    An early start for the famous Trossachs trip. We took train to the foot of Loch Lomond, happy in a but slightly clouded day. When nearing the lake, the hills and mountains came into view. Then the lake itself, with a taste of the wonderful natural panorama that was to be our changing and varied source of delight for the day.  After running across the southern end, with may islands north of us, we passed through a narrow strait, and had Ben Lomond straight ahead of us, with a noble group of peaks on up the lake.  Our course lay through ever varying hills, with cloud topped Lomond predominating in its magnificence.  Ben Arthur and Ben Vorlich were among the next best.  Then we took stage to cross to (23) Loch Katrine.

Lock Lommond

Loch Lommond

    I had met several folks from Wallingford, Conn., on the boat, teachers from the public school. Our two parties took the same stage.  We went up, up, up, till the road suddenly swept off around valley slopes lying back of Ben L.  A bag piper awaited us and then walked beside the coach, playing his lugubrious music with a faint strain of the "Campbell’s are Coming" enlivening, or breaking through the accompaniment. Of course rain had caught us- not bad however.
    At the head of Loch Katrine we took lunch.  Then for more of the most magnificent mountain scenery down this romantic sheet of water with distant peaks breaking through the shifting clouds.
    Rob Roy by act, and (24) Scott by word, had made all these regions romantic and poetic.
    At Ellen's Isle we sought to recall the Lady of the Lake. It wasn't hard! And all the incidents located there crowded the moments while we passed it.
    Then a stage through the matchless Trossachs, or bristling country. Our party divided after lunch, three to go to Aberfoyle , three to Callander , all to join at Stirling. Our three on the C. route followed part of the course of the stage. Also places of Rodhue and Clan Alpine's men, and the duel at the ford. Ben Ledi showed his heaped forms to the north - and our desires to climb those green heights made us wish for time to stop.
    Several pheasants, covies, and long haired highland (25) cattle made the scattered fields all the more interesting. The heather too, was beginning to purple here and there.
    Leaving beautiful picturesque Callander, we journeyed to Stirling, with a view of the famous castle (Lady of the Lake), the windows, along Bruce's tower, and the field of Bannockburn. A pleasant journey enough soon took us to the Firth of Forth bridge - perhaps the greatest bridge building feat of English engineers in England.
    Then the most beautiful of English cities, Edinburgh, showed its lights, - though through too dense a haze to give a new comer any suggestion of the real city. Chester for the charm of quaintness, - Edinburgh for ancient romance and present beauty. (26)