Day 43: Fort William - South Queensferry

We slept very soundly in our secret spot between mountains and mud, and when we woke up the sky was smiling at us: no rain. We had breakfast calmly (although I, as always, devoured it in 23 seconds) and set off. We drove for half an hour to the car park to do the trail to Steall Waterfall.

And oh, what a cool route. The trail to Steall Waterfall is one of those Scottish classics: it starts by taking you into a forest that looks like it's straight out of a fairy tale (or orc tale, depending on the light), then narrows between huge rocks, tons of moss and roots that insist on making you trip. In total, it's almost four kilometres round trip, but it's not as easy as it seems. But we all did it! With Tito Joan in the lead, Papi Edu with the camera and me watching the smells along the way.

At the end of the trail we reached an open valley, with a wide river and Steall Waterfall falling in the background as if the sky had cracked open. It's the second highest waterfall in Scotland, with a drop of about 120 metres, and it makes a noise that made me tilt my head five times in a row.

To get really close you have to cross the river by a Tibetan bridge, and I'm not kidding. Three cables: one for your feet and two for your hands. And that's it! Tito Joan said no way, he was staying on dry land. But Papi Edu, as always, brave (or reckless), crossed the little cable without batting an eyelid.

I... well... I tried to follow him. But through the river. Because how was I going to miss exploring the other side? I got in with my legs firmly planted, but the current was pushing me and, luckily, Tito Joan grabbed my collar just in time. That's what teamwork is all about! Thank goodness, because otherwise I'd be writing this entry from the Atlantic.

Papi Edu got right under the waterfall and said it was worth it. Then he came back safe and dry (unlike me!) and we went back the same way to the car. With hunger already biting, we looked for a more peaceful and idyllic place to eat. I ate my kibble under the table, while the humans made their delicious food.

But the rest didn't last long. They started looking for plane tickets like crazy, and I could already smell something was up. It turns out that my Tita Rosa, Tito Joan's sister, is ill and in hospital, and Tito Joan wants to go and see her as soon as possible. They found a ticket for tomorrow morning, from Edinburgh.

So we had to go down already, but first we made a small detour to the famous Glenfinnan viaduct, the one that appears in the Harry Potter films. We drove there and parked for free in the mini-car park of a church (six spaces counted, total luck!), while the official car park, at 5 pounds, was bursting at the seams.

We walked to the viaduct... and the truth is... it disappointed us a little. In the films it looks more spectacular. There was no train here, no epic music, and everything was uglier than we imagined. Even so, we took our photos and selfies. The humans went into the church that was right next door (not me, because I'm a dog, even though I have seminarian manners), and they said it was beautiful inside, with stained glass windows and everything.

Afterwards, it was time for a long journey. More than 150 miles (about 240 km) to Edinburgh. The journey was long, but without drama, and we arrived just before sunset. We parked in the same place where we were before picking up Tito Joan at the airport, right next to the Forth Bridge, that red, giant, history-filled train bridge.

In case you didn't know: the Forth Bridge was inaugurated in 1890 and is a World Heritage Site. It is more than two and a half kilometres long and is so strong that locomotives could pass over it dancing sardanas without it wobbling. You can see it well from here, especially now that there is not so much traffic or kids racing noisy cars. The atmosphere this time is much more peaceful.

And here we are, back by the sea, ready to sleep. A day of waterfalls, emotions, impossible bridges and important decisions. Tomorrow Tito Joan leaves, and I... I'm already starting to miss him.