HARRYPOTTER! HARRYPOTTER! YEAH! - GLENNFINNAN VIADUCT, SCOTLAND - DAY 12
9 hours sleeping in a warm bed seemed to almost fix my cold entirely- Everything is draining, and I feel so, SO good!
Andrea and I wake up, each probing each other with questions to see if the other wants to do this hike to a waterfall in the miserable, dreary, cold rain. Eventually we figure out that neither one of us wants to do the hike, but laugh at how much we love each other because we definitely would’ve gone if the other wanted to.
Instead, we walk around the town a bit and pop into a whiskey shop. We're able to sample a few unknown whiskeys, but ones that were put into medicine bottles. I really liked a northern England one, so I purchased that and a whiskey glass with the words “The Water of Life”. Again, trying to avoid going to a distillery as a tourist trap, I directed all of my whiskey questions to the clerk. Here's my new found knowledge...
Whiskey is entirely dependent on the water. You can of course add vanilla or honey or cinnamon or whatever, but the flavors all come from the water. The Smokeyness comes from a charred barrel and the years for how long it sits in the barrel, not the bottle. The smoothness depends on how peaty everything is. Very interesting. I think that’s why Swedish whiskey is one of my faves- The water is so pure.
We pass a few more shops, all selling Ben Nevis shirts. Ben Nevis is the highest peak in the UK, but there’s an easy route and a difficult route. Andrea has actually hiked Ben Nevis twice, doing both routes, and I did a similar hike in Norway on Kjerag Mountain. I almost included this hike on our trip, and I definitely would’ve bought a shirt, but we simply didn’t have enough time. Both of us and skip it and still feel pretty accomplished.
Beans on toast, a few coffees and eggs later, the very last item on our list is the Harry Potter train, or the Glennfinnan Viaduct. Initially, we wanted to go on the actual train but the destinations are random and far away from where we needed to be- Plus everyday was fully booked, (not surprisingly).
Andrea seems hesitant, but I plead with her that we should go. It would be both our first time there, and she’s such a Harry Potter fanatic, how could she miss this? She agrees, and we drive off thirty minutes out of the way.
Pissing rain, we come to a junction that gives us parking for 5 pounds. I offer to pay, but clever Andrea remembers our experience at the Fairy Pools- If we drive just a bit further we may find free parking. We go along a bit, and pull left. We come across some majestic stags grazing in the forest. They don’t seem spooked at all, and we’re able to get really close. We take pictures until we we can’t because with open windows, the rain is beginning to get into the car.
We turn around, and low and behold, we find a separate car park for free, and only a ten minute walk to the viaduct. We park, hoping we won’t get in trouble, and begin our journey over. Immediately we are met with signs that say “no drones”, and a few signs confirming we are on the right path to our destination.
We’re on our way! The walk is quite beautiful, and immediately, we spot Glennfinnan. Andrea’s regret for coming in this weather dissolves, and she and I take photos and rush to get a closer look. We have a blast re-enacting scenes from the Harry Potter movies, like we were kids again. Andrea and I know it’s worth it, and we have far too much fun.
She and I stop when we need to cross a mud puddle. She has wellies (boots made for this), and I don’t. She insists if I get on her back, she can take us across, but I swear to the Lord above that if I get on her back, it will double the weight and we’ll sink. We’re both stubborn, but I just thought, “Okay, she’ll find out...” I hop on her back and within two steps, she bends over yelping “Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck”, and starts to sink. I'm already soaked to the bone, so getting off to stand in water no longer makes a difference. Andrea is stuck however and this makes me burst out in laughter. I’m laughing so hard I can’t even help her out. Between laughs and panic, Andrea takes both hands and forcefully schplunks her foot out of the deep mud. We re-enact a few more movie scenes and head back to the car.
We hum the Harry Potter theme song loudly as we turn back, sparking much joy to other passerbys and onlookers. As we do this a muggle train rushes overhead. We were hoping to see the actually Harry Potter train but it only passes twice a day- 10am, and 3pm.
We make it back to the car, soaked to the tits. I’m wearing my sneakers and thick woolen socks, but my jeans are wet and I have nothing else. Andrea takes her top off and drove all the way home in her sports bra. We hit heavy traffic on the way home, but make it eventually. The next hour is filled with doing laundry, cleaning our camping dishes, and putting everything away.
A bit of time after that, and Andrea wants to go out in a Friday night. I don’t. I’m nearly 27,
*(on the outside, but a 72yr old man on the inside), and clubbing no longer sounds fun. She insists, and puts me in the coolest outfit from her wardrobe that I hope to one day own. My cold feels better but not 100%, and it’s freezing outside. I only have her leather jacket. But she lured me out saying, we’ll be getting ramen. Now that’s the stuff I really want- Spicy, warm, delicious ramen.
We head out to Ashton Lane- where everything happens on the weekend. We put our names down at Deayo Ramen, and head literally across the street to the Grovsnor. I love this place because it’s an old theater converted into a bar / club. The ceilings kept their immaculate decorations and crown molding, and they have massive stage lights illuminating the place. I even find an old projection room, and swiveling seats to view old shows. I try a Macallan whiskey here, (only have Glenmoray left). I think I acquired a bottom shelf version because it doesn’t go down very easy. Like the Jura whiskey it’s rather harsh. We stay here for a bit and then hang out at the ramen place because we’re both so hungry.
We eventually make our way in, and the ambiance is really cool. It looks like a small tin shack inside with plastered old Japanese posters, and theatre masks. They have a screen playing anime as well- “Samurai Champloo”, excellent taste. We get our ramen and it’s simply delicious. I clear my sinuses again by dousing my ramen in chili oil, and we both clean our bowls. I wouldn’t say it’s the best ramen I’ve ever had, (it’s hard to compete with California having such excellent and diverse Asian food available), but it’s certainly the best in Glasgow, and possibly all of Scotland.
We head back out to the bars in hopes of meeting Andrea’s friends, but they’re “on their way”, and she doesn’t have great cell service. I’m freezing and want to go home. Andrea can tell it’s not fun for me to be out and we decide to get groceries instead.
Home, tea in hand, I promise Andrea to that we'll go out tomorrow night instead, (unbeknownst to her, under the condition that I’m feeling better).
