Alaisdair stopped for a bite of his rations.
After eating some of what his Mother had packed, sitting by the loch, gazing out on the sparkles on the water coupled with the call of the Loon, had a lulling effect, making him want to close his eyes and nap. When his head snapped back, he realized he did indeed nod off.
Dang, he still had a ways to go.
His destination was Ben Nevis, supposedly the tallest of the Ben. If he left the loch within half an hour, he should be able to reach the foothills by sunset.
He squinted into the sun. It was high, and he needed to get moving. He took his 'Rina out of his pack and hung it around his neck. Now, it was handy to use as a call. He slung his bag and gear again into place and headed Northward.
Gazing in awe at the small waterfall and the bonnie, fine spring, he decided this was an excellent place to have his evening meal. He had spied an opening about fifty feet up on the cliff face and a footpath, making easy access. First, his dinner, then his bed... after a shower.
He had not pressed hard onward, but he had been running off and on for hours, reckoning he made about thirty miles or close to that. It had been slow going in places when the Laws started, but he was over that range and on his way to the Bens.
Too, it had been a fairly uneventful trip. Alaisdair had not seen or heard any of the numerous wildlife he had sped by except for a pesky flying bug or tiny bird that seemed to keep pace with him. Then, it was gone, leaving him with a solitary meal of salad greens, flower petals, hazelnuts, and some blueberries.
Along with a small slice of Mother's cheese and a biscuit washed down with spring water, this was his idea of a meal fit for a laird.
Alaisdair looks around, ensuring he is alone, before stripping off his cotton tunic with contrasting trousers and unlacing his ghillies, his only footwear. He decides a quick run through the waterfall would be enough for tonight.
It looked to be only about an hour to sundown, and he wanted his sleeping area laid down before nightfall, and it had already started to cool down as the sun dropped. So, quickly redressing and tightly relacing his ghillies, he hurriedly straps his weapons and starts up the steep pathway for the cave opening.