On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond!

Loch Lomond is basically a calm scenic lake, surrounded by grassy hills with more sheep than people. The sky hangs low and touches the water, giving it a permanent silver sheen. Anthony and I were back and forth between spending the night under the stars or in a hostel, but after walking around a while, we were both convinced to stay there. We weren't exactly prepared: one sleeping bag, two plastic tarps, a blanket, and layers of cloths, but we both really wanted to see the sun rise and fall over the landscape. We hiked up the hills, scaring some sheep out our path, and found the closest peak to take a break. We relaxed while the sun was still bright and Anthony got out his harmonica and played a few songs - side story - He had to play his harmonica at customs to prove it was not a weapon, and "O, Susanne" did the trick. Later on, we went off the path and trekked through thick, wet grass to find our camping spot, which ended up being on the tallest hill around us. Again, we had to wait until 11 before the sun finally went down, which is when we attempted to get some sleep. Unfortunately, the wind started to pick up and some threatening clouds loomed overhead and believe me, they looked pretty darn close to us (If you notice from the pictures, the sky in Scotland always seems close to the ground). Oh yeah, and it probably dropped to the low 40s by then. Things weren't looking too good, and Anthony and I were feeling pretty stupid for being here without a tent. But despite the situation, the weather held off to a slight drizzle and after about an hour of freezing wind, the night calmed down a little bit and we were able to get a few hours of sleep, until it became bright again at about 3am. At that point, we needed to simply stand up, move around and get the blood flowing again, so we descended the hill while watching the sun rise. Yes, we were exhausted, but we both agreed it was worth it. The sky, the water, and the earth were composed just for us, and the presence of this scenery surrounded us, sight, touch and smell. All the colors reflected off of each other and were themed by the time of day. The grass was long and the earth was soft for us to lie on. And The cold wind moved across us to make it easier for us to breathe. Yes, it was also uncomfortable at times, but it was a lot to take in, and we would both do it again if we have the chance. This experience is simply unforgettable and the pictures I posted don't even come close to the beauty of Loch Lomond. (I have received official confirmation from Anthony that he feels the same way)