During the night the brain seems to work differently than by day .
When I came to the end of the road where mountains meet the Loch , it was shortly before twilight. There was a small car park by the water and a fenced camp site . I decided to stay overnight at this place .I noticed another car , left probably by someone who had been hiking in the hills , I thought . Or the car belonged to a forestry worker - there was a tree plantation nearby where logging takes place . Anyway , after having eaten something warm ( thanks to a portable cooker ) I set the fire ( partly to repel mosquitoes and midges ) and started pitching my tent. When I sat by the fire , I noticed that somebody had had the same idea - the smoke given out of fire was visible a bit further down the shore , by a small pier . The pier was in use by logging company I guessed , but that time of a day the workers must have gone -so it were rather people who had left their vehicle in order to stay overnight . I decided to ignore the fact and stayed by my fire . I felt content that they stayed away of me
.
At last the night covered the Glen and the outlines of surrounding mountains disappeared , melting with dark sky . The only sign of life were roars of stags , keeping away potential rivals from females . I was preparing a sleeping mattress when I spotted a flickering torch - somebody was walking toward me . The fire had gone out already , so I wondered if whoever a stranger was - could know about my presence ?. I felt a bit anxious - and having put a small hammer into my pocket , I chose to show up to the stranger .
" Are you going to camp here ? " - I asked coming up with a torch . I stood facing a man in his forties , maybe . The weak light of torches couldn't tell much of the guy , his face seemed to be somehow harsh .He was accompanied by a dog , not big one .
" Yes , I am going to stay here . I was sitting by the fire over there , by the pier " - he replied shortly in confident tone - " I wanted to go further down the shore , but the road is finished here " - he added .
" Yes , it's true " - I confirmed - " There is no passage from here , maybe you could try to get there from the other end of Loch , out of Oban , possibly " - " Maybe " - he agreed .
" I am camping here , I just pitched a tent over here " - I explained , just to say something . He looked at me for a while and then finally said ;
" OK , I am going to sleep now in my car . If you need anything just give me know " - He cut the conversation and walked off to his car .
" I will be fine , bye " - I took my stuff needed for a sleep and headed to my tent .
I couldn't get into sleep , thinking what this man was doing in the Glen , what was his purpose to reach far beyond this point . Was he going to fish or what ? I got out to the car for a bottle of water and as walking back I suddenly saw the gleaming eyes in the darkness . Gradually I noticed four more pairs of eyes glistening in the light of the torch - deers . The animals seemed to be curious of the light , they run away at last as I approached closer . But I still could hear the noise later in the tent - what a strange night it was .
I woke up early in the morning , took my camera and moved toward the pier to take some pictures of the Loch . An hour later at the camp site I met a stranger again .He had taken a stroll with his dog toward the pier - no wonder - it was a bright morning and pleasure to take a breath of fresh air among such spectacular scenery .He smiled to me when passing by , his face looked surprisingly friendly . I replied to his greetings with a broad grin .I was glad that somebody else could enjoy the 'great outdoors' in the early morning .
How differently things can be perceived in the full light .
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