Breakfast consumed we arrive back at Kenmore and started the days walk heading out of the lovely wee town with the River Tay on our right and the Tay Forest on the left. It’s all on road stuff today but at least they were quiet.
More piggin’ climbing again, this time out of Kenmore, I really thought if we’d climb much more we’d end up on the piggin’ moon, at one point the GPS gizmo read 1134ft. The peak of the infamous Munro, Schiehallion, was clearly seen and was in our view for much of the day. The weather is gorgeous again which didn’t help with my burning legs, the ICT ‘cup’ flag being draped around my waist in a effort to keep the sun off. The Strath of Appin was quite magnificent but the approach to Tummel Bridge was disappointing. I thought we’d get a good view of Loch Tummel here but the tree’s blocked the view.
We were going to rest up in Tummel Bridge for lunch but there was no suitable establishment so it was decided we’d keep going to Trinafour which was an extra five miles or so away.
I was now beginning to feel the pace of this walk and all this climbing. Canary was well ahead of me and I was now alone. My legs were hardly working, my feet and shins now feeling the strain of the hills. Sunburn on the legs didn’t help either. There was no sign of an end to this morning session. I’m just thankful at this point in time that it wasn’t chucking it down with rain.
The rendezvous was eventually reached but I was greeted with the fact that there wasn’t anywhere here either to take a lunch stop. But, we have the bus, so we headed up the road the Struan Inn. The pub had only recently been taken over by new management and we were his first customers. Poor chap. Our HMII flag was ceremoniously draped over the bar.
These refreshments made all the difference to the limbs and the afternoon stroll over General Wade’s Road to Glen Garry and Dalnacordoch Lodge was a breeze. More piggin’ climbing though, when will it end? The scenery was just superb though and well worth the effort. As the A9 main road came into view I knew the day was almost over. As we approached the bus on our final few yards we were ambushed by some mad Scottish walkers armed with blow up swords. It was good to see them again. We are then whisked away to our bunkhouse, which was situated near Laggan Bridge. The Pottery Bunkhouse was then taken over by the HMII army and the standard was raised outside.
Whilst relaxing in the lounge we spotted a lonely walker coming along the road. He came into the bunkhouse looking to stay the night and we struck up a conversation. Turns out he’d walked 27 miles today, from Fort August. He was taking part in the TGO Challenge* where competitors walk from certain points of the West Coast of Scotland to the East Coast. This guy was carrying all his kit and had no support vehicle. This chap was 65 years old. And we thought we were mad. He was certainly a great inspiration to us all.
Dinner was ‘in house’ in the form of pasta and meatballs, all washed down with canned booze and whisky. Out comes the RNHRG and battle commences. This wasn’t the end of the evening though as my day (and almost the week) was spoilt when I had a small mishap. I had clambered over to check my ‘phone, which was on charge, and on the way back to the table I gave the hearth a hefty clout with my bare foot. The pain was unbelievable and enough to think I’d broken several toes. No ice was available so a towel was soaked in cold water. I really thought my walk was over.
Ped’ reading was 20.59 miles40299 steps.
* TGO is a magazine called The Great Outdoors. The challenged is made each year consisting of a maximum of 250 people. More information on this can be found at www.smithwalk.demon.co.uk/about.html