We start walking at around 8.15 a.m. along cycle route 7 towards Kincraig. The River Spey sits in the valley to our left as we pass by Insh Marsh’s Nature Reserve. A photo’ opportunity was taken at Feshiebridge and another wee snake was spotted shortly afterwards. Most of this part of the walk was surrounded with tree’s and views across the Spey were confined to the odd glimpse. Are approach to Aviemore is blessed with views of the Cairngorms.
We march into Aviemore for a lunch break but not before Canary does a live radio interview with Moray Firth. This was quite amusing as he had never done this kind of thing before and he’d told his colleagues at work in Norwich of his impending debut. They had told him that if he got the word Hippopotamus into the conversion they would bung £10 to the charity. He managed it eight times – pure quality.
The tourists and residents of Aviemore were then fleeced of a few bob as we rolled into town. Our rendezvous was the Winking Owl pub and the HM Standard was clearly displayed in the window. A lunch break was taken here as we awaited the arrival of ITN’s relatives.
It also transpired that Grampian TV were now interested in doing a piece on us and were winging their way down from Inverness. An interview and some filming were done outside the boozer before we set off on the second leg of the day.
This route took us via the Spey Way for a couple of miles before heading back to the main road and then off into Carrbridge.
A team photo’ was taken outside the Cairn Hotel before hoping on the bus back to Aviemore for our bunkhouse accommodation. We had walked about 21 miles today, which was around five more than planned. We were attempting to over walk day six and seven to make the last day easier.
The Aviemore bunkhouse was about as welcoming as a fart in a space suit. The dorm was like a prison cell (not that I’ve ever been in one you understand) with its whitewashed, breezeblock walls. The beds were comfy though. We though we had it made though as, next door, was a pub, which was selling real ale and also had a restaurant. What a rip off it all was. It was £2.60 a pint and the meal wouldn’t have filled a cat let alone someone who had been walking all day. When told of my dissatisfaction the proprietor just shrugged his shoulder. I will not be going there again.
I didn’t quite know what to make of today’s walk. It was nice to have ITN’s folks with us but I felt a, kind of, low ebb especially after yesterday’s high. The pub didn’t help matters either
Ped Reading was 21.52 miles 42118 steps.