With brekkie over it was time to wash up and with limited resources it took piggin’ ages to clean that ruddy pan that the porridge was prepared in but I got there in the end.
Repacking the rucksack was a complete pain – why does it never all go back in? We loaded up the bus and the troops did seem to be quite awake by the time we left the hostel. Except one…………!!
En route to Dunkeld, some 10 miles en route, Brew pipes up and states he may have left his mobile phone back at the hostel, so, with a few “Oh dear what a silly boy you are’s” Colin did a hand-brake turn (no, not really, it just sounds good) and we headed back to the digs.
Team Gringo was the first drop this morning, picking up from where they left off at the Royal Hotel in Dunkeld. Sergeant Gringo did voice some concerns over the intended route via the old A9 as the road was subject to land slides during last years storms, in fact the road was closed to vehicles but it never said anything about pedestrians or HMers. There was only one way to find out. A couple of folk were asked but they didn’t seem to know – they were tourists…doh!. Oh well never mind.
As mentioned before, it was our intention to reach Dalnacardoch by end of play today but this was a definite no go as it would have meant a 30 miles or so walk today, however, we were trying to reach a point beyond Blair Atholl now instead, which would still have given us an outside chance of doing the Munro on Tuesday.
It was with a little trepidation that we headed out of Dunkeld on the A923 before taking a left turn, past the ‘Road Closed’ signs, to join the old A9. The road climbs out of Dunkeld and skirts around the big hill – Craig a Barns which peaks at 1105ft – and is shaded by tree’s. This made it a bit of a cool start to the day. The new A9 could occasionally be seen far below with the River Tay and the Railway sharing the same Glen. We soon came across a section of the road that had fallen away so dramatically last year. This bit had been repaired with tons and tons of stone but this wasn’t the only landslide, worse was to come. Further up the tree-lined road there was gap to our left where the trees once were, a massive slide here revealed why this road was closed to traffic. Half the carriageway had disappeared and went down the hill to join the new A9 some 200 feet below. Fortunately for us, it was passable for cycles and pedestrians, which was just as well, really, because there would have been no other alternative but to walk all the way back to Dunkeld and hit the A9.
We descend the hill and briefly join the A9 before turning off again to follow the old road. It was along part of this section that Private ‘Bee attempted to cheat a little by trying to use a child’s scooter that had been abandoned at the side of he road. He found it difficult to carry the HM Flag and control the scooter at the same time and gave up on the idea.
Ballinluig was now in sight and we looked forward to a cold Irn Bru and a sarnie. The usual place was actually closed so we diverted to a Moto Café instead. The place didn’t sell Irn Bru so the garage next door was raided and a little picnic was had at the side of the road.
The route from here was intended to be the reverse of the HMI route but a slight cheat was found on the OS map. Instead of backtracking to follow the cycle route north we headed out of Ballinluig on the East side of the River Tummel via Milton of Delcapon. This very narrow single-track road gave some good views across Strath Tay and the wee town of Pitlochry could be seen lying in wait in the far distance. It never seemed to get any closer.
The road begins a steep descent and eventually joins up with the A924 main road and we stroll into Pitlochry. Upon entering the town we are approached by a policeman and we thought the news of our assaults on the towns and villages behind us had finally caught up with us but he just wanted to chat about our venture having heard about it on the radio. This gave quite a bit of amusement to the passing public and tourists as it must have given an impression that we were just hooligan’s intent on causing trouble. Well - we are. We took the opportunity to take an Ice Cream stop too before continuing through the town covering passers by with the HM Flag as we went.
Cycle route 77 is then followed which is, basically, the old A9 which is almost traffic free but is used occasionally by local traffic. The River Garry ripples away down the hill to our left as we approach Killiecrankie. The ‘new’ road towers above us as the tourist traffic misses this spectacular wooded gorge.
The Pass of Killiecrankie once echoed with the sound of battle cries and gunfire when, nearby, a Jacobite army led by 'Bonnie Dundee' defeated the government forces under General Hugh Mackay. One soldier evaded capture by making a spectacular jump across the River Garry at Soldier's Leap. A visitor centre has been set up here but, unfortunately, we didn’t have time to take it in.
Time is now against us again as we stroll towards Blair Atholl and we decided to call it a day once we reached the Atholl Arms Hotel bar at the northern end of the village. We would have liked to have gone a little further today but the problem was we had to travel back on the bus towards Tummel Bridge to rendezvous with Team ITN and thence on to Aberfeldy for the hostel. Before that we took on a beer which was brewed locally by the Moulin brewery in Pitlochry - absolutely superb, should have had another.
The journey across to pick up Team ITN was fairly uneventful but very scenic all the same as we traversed the B8019 which gave spectacular views across Loch Tummel and the infamous Schiehallion beyond that. The rendezvous was made without a hitch.
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Our travelling chef(s) once again, expertly prepared dinner, which was consumed by all at the communal dining table.
The rest of the evening was spent washing up and relaxing before hitting the sack for a well-earned rest.
Team Gringo Ped’ Reading: 20.55 miles. 37421 steps