whitespider1066

There seems to be a routine developing, get up earlyish, walk,make camp and then sleep early (well by eightish).
then sleep early (well by eightish).
I slept ok in the bothy. It was an experience that I can say I have now done.
We made off up the corrieyairack pass, not overly steep but a long long constant walk up hill. We stopped for a short break at one stopping that was an idilic spot. If this spot was lower down or in the South of England then it would be heaving with picnicers.
Anyway the plod continues until you reach the top. We didn’t have any views because the clouds were once more low. We did manage to see some patches o because the clouds were once more low. We did manage to see some patches of snow that were still hanging around.
We start to decend and suddenly the views opened up before us.
Now I’m going to have a moan. The corrieyairack pass has been declared a national monument, and apparently if you are caught vandalising it the Secretary of State (I assume Scotland) will sue your arse off. I think after seeing the appalling state the corrieyairack pass has been allowed to get into on the Laggan side, he should be suing himself. It’s criminal this has been allowed to happen to a national monument like this.
allowed to happen to a national monument like this.
At some point down the bottom you hit tarmac. This tarmac section is long, draining, demoralising, and more importantly hard on the feet.
We bumped into a couple of Dutch challengers (who had also started from Mallaig). One of them was suffering from a bad knee.
Eventually we hobbled into Laggan, we came across the local grocery store. We nipped in and bought some supplies. Mine were to satisfy instant demands, a packet of ready salted crisps, a tube of smarties and a bottle of sprite.
We decided it would be nice to try and get in the hotel. We’d done around 36km today, and needed a reward. Sadly the hotel was fully booked but did point us to a bunkhouse 500 yards down the road.
We got the but the owner was not around, so we ended having to wait well over an hour. Luckily we were allowe to stay in the bunkhouse. We have the whole place to ourselves for eleven pounds each.
The shower felt sooo good. We also have sky in the common room!
Whilst waiting for the owner I chatted to challenge control who were glad to hear from us. Also heard that Martin Banfield had just been asking about me, so I also gave him a quick call.
Well I think that covers today pretty much time to get some much needed rest.

Another early start, meaning on the way by 7:30. The previous day we had decided to take the easier route into Fort Augustus. Which meant a bit of road work on the A82 (IIRC), and avoiding the speed racers that drive along that road.
When we reached the Bridge of Oich, we followed the path going along side the Caledonian Canal into Fort Augustus. But that was after a brief stop, and a check in with Challenge control to let them know what was happening.
We strolled into Fort Augustus around 10:30, and found a caf? to have a tea and bacon sarnie.
Opposite the caf? was a bus stop, and standing there were two Challengers who had also left from Mallaig at the same time. They were retiring due to who had also left from Mallaig at the same time. They were retiring due to blisters and heat stroke.
blisters and heat stroke.
I picked up a message from Kate on my voice mail asking me to call her. I was able to get hold of her, but I did Dan who told me she was at the doctors. So we hung around for an hour or so waiting for her to get home so I could see what was up.
During that time we bumped into more Challengers. These guys were met at the Invergarry campsite. They had walked the same route into Fort Augustus yesterday, and decided to have today as a rest day. We talked gear and pack weight and they seemed convinced they need to look at what they are carrying Although I must of sounded like a walking advert for Backpacklight.co.uk. Although I must of sounded like a walking advert for Backpacklight.co.uk. Both are carrying over 20 kilos, and the weight has forced them to adjust Both are carrying over 20 kilos, and the weight has forced them to adjust their route because the packs are too heavy.
I got through to Kate, she had some bad news. Her elder sister Janice had died last night. Phone calls are so hard at the moment.
We then made our exit from Fort Augustus to the Corrieyairack Pass at 12:45 The sun was out, and it was getting hot. But still taking it easy we made The sun was out, and it was getting hot. But still taking it easy we made it up to Blackburn bothy by 3:20.
it up to Blackburn bothy by 3:20.
Dawn has setup camp outside the bothy, whilst I am spending my first night ever in a bothy.
Tea has been a dehydrated home made spag bol, talk about delicious.
A little note on the water filter. I’ve been filtering all water from streams (maybe not entirely protect but after last year I’m not risking it). Any way I’ve started to refer to the process of putting water into my drinking way I’ve started to refer to the process of putting water into my drinking bottle as milking the cow!
bottle as milking the cow!
Anyway more tomorrow on the physical and emotional challenge.

Today was a forced rest day. Dawn was ill in the night.
Dawn wanted me to go on, and then she would catch me up. I wasn’t happy with that idea. Nor was Challenge control when I spoke to them.
Martin packed up, and went off to catch his bus, along with a box to post home to save him carrying it. I also had some stuff I didn’t want but didn’t want to throw either.
want to throw either.
While Dawn was recovering in her tent, I washed my walking clothes. So nice clean clothes to put on tomorrow ^_^
clean clothes to put on tomorrow ^_^
Meals today have been pot noodles left by Martin. Which was handy as I hadn’t enough food to cster for this extra rest day.
We called the local surgery at lunchtime, who spoke to Dawn. The over the phone verdict was Dawn had suffered vertigo in the night.
Gradually during the afternoon Dawn has been getting better.
We are now two days behind schedule, I’m worried about home (each call home makes me more unsure I should not be on my way back).
makes me more unsure I should not be on my way back).
I may not be physically ill, but emotionally things are starting to take a toll.
Is the Challenge worth the price of “life events” at home?
It’s been hot again here this afternoon, and route options have been discussed taking into account a suggestion from Challenge control for changing our finish point.

After forcing down a hearty fried breakfast, Martin and I made a start to do the final mileage to Invergarry.
We started getting phone signals again, so made some more phone calls to loved ones. I know know that there is a possible “life event”, and that is tearing at my heart. Especially when I know I should be there but have been told to stay and complete the Challenge. It seems this TGOC is set to be not just a physical challenge but an emotional one as well.
just a physical challenge but an emotional one as well.
Our journey through Glen Garry forest was nearly uneventful, requiring some replacement on the forest paths. Some of the forest looked as if a war had replacement on the forest paths. Some of the forest looked as if a war had taken place there. It was desolate from the tree felling that had been don taken place there. It was desolate from the tree felling that had been done.
It was a hot day today that meant I caught the sun a little on the back of my neck, despite having a buff there to protect it.
We arrived in camp at about 3:30, made a call to Challenge control to let them know we are all back together.
Looking back at yesterday the route I did was the one that Phil tried to convince me to do with him last year. Last year Phil ended up doing the route I had planned to do instead when he went to get help for me.
I had planned to do instead when he went to get help for me.
Tomorrow Martin leaves us to travel back South. Which meant I needed to get his poop scoop off him, as I have nearly broke mine. his poop scoop off him, as I have nearly broke mine.

It was an early start today. We had a light weight breakfast, muslie bars and water.
We were packed and ready to go at 7:40. The last people we would see all day were the RAF mountain rescue team driving up Glendessay.
The ascent we ascent had to do I found hard. But not as hard as the map reading we had to do. By that I mean the path and map did not match. Which required a bit of faith that we were going the right way.
We made Kinbreak bothy at 11:00 and had lunch.
I hope those jokers at the 0S get their come uppence. As we discovered another lie on the map. There is no path from the bothy to the one we needed to get to despite the map saying there was one.
get to despite the map saying there was one.
We crossed the river kingie and crossed the peat bog. And continued on our planned way.
At one point we Stopped for a 20 min snooze to recharge the batteries.
We came up with a plan to head to Tomdoun to phone our wives and let them know we were ok, not to worry . Plus also to let Dawn know we would be there the next day.
the next day.
As we approached Tomdoun we started to get a phone signal. We started making calls and leaving messages.
We arrived at Tomdoun and went to the hotel to see if there was a spare room. 18 miles we were knackered.
We got lucky they had one. After a much needed shower we went down to the bar to chat with our fellow challengers.
And then it was teatime. Each room was called to the dining room as their meal was ready.
I wolfed down my food, of goats cheese and salad stater, followed by roast beef and yorkshire pudding. Followed by raspberry pancota and ice cream. It tasted fantastic and I was so hungry. Now how to tell Dawn tomorrow?
tasted fantastic and I was so hungry. Now how to tell Dawn tomorrow?
9:30 we were in bed getting some much needed rest.

We woke to very low cloud and poor visibility. It had also rained in the night, so wet tents to pack away.
Even with the low cloud it was still humid, and I was soon sweating bucks.
We never really got a view until we hit Glendessary .But was more worrying was Challengers that had set off before us, passing us! Dawn thought they had gone up the wrong path.
At 3:10 we made the decision that we wouldn’t make the milage planned for the day. Once more due to the pack Martin had giving him so much trouble. Our decision was for Dawn to get over the pass and then the next day hit the campsite we had booked, in form Challenge control what was happening. But mainly to stop the the campsite possibly calling MRT if we didn’t show up. So off Dawn went, whilst Martin and I made our way to the loch at the bottom of Glendessary.
of Glendessary.
We found a spot, which had a great view. It was just a shame about the rubbish that fisherman had left behind.
It was a bit emotional staying here. This would of been one of my campsites last year. I’ll be glad to leave this area and the emotions it holds. last year. I’ll be glad to leave this area and the emotions it holds.

i’ll think up a prize when I get back. in the meantime post your entry in the comments of this posting.

martin will kill me for that ^_^