Failure, some success and more new friends

On Sunday I woke in the early hours with a migraine and raging hayfever, so I was rattling my way to the showers a couple of hours later, full of tablets in the hope of feeling better. Eventually, we travelled along the road towards Kinloch Hourn and Rosie waited for us below Gleouraich.

As we faffed outside the van, two walkers came down the road. An interesting looking couple and despite lacking the usual huge rucksacks of Challengers, I guessed who they were. They stopped for a chat, the gentleman having mistaken us for gypsies because of Rosie and as we got to know each other, I asked if they were on the Challenge and if they could possibly Lou and Phyllis La Borwit. Yes! The internet is an extraodinary thing and these people are famous Challengers because of it, on their 13th and 12th crossing, respectively. They were travelling light on Sunday because a kind man had offered to deliver their packs to their next stop, so today they had a tiny pack between and were fair flying along. It was wonderful to meet them.

The plan was to do a loop, taking in Gleouraich and Spidean Mialach, but it didn’t quite turn out that way. It’s a steady, winding climb up towards the summit on a fantastic path with fabulous views towards Knoydart and the Glen Shiel hills and it was a lovely day, if a little breezy at times with the odd spot of rain, but nothing to speak of. David considered it to be perfect walking conditions.

We reached a sheltered point at about 2666 ft where I started to have a crisis. I was anxious because the path I could see seemed close to the edge and we were obviously a long way up. I felt insignificant and vulnerable. I wanted to do my first Munro, but I was running out of steam because of the after effects of taking *Cetrizine and I was still suffering flashing lights and visual distortion from the migraine. There was also time pressures as we’d set off a little later than intended and at the speed I was going, we would have finished later than we wanted. Not really the best circumstance and I wanted to enjoy the experience, rather than a miserable struggle, so after some soul searching I decided to wait there, wrapped up, where I could still watch David make the final part of the ascent.

As I had my crisis, a golden eagle soared above the summit and along the ridge, an omen of success according to David, just waiting to enjoy my sorry carcass, I thought! Three other walkers appeared and left us to discuss my predicament, but the chap at the rear later confessed to David he thought I’d made the right decision. As I watched from my vantage point, the eagle soared back into view and away again. David followed the other three dots up the hill, disappearing briefly from view, then back again at the top. Then he romped back down to me. I was only 1000 ft roughly, a half a mile from my goal, but I was more relaxed when he returned.

We returned swiftly downhill to Rosie and trundled back along the road to the Tomdoun Hotel to spend the evening with a few Challengers, including Laura, Alan, Phil, Chris, Dennis, Humphrey to name but a few. There were many who’s names we didn’t catch, or maybe just can’t remember! Lou and Phyllis were there too and had remembered to mention us to Alan, so he knew we were there. All lovely people.

A little later, we left the chaos behind, (and there was chaos!) and tiptoed back to Rosie, whom David had secreted away down the road a little, so we could have a couple of drinks with our meal and wild camp with Rosie for some added fun.

We had a great day, despite my failure to summit my first Munro. I refuse to let myself feel bad about this, it was just not the right day for it. I’ll have another go someday. My overall conclusion is that I am a walker, I can plod all day long, I can do a decent gradient, but I don’t like height. With edges. I’m not and never will be a Munroist, but I don’t have to be to be a walker, so that’s fine with me!

*Cetrizine is a ‘non-drowsy’ hayfever medication. I only have to take half a dose and within a few hours, I’ll be in a truly unpleasant, drug induced sleep. I wake up feeling exceptionally grotty. Loratadine is is another ‘non-drowsy’ hayfever medication. Half a dose, and I’ll be out cold in less than an hour and feel grotty for a day or two after. It’s no fun, but neither are my symptoms in the first place, unable to open swollen, gunk filled eyes, swollen face and lips, unbearable itching, and this year, aggravated asthma. I could go on (and on) but you get the picture. It’s pants.

Stretching the legs and Rosie makes a friend

Saturday, and we trundled up the slightly hairy road to leave Rosie in the shade at Glen Affric as we strolled the ten miles around Loch Affric.

It was a lovely day, if it hadn’t been for the showers, which were just enough to stop us taking our waterproofs off. I did have to par down the layers underneath, but that’s what layers are for. The scenery is beautiful and the path good, but David was disappointed at the lack of wildlife. There were plenty of cuckoos giving it laldy and a dozen or so sand martins at the head of the loch giving a tremendous display as they swooped low over the water.

We crossed the bridge here and took shelter behind a couple of lock ups, presumably belonging to the small croft. Lunch was consumed between showers.

Another shower, heading our way.

It had become very apparent that everyone we met, twenty walkers, two cyclists and three dogs, were going in the opposite direction. The last two, who looked as if they may have been Challengers, passed us as we left the croft. We didn’t see another soul.

Just around the corner, David got to see more wildlife. A stag, albeit a dead one by the side of the path. The path was still clear, but narrower and more lumpy. And decidedly more wet!

Looking back towards Mullach

There were burns to ford, although most were a mere hop and a skip. According to our instructions, there was a burn to ford that ‘could be tricky’, followed by another which had been bridged. Such a burn was duly met and was indeed a little tricky and another bridged by sturdy planks. Imagine my disappointment when we came across another angry burn in full spate, that was even trickier to ford! There were definite tracks up and down the burn where other poor souls had tried to find a crossing that suited them.

I was not a happy bunny, but with a lot of encouragement and a good strong arm, I made my way across. I was happier when I got to a rock large enough to take my bum so I could shuffle from rock to rock and feel quite in control. It’s the rushing water, it unnerves me! There soon followed another burn, with a wooden bridge. C’est la vie.

When we got back to the car park, Rosie was waiting for us, ready to whisk us away to our next campsite. We had planned to use Faichemard campsite, but there were no pitches with hook up left, so we back tracked to Fort Augustus to Cumberlands campsite. Interesting site, brand new toilet/shower block, but with no mirrors, some toilet cubicles with no paper dispenser and no curtain or screen between the shower and the back of the cubicle where you’ve just neatly stashed your clean, dry clothes and shoes. Fun.

Anyway, it was quiet, there was electricity and thus warmth, but it got very, very dark.

And Rosie made a friend! We parked next to (leaving a respectable distance) the other VW campervan on the site. She was even older, but they made a nice pair.

Business dealt with and the adventure begins

We gave Aunty Mary a good send off, the full works in the chapel, Great Nephew Peter piped her away in the car and into the cemetery and we all went to Torley’s for the wake.

Late after noon we shot back up north (near Dingwall) and to my great delight and as compensation for not getting on the Challenge this year, David had booked a VW campervan! An original from the mid-seventies, called Rosie. She’s lovely!

 

Me and my friend Rosie at the foot of Gleouraich

It was getting late by this time, so we ventured slightly south to Cannich campsite. A pleasant site with all amenities, if a little basic. It was a shade nippy that night, so we were glad of  the electric hook up to power the fan heater! Could have (there you go Alan) done with a tad more lighting as we ate our tinned curry and boil in the bag rice, but we were camping, it’s going to get dark!

Thursday, 13th May

We dashed down to Fife after lunch and booked into a nice hotel in Kinross (Alan, just a wave of a hand down the side of the mirror in the bathroom and I was bathed in light, more than a handful of hangers in the wardrobe), a quick change and further dash to Lochgelly for a short service in the chapel, then back to the out-law’s for a ‘buffet’. Two glasses of white and a large Glenmorangie later and David took me back to the hotel bar for Hendricks, tonic and cucumber, a small Glenmorangie and a good sleep!

Extra trip

We’ve been planning a trip to do some walking around Glen Affric, or close by, starting on Friday, but due to a family bereavement (out-laws), we have to extend our time away and leave Thursday lunch time. We have to shoot down to Fife, attend the services, then shoot back ‘oop north’ Friday afternoon to start our break.

Mum will be here looking after the little treasures, or maybe as the responsible adult and Rhiannon will be looking after the little treasures. She has a list!

Mum has been paying attention to the weather forecast and spotted the snow and low temperatures. She keeps telling me we don’t have to go, or we can come back early.

Not a chance!!

Good luck to all Challengers, I may meet a few this year, which I’m really looking forward.  To the rest have an excellent trip and I’m poised for lots of reading!