Day 2
Saturday 9 May - a FWA day - Iron Lodge to Alltbeithe
The weather dictated the day. It was still wet and windy. There had been fresh snow on the tops overnight. so, Mam Sodhail ridge and it's eight Munros would have to await a future visit. Instead it was off to Carnach and Easaich falls, which looked spectacular in the distance. I could see three figures way up ahead. Soon they became people; Barbara, Vicky and Kathy. Barbara was on her 10th crossing and was, I found out later, only 80 years young. After a brief chat, I wished them well and continued over very wet and sometimes pathless ground to the top of Glen Affric.
Heavy showers punctuated the day. It was at this point where I met Des Horan. He was walking at about the same pace as me and we chatted away while heading towards Alltbeithe hostel. At the hostel there was a crowd of people who were setting off further down the Glen. Their names escape me, although, when I was praising John Donohoe for his grid-referenced crossing point, I was introduced to Marie Donohoe.
Much to my surprise there were spare beds in the annex. I ended up sharing a room with Grant and Bill. The evening passed with a group of French folk and Challengers preparing variations on a theme around de-hydrated food. And, some of the whisky from the Inverness Co-op was still left.
