Day 4
Monday 11 May 2009 - the longest day - Cougie to Fort Augustus
Des, Eddie and I set off together after a hearty breakfast and fond farewells to our superb hosts. Such was the banter between us that we missed the turning up to the bealach on the way towards Torgyle bridge - eventually! We soon realised this and came back to start the slog up to the bealach. From here, Iain had suggested it was best to keep to the line of the fledgling river that started on the bealach. We did, and must have added a good few k's to our route plans.
Either side of the Allt na Muic were peat hags and boggy ground. The river twisted and wound it's way downhill and we had to twist and turn too, to by-pass the wet soggy, boggy bits. Still, it was another warm day and it was good to stop and paddle our feet in the river a couple of times before we reached the road down to Torgyle bridge. We later heard that some had made Torgyle bridge their overnight stopping place. Not us. Our estimation was that we would be in Fort Augustus by around 2030. So, we started up the track. Once again, we missed our turning and had to double back. This was only a few minutes added on. However, the track went on and on ..........and on. Our ETA was falling back, the closer we got to Fort Augustus: 2030, 2100, 2130, 2200........... When Fort Augustus came into sight, we had settled on around 2200; time for a pint and some fish and chips.
We repeated our overshooting-off-the-track trick in the trees as dusk gradually descended into darkness. So, we came back on ourselves and found the right path. The trees eventually threw us out in the outskirts of Fort Augustus nearer 2240. The good news was that I got a pint near by the locks. When I said that I was aiming for the campsite, the Landlady explained that they did not take tents. I tried to explain that they would make an exception for me, but, my explanation did not seem convincing. So, I guess she was a little perplexed when I set off after a 10 second pint! She must have thought I was either royalty, or, determined to cause problems by insisting I was going to camp regardless. I don't think the mention of the Challenge was very clear - butI had walked 14 hours!! Des got to his B and B just in time. Eddie and I pitched our tents at 2300. No food. Just bed. Still, the night was clear and there were some other Challengers safely asleep in their tents. 14 hours after starting out from Cougie, I got to bed.
