Day 7
Thursday 14 May 2009 - a fine sunny, half day - Kingussie to Ruighaiteachain
Breakfast was two pints of milk which washed down some Crunchies and chocolate bars whilst sat on a bench on the main road. Must be another Challenge thing? Then it was back down the road and on to Ruthven Barracks.
It was also strange walking by myself. At the Barracks I struck out on a track that would lead me over to Glen Tromie. Then it was along a road to another faint track that led into Inshriack Forest. I managed to negotiate the various tracks through the forest, coming out at a point near to Baileguish where the track ran out. So, it was down and across the shallow river, over the fence and on to the ruins. Here was a good place to stop for lunch - my usual Beef jerky and Green and Blacks chocolate. Other Challengers passed by in the distance: they had found a track that led to a bridge across the river.
After crossing the open ground it was back into the forest and the track down into Glen Feshie. Here, it was still some way to the Ruigh alteachain bothy, but, the views were good and the time soon passed before reaching the bridge across the river. I found myself a film star here. But, I can't remember the name of who it was who was filming me crossing.
The bridge was an "At your own risk" one, but, seemed OK. The bothy was nearby. Jenny Headscalf was already there and looking for a good camping spot. It was 15.00 - a half day. I found a good pitch some distance from the bothy and relaxed for the rest of the day.
The bothy is somewhat unusual as it has its own loo as an annex to the main building. I had to avail myself of this and then went to the river to fetch a pail of water to flush the loo. I then found out that there was a pipe nearby that had been rigged up to provide a clean water source. Oh well.
Later Des and Russ passed by on their way to camp higher up in the Glen. Alistair, too, said hello and flew on up the Glen. Rory and companions camped near to me. In the bothy were Carl and others who spent the night there. Jim, from Ireland came in with others and some whisky was consumed before I retired to my tent.
