Day 12
Tuesday 19 May 2009 - Wet, cold, windy Wirrens - Tarfside, The Wirrens and North Water Bridge
There was talk last night of joining the caravan trail to North Water Bridge. I had another great bacon sandwich, washed down with coffee and set off. Was I going to be on the caravan trail - no. Did I later wish I had been on the caravan trail - well, no!
I set out for the Wirren Hills. Over the river and up a faint track. The rain soon got it's act together and got heavy. The visability got less and I was enjoying the solitude. The caravan trail was along the river bank to Edzell. I think one other went my way. Near the wide ridge bit the fencing started. I even saw a landrover in the murk, but, it soon disappeared from sight. So, I was trying to hit my first top - West Wirren. Well, nobody was there to tell me the fence was electric! And getting to the first top involved crossing the fence - a few times. Now these fences are just about - well you could carefully, just, get over them without touching them between your legs. But, put a pack on and add uneven ground and a bit of wind! Shocking stuff.
Anyway, compass bearings were set for Hill of Wirren. This would be easy, with a trig point to aim for. Oh my goodness. I eventually found it in the middle of peat hags and fortified up to the hilt with shocking electric wires. When I reached it the weather, if anything, got worse. The peat hags did not look inviting. I made my way along a fence until I reached a crossing point. Problem was there was no path to follow. I cut round some more peat hags and eventually got to another fence. Logic said this would go round to send me off towards East Wirren. And then the sky cleared. For a minute. There was East Wirren. Where? Compass bearing again. At least I wasn't lost?
The weather resumed its ugly stance. East Wirren came and went and next came Hill of Corathro. A Beef jerky lunch on the move - it was too wet and windy to stop - and down hill. I'm not a great fan of pylons, but, as the visibilty increased off the hills I could start to fix my position for sure. And I did. And I aimed for Margie. In the farm yard I saw a couple of men and asked one if this was Margie? Well, he was polite. It was, obviously! I knew where I was - didn't I?
The rain hugged the hills, but had stopped by the time I reached Margie.
Then the walk into Edzell. The Tuck Inn was great. I joined a crowd of refugees and had a sausage sandwich and coffee. Then over to the convenience store for a bottle of wine. This would wash down the Mountain House meal that evening - (if only I knew). Heavy showers started. I lost my way to the footbridge. Then found it. The rain stopped for a while while I checked my route with the help of Jean and Jim and .... . Then it was down the farm track and on to the road. The road to North Water Bridge is long and straight and not very pleasant to walk down. Cars hare down this drag strip.
North Water Bridge campsite was littered with brussel sprouts - OK, tents. More rain just on getting there. Then in to check in. £4 a night - great. Then, Alistair, Richard and Andrew were hatching a plan. Taxi to Edzell and the Panmuir Hotel. I jumped at the chance and volunteered to spread the word. Maybe we would need two taxis. Oddly, not many did take this option. Maybe they, too, had carried a bottle of wine from Edzell to NWB and were intent (in tent) on making sure it was consumed.
I think it was about six of us who made it to the Panmuir. Alistair, Jim, John Manning, Richard, Andrew and me. Here we met Bill and Nigel and Lynn. When the menu came round I remember thinking - OMG - this is expensive. But, the food proved to be worth it! The company was on good form and I have never laughed so much for a long time. The flow of conversation was non-stop. Somehow, we got on to my windshirt - or it's tiny sac. No offence, but this was the lightest pack ever - sub 2k. It came into and out of the discussion and kept us topped up with laughter. What a night. Those at the NWB campsite missed out here.
