Day 5
Tuesday 10th May - Blackburn of Corrieyairack to Laggan
Tuesday dawned quite pleasant, although too chilly to hang around at the top of the Corrieyairack pass: I switched on my mobile, had a good signal, found about 10 texts, and decided they would all have to await a warmer environment. Wow, those soldiers who built that 18th century road, with no modern machinery, deserve posthumous medals all round. A slight problem with the left knee had become a painful click by the time all those bouldery bits of descent had done their worst, but it wasn't too bad on the flat.
I was overtaken at incredible speed, close to Melgarve, by a Challenger with a very military bearing and military voice (if that exists), the conversation lasting only sufficiently long for him to overtake me within earshot without slackening speed: the poor man had only a week's holiday. After he had passed, his face seemed vaguely familiar...to my surprise, I found him waiting at Melgarve, and before socialising briefly with other Challengers there, he tackled me on the same point. It transpired our paths had crossed for a time in the Outer Hebrides about eight years ago, when the Army still had a large presence there. He promised that next year, after retirement, he will take his time to do the Challenge, and socialise more....remember, Patrick??
A charming young man in a "hobo" hat, a computer/IT expert, slowly caught up with me on the long road walk to Laggan Bridge, and when I assured him he must not wait, asked if he might walk with me for a bit, for company, which was delightful for me; I guess for him even an old lady was preferable to solitude on miles of tarmac! He went ahead shortly before Laggan, and was fortunate to find a cancellation for a room in Monadhliath Hotel. Howard and Doug were very kindly keeping me a nice flat space for my wee tent there, and informed me when I arrived that there was a glass of wine with my name on it waiting in the bar, courtesy of the above young man. After pitching my tent, I enjoyed the wine hugely, but, perhaps because it landed on an empty stomach, when the donor returned to the bar all showered, clean and changed, I asked this apparent newcomer if he, too, was a Challenger...oh, the shame! To add to my embarrassment, I now can't even recall his name: blame that on the fast drinking, too, but if you are out there, please forgive me and I hope you had a good trip to the Far East.
