Day 6
Wednesday 14th May - Allt Calder to Burma Road
The morning of day 6 was a dramatic mix of frost, sunshine and clinging mist. - and lots of traffic - apparently off up the glen to do some drilling.
I walked down Strathdearn in a happy kind of mood despite the lump in my foot.
Just by Coignascallan I crossed the river and climbed a track into the hills. Hidden away in a fold I found a very posh bothy indeed. It was like a cricket pavilion and inside there was a wood burning stove and piles of logs, big, fat church candles and (wait for it) - a barbeque with a propane gas supply.
I was so taken by all this, I continued along the track which goes much further than is shown on the map - and competely went the wrong way - putting me about a mile off route. Some hard work through the peat hags put me right and I crossed the ridge into the valley of the River Dulnain - a remote and very beautiful strip of green in all the brown hills.
I basically followed this downstream till I got to the Red Bothy - where there were three tents. A bit further on, I came to the Burma road which leads to Aviemore. It was quite late and I decided to rest my foot and do a bit of replanning. The next day was planned for only 8 miles, so I could comfortably stay 4 or 5 miles short of Aviemore and have a lunchtime session there.
So I rang Challenge control and told them what I intended to do and Mrs Grumpy who was on duty at the time advised me about a spot to camp and to pad my tootsies. (She's not grumpy at all by the way - in fact she's very nice and helpful and knows what she's talking about. She's married to Mr Grumpy who isnt grumpy either... Mr Grumpy knows things like the ten digit grid reference for the bakery in Ballater.... (I can tell that you're impressed)
I then rang home and spoke to my wife's Aunty Vera who was visiting ---- and thereby set off family alarm bells that I was behind time and had probably been captured by aliens and being held to ransom for the sum of eight million zorgan glockies and a picture of Kylie Minogue in a bra.
I found the camping spot, washed my socks and undies in the beck ...er...burn... by beating them on a rock unil they squeaked - and settled down to a supper of veg soup supplemented by smash and oatcakes - two slightly suspiciously off bacon rolls and my fruit cake and a packet of custard...(and 25 cl of very cheap scotch)
Lovely night....
if a bit frosty....
14 miles (94 miles) and 2100 feet of ascent
