Today we slept in!!! The night was terribly cold but we broke open the heat wraps for our backs and lined our bags with our silk liners. I had my puffer coat on and Kirsten kept hers on after the 5:00 am pee break. Once the sun hit our tent the air warmed and we slept better than ever. The late start meant we didn’t hit the trail until 9:45 am. This makes for a strange day if you hike onward as it is pretty late when you finish. We were ahead of our days by about 5km to start, if we kept our planned destination we would walk 22km. The first part of the trail was rocky track until Gorton Mountain Bothy. We stopped here for lunch about 2:00 pm. At 3:10 we were back at it.
There was a quick pick up of our trail that lead us through a tunnel under the train tracks.
We followed the trail- it became boggy and wet as we walked. The upcoming route finding was our first non-trail section. It ended up being all boggy marsh and peat dotted with heather, a very treacherous cross for a non-Highlander. We managed the 7km workout fairly well. With about a 1/4 left I stepped forward but my foot extended- instant shin splint pain. Hoping it heals with Kirsten’s Voltaren.
Kirsten’s blister family has grown nicely with extended cousins and aunts and uncles joining the party. Hint: buy stock in Elastoplast and Band-Aid- right now!
The crazy bog walking was beyond worth it- this Glen was beautiful beyond words.
We bushwhacked back to trail and walked beside Loch Lyon. The trail was softer than before- a nice treat. As we can upon a flat area to camp we met up with Scott- a Scotsman we had met previously. We decided- in error - to push further along for a bit to take km off our other days. At this point you may have guessed, water sources became scarce along with flat plots for camping! We ended up hiking passed the huge dam and into Pubil- we are trying to decide what kind of place this is- not a town, not a village, very bizarre. We are at least 7km ahead of our route.
After we manically put the tent up and cooked we are getting ready for the chilly night ahead.
Our trek tomorrow takes us past a cafe- great motivation.
Signing off for now. Hoping to sleep tight. Nighty night!
Amanda and Kir
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