- 20 miles today instead of plan 24 as I walked further yesterday
- Had a great night's sleep in the Balsporran bed and breakfast in Dalwhinnie, followed by an equally good cooked breakfast and left suitably refreshed
- Weather perfect, dry, warm sunshine and nice breeze - perfect for a WEE WALK. Decided to stick to the cycle way again as the A9 is single lane and particularly fast on this section. Soon the valley was filled with chinooks very quick and very low. Thought perhaps they had come to take me out, but they flew dramatically by.
- Broke out the ipod for the first time and totally alone treated the sheep to a few baas Robbie, Take That and Reo Speedwagon, they seemed wholly unimpressed just walking off and totally ignoring my tones!
- The walk went for 10 miles between 2 mountains with a river running alongside me which only heightened the need to pee on a regular basis
- Alistair was on the route ahead plotting alternative routes if wanted them and finding the site and a good tea shop 20 miles. Saw 10 cyclists no villages, no shops no nothing, good job I had stocked up with supplies.
- Arrived at Blair Atholl, a beautiful town with the equally imposing Blair Castle, but the whole place is less than 200yds long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Made good use of said tea shop and felt much brighter after 4 cups of tea!
- Alistair is staying in the Atholl Palace Hotel, (no he is not camping with me), but he did negotiate the use of a bath for me which, after 1 week of campsite showers, was very gratefully received
- Had dinner at the Hotel (salad) (yes me, salad) and am about to return to my tent
- Al has been really supportive and Ihope he can put up with 14 days running around living life to my rather pedestrianly paced progress
- I am still avoiding the dreaded midges
- Blister down to one and not painful, but 2 nails have gone black and I fear they may be lost at some point - of course will keep you posted so hope you are not reading this over breakfast!!
- Ann, the knees are still holding. Tim, sure this rucksack is killing my swing
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Day 11 Dalwhinnie - Blair Atholl
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Hi Steve
ReplyDeleteEnjoying your blog. Rog says too many B&B's and not enough camping - what do you mean "you don't like camping" - you've got a palace of a tent with you!! Rog wants to know if you can get it up in less than 5 mins (the tent!) Keep up the good work - reading the blog really brings home what you're doing. Well done!
Julie and Roger
Steve
ReplyDeleteFantastic effort, having driven the A9 Dalwhinnie to Blair Atholl is not the purtiest section of your little dander, so fair play. Enjoying the blogs, although the FL noticeboard seems awful quiet without you, yet you're still in the lead - is there no end to your talents?? All the best for the rest of your journey, at least you don't have to go through Wales.
Hugh & Linda
Keep the nails if they come off mate - sure that they will be very popular in the auction... ;-)
ReplyDeleteHope that you don't get any chaffing...
Andrew
Roger my best time so far is 7 minutes, but that was with Alistair holding my pole for me! Great to hear from you guys, next time you hear me say I am doing something like this shoot me, didnt Mr Redgrave say something similar and he went back
ReplyDeleteSteve
Hi Steve
ReplyDeleteThought you might like a break from us for a while!! Great to be able to read the blog & keep up with your progress, although Dan is looking forward to 6 wks time when 'uncle Stevie' can take him to the park again!! what is it like to be a hero?? All the best, keep on walking....believe what you may but Tim assures me that he has not 'hogs' or chips tonight! yeah right!