Day 9, to Braemar

 

Kit explosion in Glen Derry

The day dawned DRY – amazing.

Even more amazing, and slightly worrying, was the overnight appearance of Brigadoon Bridge, virtually adjacent to our pitch. Fighting the urge to sing a Brigadoon song (not difficult, I don’t know any) for fear of incurring the wrath of ‘her with the GPS’, we breakfasted, packed and very gingerly crossed Brigadoon Bridge…..I mean, it may have vanished at any moment, and GPSs don’t like water.

Peter came to meet us and we compared notes on the previous day’s walk. Brian & Peter, both very strong walkers, took until 9pm to get to Derry Lodge, this made our 11pm arrival slightly more acceptable.

We three made our merry way through Glen Lui towards Mar Lodge for tea and buns, laughing nearly all the way. The memories of the previous day’s difficulties diminished with each step. And the sun was breaking through.

Before long we were walking down the long drive to Mar Lodge, I could smell the tea! As we approached the lodge we spotted Challengers ahead of us, some arriving, the others leaving to go to Braemar.

This year we were in a different room to that used in previous years. It was very comfortable and we were soon sat on real chairs at a real table, enjoying butties, scones, and lashings of ginger beer tea. The craic in the room was electric. Stories were exchanged, blisters compared, tales of woe told – each trying to out-do the other.

Emma, Stan, Andy Williams, Peter and ‘er with the GPS.

The bad bit of this day is the road walk into Braemar, it’s long and boring….unless you divert through the woodland.

Ready to roll from Mar Lodge

Our new band of five set off to cross Victoria Bridge and on to the ‘B’ road into town. Louise’s feet were still giving her problems so rather than follow the rest of the team’s divertion through the longer but more pleasant Morrone Birkwood route, she opted for boring.

Parting of the ways….for a short time

It was a sensible choice….and as we’d done so much of this crossing together I followed her. In good company it’s amazing how easily boring bits can pass. As we made our way into town, still tired from the previous day’s exertions, we made A Plan.

Plans are good, especially when you stick to them.

We were booked into Kate’s bunkhouse in Braemar, a wonderful place with an equally wonderful owner.

The Grand Plan went like this:

1) Go straight to the bunkhouse

2) Shower and change

3) Ask Kate to do our laundry

4) Eat

5) Heads down and feet up for a couple of hours before tea

6) Eat again

7) The Moorfield…..or more likely the relative peace and quiet of the Fife.

8) Earlyish night

What actually happened:

1) Fife Arms

2) Still the Fife Arms

3) Kate’s

4) Laundry

5) Shower and change

6) Eat

7) Sleep

8) Oversleep

9) The Moorfield

10) Bed around 1am

Ah well, it was a good idea at the time.

The Fife Arms proved to be a Challenge magnet, it was great to see all the weather-beaten faces staring out at us…..we couldn’t resist. Anyway it would be rude not to. Wouldn’t it?

A couple of bottles of decent Scottish Ale later (the Fife doesn’t do cask) I thought it was time to go…..until I spotted ‘er with the GPS with yet another pint. Not wishing to be rude or seem unsociable another bottle of Old MacTavish’s Finest Fighting Ale was consumed before we wobbled gently out of the Fife to the luxury of our bunkhouse.

Jeanette and Biaggio with Piero in the background, in the Fife

Getting our stuff sorted was relatively easy, Kate is a marvellous host and she’s well-used to dealing with the influx of smelly Challengers that descend on her every year. Before long she had our now clean clothes on her washing line.

By the time we had eaten our nosh it was time for a bit of a siesta. I had arranged to meet Lynsey at the Moorfield at 9pm. A funny noise disturbed my slumber at around 9.45pm – a text message arrived from Lynsey….’What about our date??’ Whoops!

Hobbling up to the Moorfield I came across John Braide walking back to the campsite. John’s a fine man that I’ve known for some years from my running (Ho-ho!) with the Cheshire Tally-Ho! Hare and Hounds – a fine running club formed in 1872. I’m pretty sure we still have some of the founder members running with the club!

John, an experienced and very capable backpacker, was a Challenge first-timer and I was delighted when he eventually succumbed to my constant mithering to apply for the Challenge. John about-turned and came back to the Moorfield with us until really quite late. It was a lovely evening in the company of Challengers….and the beer was good too.

Alan and Carl in the Moorfield

Andy Walker doing something clever and mathematical on his Bat Phone.

Gordon Green in The Moorfield

Lynsey, my ‘date’, berated my lateness – but she was in very good company and was clearly enjoying herself.

When she left to go back to her B&B I quickly went round the pub with her birthday card for the next day’s celebrations at Bill & Stan’s. Husband Alistair and I had been plotting for a while. He and baby Isabel were in Braemar to meet up with Mum, he had baked a cake but the problem was how to get it to Bill & Stan’s. Jeanette came to the rescue by offering to drive into Braemar the next day to collect the cake in her 4x4.

It was well past midnight when the remnant Challengers eventually agreed to leave the pub. We’d had a lovely evening and were all ready for our beds.

I think I slept well!