As promised, I am updating for the past 2 days stages tonight.
Day 3 was a marathon trek, as I combined day 3 & 4 into one days walk so I could finish the C2C within 5 days to allow time to do Ben Nevis on Friday.
The day was truely a day of two halves, from the sublime to the mundain. The morning 10 mile walk was truely gorgeous, with fantastic weather and brilliant views of the mountains and exciting detours. The day started at North Laggan Lock, where, yet again, Karen had to drop me off due to the stingey Scottish bus drivers who do not allow you to take a well behaved dog on board! I walked down to the edge of Loch Oich. The walk along this Loch was due to be along a disused rail line, but I was unhappy about this, as I would yet again be hemmed in by pine trees and unable to see the water and mountains. So in typical fashion, I decided to take a detour down to the edge of the lake. I had to therefore climb over fallen trees, and dodge under branches, much to Rufus' amusement, as I had to crawl under trees to fit my copious ruckasack under, sometimes having to remove it and throw it
over!
Eventually the railtrack was joined again, feeling battered, scratched and exhilerated, I came onto a lovely path to the head of the Loch with stunning views back down the valley (Glen I suppose I should call it, and Lake as well!).
Of course at this point, Rufus decides it way over due for a dip, so he proceeds to wash his tootsies. Such a clean dog!
Soon after this, I arrived at the Bridge of Oich, which sounds like something
an Oich like me should admire! Here it is! Well, I did say it was just a bridge, so what were you expecting! God, you are a demanding audience!
The walk along the next section of the Caledonian Canal was about 6 miles, and lovely. It ran alongside a river, which, yes, you guessed it, Rufus went for a swim in! It was great as Karen could walk 1 mile up to meet me from Fort Augustus, which was a nice treat, to be escorted back to base for a pub lunch.
The afternoon trek was such a contrast as I walked from Fort Augustus to Invermoriston. My feet were bloody killing me, and you were stuck in a forest looking at endless pine trees, never really seeing Loch Ness. But I can't complain, as this trip was for an ulterior motive than sight seeing, so I just knuckled down and got on with it. This was the only view of Loch Ness on the entire 10 mile afternoon trek. It is of Cherry island, the only Island on Loch Ness, and it is man made!
My feet hurt so much, I just don't know how I will get on tomorrow!
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