Challenge Day 10 May 20

Woke to the sound of grouse and curlew after a calm night. A really nice pitch. As we'd not got quite as far yesterday as intended, we started extra early (for us) at ten to eight.

Bert went on ahead, not at all comfortable. Worse than that, in fact. It was an easy path and, after a while, we started to see patches of blue sky. We waded through Bynack Burn and then a deeper Geldie Burn (mid calf level) and stopped for second breakfast at White Bridge, by which time, the sun was out and it was getting quite warm. Further along, I stopped and dug out the sun tan lotion as my right ear was starting to sizzle.

Geldie Burn

We called in at Mar Lodge for tea and biscuits, an annual service laid on for Challengers. They also provide meals and accommodation for those who want it. It was here that Bert irrevocably dropped out of the Challenge. He had made his mind up and accepted a lift into Braemar. From Mar Lodge, Frank and I had a very pleasant road walk of about four miles into Braemar. We called into the Village Hall and helped their fundraising for the primary school by having soup and pudding for a fiver. At 3pm, we left to go on to our pitch at the local Caravan Club site. There aren't that many Challengers here; yesterday would have been heaving with them. The noisiest birds to be heard here are oystercatchers and there are numerous ducks wandering around the site. The weather is forecast to be dry and sunny for the next few days.

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