Blair Atholl Monday 08 June 2015
Start: Dunkeld
Finish: Blair Atholl
Miles walked today: 19
Total miles: 823
It's so tough out here on my travels. Tonight, for example, at the modest Atholl Arms Hotel (third last photo below) my room is missing a trouser press and the hairdryer is much too powerful for my silken locks. And there's a sheep on the loose...
And this morning was hard. Doreen's breakfast was so delicious it was a struggle to get my walking speed up to my customary 3.3 mph.
A new take on the barbed wire front today - it's the second wire down, not the top one. What IS the point? Before I can get too worked up, I'm distracted by a view of distant mountains with snow on them. You can just about see it in the photo below.
I did reach Pitlochry eventually around midday and took the opportunity to get my hair cut (I know, so what, but this is my blog), and grab a coffee and a sticky bun. Mmmmmm. But I feel I've let Dorothy (a Scot through and through) down as I didn't get a scotch pie. I'll make that a priority for the next day or two.
As I approached Blair Atholl a cyclist loaded down with panniers went past and asked if I was an "end to ender". I caught up with him at the first shop in Blair Atholl and we compared notes. His end to end takes much less time and is quite different but it's so good to talk to a kindred spirit.
I checked in at the Atholl Arms Hotel where the receptionist is first class, and understands immediately that breakfast at 8.00 is a bit late for me and happily arranges a packed lunch instead.
Thank you C&N so much for your continued support. It is metaphorically downhill from now on but the next few days have far too many brown lines on the map for me to start coasting ;)
Finally, a moment of serendipity - Kenonymous has recommended a beer:
"With luck, should be in the Atholl Arms Hotel tonight - are you? If so, get tucked in the bothy bar & grab a glug of their Braveheart Ale from their own brewery in Moulin. Go on - don't be an Atholl now! ;-)"
which is at the bar! And it was excellent. A shame you weren't here to try it yourself, OS...
