CCP - bridge at north end of Loch Ordie

[Gordie12]

Having worked an evening shift on Friday night I was home for 9 am and went to bed at 10am with the intention of sleeping through till around 4pm but I woke up at 1pm, looked out the widow to see a great day, and was up changed and away by 2pm - never the plan but too good a day to miss out.

Started walking at about 3:15pm, no real intention to be fast but I was at Mill Dam in 33:02 and Raor Lodge in 54:40, both times are pretty quick for me.

I was still on a fast time at the far end of Loch Ordie in 1:28. I stopped for some chocolate, put some gloves on, head torch on and finally music on. In the late dusk I switched on the head torch and it immediately flashed 3 times to warn me that the battery was slow and 5 minutes later it was dead - a bit disappointing as the battery was on charge for a few hours earlier in the day.

It was a clear starlit night and the walking was great whilst out in the open but once the track headed in to tree cover things got a bit more difficult. I've walked this track twice a week for 7 years so I know it off by heart and found myself switching from side to side to miss potholes I couldn't see but knew were there.

Just one problem on the way back when I had to really slow down in a tree covered area, I knew the track took a right turn but with absolutely no visibility I left it slightly late in turning and caught the barb wire fence running right beside the track - this left a tiny hole in my top but no cuts.

Just one further issue, the cattle grid in a really dark area but I used the light from my Garmin to get me over and it was a straight forward walk from there back to the car.

Bearing in mind the slower darker sections I was surprised to see that I average 4mph and was only 4 mins off my PB for this distance. From now on the spare head torch goes in the rucksack.