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"Oooohhhh......" she mumbled ominously, after I had removed the band-aid on her request. I am at the medical centre in Lochcarron, almost a week after a simple blister popped (
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=84278 ) and two days after the by now swollen and infected foot slowed down my pace into a stagger (
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=84397 ).
A few minutes later I'm outside, with two weeks worth of 500 mg penicillin 4 times a day. It's about 3 in the afternoon, and I reckon I can make it to the Coire Fionnaraich bothy in time to have dinner before dark, even when in pain. At least I'm on proper treatment now, instead of on Hadex, the latter of which seems to have done more harm than good.
The plan is as follows: make it to the bothy, take the medication like a good boy, sleep at the bothy, foot and weather depending make it to Bealach a Choire Gharbh, and decide there wether I can climb both Maol Chean Dearg and An Ruadh-stac, or only the latter (as it is the most appealing in my view). So from the bealach it would be An Ruadh-stac first, then the decision.
I any case, this would probably be my last walk this holiday, and as I awoke the next morning it was clear the weather was going to be fantastic. I'd been alone in the bothy, and after breakfast, I left anything too bulky or heavy, and set off. Having had An Ruadh-stac on my wishlist for a while and having had my share of adversities this holiday, and knowing this would be my last proper day out, before returning to the Netherlands, I cannot tell you how emotional I got when first reaching the forementioned bealach and seeing An Ruadh-stac in glorious sunshine, not a living soul around. The day was already perfect.
The scramble towards the summit is easy but enjoyable, the views were great, and although I saw many a shower passing by, it remained dry wherever I was. On the summit it was quite cold, with a strong wind, but yet I spent an hour or two gazing in every direction and feeling very much alive and deeply both melancholic and happy.
The way down was torture, both because of my foot and knee, a problem that came as a ghost from the past.
Back in the bothy I was soon joined by a French speaking Belgian woman, a German man, an English man and a Scottish man. We spent an entertaining and interesting evening discussing outdoorgear, politics, generation gaps, whiskey, schoolsystems and what more. I was the first to go to bed, but certainly not because of lack of interest.
I was tired but very, very satisfied.
Here's the pics:
Bye and see you soon.
Jacob