Thursday, 31st. May, 2018:
The plan had been that Alex, Steve and I should all climb Bla Bheinn – the only Munro in Skye that I had yet to climb – but both of them had left gear cached in Coire a’Ghrunnda on the previous day. So, needing to collect the gear before we headed back south again, Steve dropped me round to Loch Slapin for a leisurely potter up and down Bla Bheinn's tourist route while he and Alex did the necessary. In point of fact, as the map below indicates, I lurched up and down the broad south south east ridge rather than the eastern flank and enjoyed some slabby scrambles en route. The weather was almost as good as it had been during the preceding four days, the view from the top was stunning and the trip was especially memorable because of meeting loquacious Edward on the summit and because my boots had more or less thrown in the towel by the time I reached the trig. point. After a good forty minutes on top, Edward and I dawdled slowly down the hill, solving the world’s problems before I headed off along the road towards Broadford. However, with only about a quarter of the tarmac bashing done, Edward appeared in his van and took me the rest of the way - many thanks!
Before too long, I was reunited with Alex and Steve and heading south – away from the sun to the rain washed counties of southern England.