I started my exciting morning with a huge Scottish breakfast at my B&B, hitched on my pack and headed across the bridge to sign out at the Dornie Hotel. I visited with a few other challengers before signing out and setting off. I already knew my pack was too heavy but I hoped it would get easier to handle. David from Germany walked most of the day with me, always stopping ahead while I caught up to him. I am grateful for his help all day long. He even informed me I had my pack on wrong.. and after getting it fitted right, it felt way better to carry.
We walked along the road, down to the highway, and along the path till we reached our turn to take us to the Affric Kintail Way. Once on that voyage, we came across a few highland coos and snapped some pictures of them. They were not great posers. Away we went till we reached our trail.
The trail zig zagged up the steep hillside, with wet slick rocks as steps. The wind, rain, sleet, hail, and I have no idea what else tried to knock me off the trail quite a few times. I fell behind the group as everyone was speeding up the hill. I would round a bend, and think OK, the Bothy has to be close.. i could see the roof. No, it was another fifty miles around and up and down and around again. HA. I finally reached the Bothy and dragged my soaking wet self inside to hellos and cheers and smiles from everyone. They all moved over and welcomed me with open arms, or a space to sleep and eat.
All in all... day 1 was full of every type of weather, great people, great stories and me saying quite a few choice words about what I had gotten myself into.
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