Log No 102. Mon 5th Aug 2013 - Ardnamurchan Pt to west of Salen, 20 miles (1602 miles walked)

It was a sunny start to the day but last night's wind had dropped and the midges were thick. Mick wears full waterproofs and midge net while taking down the tent, I should do the same as it would save my legs get bitten.

It was to be nearly all road walking today and we hoped to get to the campsite at Resipole tonight and then have tomorrow off.

A day off is the only chance I get to really relax, there is generally no free time from pitching the tent to cooking & eating my meal then writing up the log to going to sleep, even less time now that it's getting darker earlier.

Our food store needed replenishing and the only shop we would pass was in Kilchoan 6 miles down the road.

We got there for 10 o'clock and spent over an hour there as we sat at a picnic table and made up our sandwiches.

While in the shop a lady, Lynne, asked me which charity I was walking for, not wearing my Parkinson's t-shirt I asked her how she knew it was a charity walk.
I hadn't realised but she had given us some water yesterday. We had stopped at the last house in Portuairk and Mick had asked if they could fill up his water bottles (Mick drinks a lot more water than me), they did this and gave us an extra 2 bottles.

Lynne & Tony, who run the Kilchoan Stores, gave us a £20 donation and Johnathon, who maintains the Kilchoan Diary weblog, gave us £10.

We left the road a couple of miles further on to take the footpath over the hill along the base of Ben Hiant and back on to the road.

Although the path is shown on the map we never found the first part of it but picked up bits of the trail once we reached the edge of the forest.

Ben Hiant is on the outer edge of what was once a volcano 60 million years ago.

It was 14.00 by the time we got back onto the road and it was still had 15 miles to the campsite. Even if Mick's knees were okay that's 5 more hours walking.

We stopped at the Natural History Centre at Glenmore Bay for a much needed break and had scones and tea.

It was easy walking conditions but the heavier rucsac, undulating road and the constant stopping to let cars pass was taking it's toll and the going was slower than normal.

The sun was very warm but we had some shelter in the trees as the road went through Glenborrodale and Laga.

Mick was determined we would get to Resipole Campsite but at a small car park I called a halt, it was 17.45 and there was still a good 6 miles to go. It's all very well getting there but when you've then got to pitch camp and cook tea it would be very late.

This was a good spot to pitch camp and there was a good breeze to keep the midges away.

While we were erecting the tents a campervan pulled into the car park and looked as if it was also here for the night.

I had to get water so on my way past I went to speak to Andre, a Glaswegian with a French mother, he was a Radio Ham going out to different islands to make contact. He filled up my water bag from his plastic container.

A while later he came by the tent with a couple of oranges and a £10 donation.

It was tough walking towards the end of the day but the 20 miles were enjoyable and we chatted to very pleasant people.

No phone signal.