Log No 129. Thu 12th Sep 2013 - Skipness to Tarbert, 8 miles (1999 miles walked)

The day started like yesterday, calm, dry and overcast.

I was only going 8 miles today to get to Tarbert, so as long as I got there in time to catch the 12.40 bus to Lochgilphead I was in no hurry.

It was a steady climb, initially on a track and then footpath, all part of the Kintyre Way so it was well marked with blue posts.

The higher I went the damper it got and it wasn't long before it was raining.

There are definite signs that autumn is here with the colours starting to change, the ferns can't die back quick enough for me.

The red fungi create bright patches of colour with the mosses and grasses.

I climbed for an hour and a half and just over the top of the hill the path joined the track to start back down.

With the low cloud I never had much of a view but the lower I got the more it dried up.

The forest began to open up a bit giving me some good views now.

I was taking my time, enjoying the route (and trying not to aggravate the injury to my left leg, the lower part of my shin is swollen and inflamed) knowing that it is back to pounding tarmac for the next few days.

I had a quick look at Tarbert Castle before dropping down into Tarbert itself.

I just had time for a pot of tea before the bus arrived.

When I got to Lochgilphead the rain started as soon as I got off the bus, the campsite was in Lochgilphead and with the rain becoming heavier I got the tent up as quick as I could.

I planned to spend the afternoon in the library writing the log but it is closed on a Thursday so after wandering round the village to see what was here I went back to the tent.

The ground round the tent must have been waterlogged because now there was a lot of standing water around and my choice of site was looking decidedly soggy.

Fortunately I hadn't unpacked my rucsac so after taking it back out the tent all I had to do was take out the 9 pegs, pick up the tent and relocate it on slightly higher ground.